Howdy and welcome to R-F.

As a automotive engineer and dad of three myself. (two are now adults).. I'd suggest four things for your situation.

1) Get it into a frame shop and make sure it's at least close to square. Otherwise it'll affect handling and eat up tires quickly. Inexperienced drivers don't need to deal with a car that pulls to one side or the other all the time.

2) Keep the CG (center of gravity) as low as possible for a young driver. Maybe let him put a 1 or 2 inch body lift on it for appearance sake. But don't let him put a suspension lift on it. That way the heavy parts (frame, motor, tranny, differentials, ect..) will stay down low. Rasing just the body won't upset that balance too awful much. Keep it to 2" or under and he'll be happy as will you and the basics of science.

3) Buy a SCT X-CAL 2 programmer for it. This will allow you to limit his top speed (w/o him knowing). You could manually set it at say 80-85mph or you could have the tuner (people you buy it from) manually lock the top speed so it's not adjustable at all. It'll also re-program the speedometer so that it reads correctly for what ever oversized tires he gets. You can also improve MPG a little as well as help you trouble shoot check engine lights.

4) Tires. Keep the side wall of the tire as short as possible. The taller the sidewall.. the more it'll flex and the more likely it'll roll over.

I'm 100% for encouraging young guys to work on thier own cars. Its a awsome learning experience and helps them to take more pride in what they have. Encouraging them to modify their own cars, IMO well will help them to appreciate parents and have a little self worth. As a parent we have the opportunity to steer them in smart directions vs just being aimless and guessing with their wallets and safety.

Regards, Rich

 

never should u ever buy a vehicle wit salvage title. especially since it is a 2005 and was given a salvaged title. that means the damage to the vehicle cost more than $14,000(approx) to repair. That is the suggested retail of the truck.

given all the info u have provided i would say get rid of it before there is any problems or any more if u have already started to experience some.


just to show wat a ranger looks like when the insurance company deems them totaled, here are a few pictures of other rangers that are being sold with a salvaged title that have not been repaired yet. (all but the red one)

 

Thank you everyone who has written to me on this subject. I have been shocked and pleased at all the interest in the topic. I must tell you all that I did NOT want to purchase a salvage title, but did not have much of choice in the matter. What is really strange is that tonight I put my foot down and told my husband that either that little, damaged truck is going or I am. I am not sure of his choice of yet. I am also considering a Toyota Tacoma for my son (who will not be allowed to body or suspension raise a thing until he has completed some auto repair classes at a local occupational school) and has worked at a part-time job long enough to buy himself some parts. If there have been significant improvements in safety to any of the Rangers in recent years we can look at a Ranger, otherwise I have had it w/ all of these little Ford trucks!!!!!
Special thanks to rangermayhem who e-mailed pics of Rangers pre-salvage, they will be delivered to my husband tomorrow AM. It was quite the odd circumstance as they arrived just about an hour after a long, drag-out argument over the folly of purchasing this salvage title. Rangermayhem-thanks for that. Thanks to the sheriff who woke me up to my own good instincts regarding new drivers and lifted vehicles. Thanks to wydopnthrtl who gave excellent advise when J is ready to work on his truck-the one that has never been in a serious accident. Thank you to all who wrote-even the guy who thought we should lower the truck. Does anyone need any parts???
I will take them off the truck myself-it will be good therapy! Just kidding. Thanks again to all.
Karen

 

Off topic, but on the pics by mayhem, the fourth one down from the top has paper to protect the carpets, isn't that the least of that trucks worries?

 

I've owned, rebuilt, and driven salvage branded vehicles. The most important thing for you right now is to get the frame checked & straightened (if needed), and everything including the suspension, front end/steering components, inspected and repaired so it is safe, and working properly. Straightening a frame isn't really something that you can "learn" to do, or do in your garage. It requires expensive equipment to do correctly. A lift kit, big tires & wheels, or any other accessory is the last thing on the list right now. You can either fix it and drive it, or try to sell it. Keep in mind a branded title (rebuildable/salvage title) vehicle is a hard sell. Most people won't touch them. I had pretty good luck w/ the ones I had, but I don't see myself ever rebuilding one again. It's a good choice to get you in a nicer vehicle than you could afford otherwise. Has the truck already been rebuilt and inspected? Here, you have to have the vehicle inspected by the State Police, and I can't imagine one getting through w/ one wheel pushed back 2 inches. good luck, and let us know what you decide. Again, and I can't stress this enough: It's imperative that a rebuilt vehicle is repaired properly. If it isn't, you're putting the driver, and everyone else on the road at risk.

 

lifting a vehicle mildly is in no way dangerous. 2-3'' body lift would be the best for ur son and urself. it keeps the frame, engine, trans and drivetrain just as low to the ground as it came from factory and lifts the body. it will make the truck lean a little when taking turns but nothing that cant be handled if ur son takes the time to learn his vehicle. I myself learned to drive an 8,000lbs Dodge Ram 2500 4door long bed = pretty big truck. it was completely different from my ranger. ur son could drive anything he wants(sport cars to semi's) he jus has to understand the charecteristics, limitations, and comprehend it is wat it is. jus like 04blackedge said u dont get a wrangler and drive it like sport car.

disregard wat anyone tells u, a truck wit a bent frame WILL NEVER be right unless u get a new frame. and even then i would be against it. my grandfather had a dodge dakota and was rear ended. the insurance company said it was a little less then being deemed totaled. and with that they "fixed" it. having the truck for a week the tires went bald and the truck drove down the street sideways(/). they had the frame straightened 3 times till my grandfather got the insurance company to deem it totaled even after the work was done.

toyota makes very good trucks. very safe, very reliable, and they hold their value better. which sounds best for ur son. and if he does lift or any modification to any vehicle of his, i would suggest u allow him to do it wit guidance from someone how knows wat their doing. It will give him that sence of pride and accomplishment. will teach him to appreciate u and his vehicle.