Unless you've got a pristine Ranger, I think I'd do that deal. Bricknose parts are super cheap and plentiful, and I have to say my 79 Bronco was one of my favorite rigs of all time, the only two exceptions was it wasn't an XLT and it was a 351M400 engine, which was kind of a pig on fuel.
Go get it: use the back seat as the excuse you need