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1988 Ranger Restoration - Keeping a Promise


Shran

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Good spindles and axle shaft washers are somewhat hard to find for the D35 around here... I have a ton of D28 parts. I bet I have at least four complete sets of shafts and lockouts - I'm never breaking them, though. I think you can get brand new spindles for both but they're very expensive.
 


racsan

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central ohio
Vehicle Year
2009
Make / Model
ford/escape
Engine Type
2.5 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.5/151 I-4
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Tire Size
235/70/16
My credo
the grey-t escape
a few years ago (5-6?) I needed a drivers side beam for the ‘93. All I could find was a hybrid ( 28 parts in a 35 beam) and I thought those were the “rare” ones. was able to use my differential and the “new “ beam. still have the 28 diff somewhere
 

PetroleumJunkie412

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Dirtman's Basement
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1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
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Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Stopped to check my hitch before getting on the highway yesterday. Snapped this.

Hate how much it looks like a Bronco at times. That cap has to go.


_20190926_080616.JPG
 

Uncle Gump

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Ottawa IL
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2006/1986
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Ranger/BroncoII
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4.0L SOHC/2.9L
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Lead follow or get out of my way
Don't be hating on Bronco's...

I got a list for you
 

85_Ranger4x4

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If you got the visor and full length running boards to go with your WHITE grandpa looking topper it would all really click together and complete the look... :icon_thumby:
 

racsan

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ford/escape
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2.5 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.5/151 I-4
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Tire Size
235/70/16
My credo
the grey-t escape
hell mine really looks like a “grandpa” truck, white cap AND full hubcaps
 

Rizzo1130

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Valdosta Ga
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1988
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.0 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
4 cylinder
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Sure put a big smile on my face! Good luck. You'll be a ford man before you know it
 

Mightyfordranger

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3in
My credo
Clean your room before you criticise the world.
I think I still have an are style tin cap somewhere.can't remember whose house I left it at ha ha
 

Josh B

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I think it looks good! :)
 

skl1cent

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nice build man, cant wait to see how she turns out
 

Rangerx2

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I think he already is a Ford man, he just won't give us the satisfaction of admitting it!
Truck's lookin' good Junkie! I like the cap I thin it looks good on there. But that's just me. I love the off-road style front bumper you've got on there.
 

racsan

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Make / Model
ford/escape
Engine Type
2.5 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.5/151 I-4
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Tire Size
235/70/16
My credo
the grey-t escape
that pipe bumper gives it a “bronco” look I think, but its not bad. Better than no bumper thats for sure.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

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1988
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Ranger
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Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Been a while since I updated, so a brief word on ongoing work, and some other interesting things.

Had the cap off the other day to haul the scrap 4.0 and the D35 I'm swapping in for a front axle, so I snapped a photo.

Next steps are to finish prep work on the new frame and get the new axles hung. Dana 35 from a 1994 Ranger, and 8.8 limited slip off an Explorer. Despite the severe gear reduction the 31" tires gave me, I'm sticking with 3.73 gears for now. I may change them later, but I'm quite happy with how low my RPMs stay on the highway. 2.9 isn't want for power either, and still readily passes at 70-75mph.

I should note, when I bought it with 205/70/15 tires on it, the truck would not exceed 60 mph, even downhill. I think I've done alright.

If the winter goes as planned, I'm hoping to have my frame swap finished by spring, just so I can take it all apart again next winter to do the body work lol

Amazing how far the little guy has come, and I know how much further I have to go. But, for daily driving it, I'm mostly satisfied with the progress.

Don't know if I mentioned this in my build thread, but I found out that my Ranger rolled off the line the day I was born in 1987. I knew we were close in age, but never would have guessed we both rolled off the line the same day. That, to me, was a clear sign that it and I are sticking together till they bury me; I'll never give up on it, no matter what happens.


_20191113_115122.JPG
 

alwaysFlOoReD

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'91, '80, '06
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Its too bad we can't exchange body parts as easily on us as trucks.
#comingsoon
 

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