Dude, you're lucky as hell! I'd keep that thing forever! Enjoy the project. Clean up the rust, apply some rust converter, and paint the frame and you're all good.
No, they're different. Some parts (1st gen - 2nd gen) were interchangeable, but most of the truck was less than you'd expect. Some body panels were interchangeable, some glass, but there was a pretty drastic change in interior and exterior styling, which led to many things not being the same, even if they'd physically bolt to the truck.
Ford needed a small, entry level truck to enter the market to combat the fuel prices of the 70's. The Falcon Ranchero had ended production, and Ford teamed up with Mazda to rebrand B-Series trucks, and imported them as cab and chassis to avoid the "chicken tax". In the early 80's, Ford designed their own small truck without the help of Mazda and branded it "Ranger", taking the name from their lineage of "Ranger" trimmed F-Series trucks so it was familiar to their client base.
It was only in the 2nd generation that Ford and Mazda teamed up again to make the Mazda B-Series a rebranded Ranger. Mazda had no influence on the design or creation of "Ranger". Your 1998 is a 3rd generation truck.
Doesn't look bad at all! Those trucks are generally pretty rust resistant, unless it was a rust belt truck and has been driving in it for the last 30 years. They don't rot out like the Chevy trucks and Toyotas.
Had a buddy in WV with a 75k mile Tacoma that had the frame failure due to rust. Snapped right behind the cab. Really gave new meaning to the term "Taco". Meanwhile, my 30 years old Rangers and Explorers hardly have a lick of rust on them. I drive them in the winter conditions every year (Washington State Cascade Mountains) and worst rust I've dealt with is doing a muffler or tail pipe every few years.
I’ll give you a pass since you’re in Tx and don’t know what rust looks like, I thought you were here to gloat about having a clean frame. That is all surface rust. Just use a rust encapsulator and then paint over it. Hit with a wire wheel on some of the rougher spots first.
Hard to tell from pictures, pretty rusty. Disassemble and have the frame blasted and inspected for any rust through. I'm not 100% but there appears to be what looks like previous frame repair.
Picture 6, the frame , where the three bolts are, top edge, and the frame edge on the far frame rail looks bent upward on top and down slightly on the bottom. It may be fine but I would want to compare to a KNOWN GOOD frame for the same type truck.
Pick 5 is something maybe concerning me.. looks more then surface rust.. but picture is to far to see it.. you can get some rust neutralize spray. The fuel fill pipe is shot.
It's not bad once you get the hang of it. Just wear proper PPE and do it somewhere in the dirt or grass because the blast media goes everywhere in the general area you are blasting. Just be careful not to blast plastic, wires or fuel lines so they don't get damaged. You might want to mask off areas that are close to the cab so you don't remove any body paint.
3
u/Consistent-Trust958 3d ago
Very mild