Dprocks100
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2013
- Messages
- 168
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Salt Lake Utah
- Vehicle Year
- 1991
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.3
- Transmission
- Manual
This is going to be my build thread for my 91 Ranger "Bumble". The name came about because the suspension was so worn out when I bought it that it bounced off-road. And from the Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer Christmas special, we all know that "Bumbles Bounce!" I have owned it for just over 2 years now. I bought it when I was 17 and never thought I would lift it, let alone swap the engine in it. But my feelings have changed, and I love doing things to my truck.
This is how it started when I bought it in 2013. It was a 2.3 2wd 5spd manual with 128,xxx miles on it. I was the happiest kid in the world to be able to afford it.
As I slowly replaced and fixed the truck, I started wanting to do stuff to it. It got new tires and wheels for my graduation, 3" body lift and some other stuff. This is where I thought it would stop for a while.
But no more then 6 months later I wanted it built up more and decided that off-roading was pretty fun. Even if it was only a 2wd, I still find myself more places then most people take their 4x4s. I added the following items:
2" lift coils with camber/caster bushings
93 F150 front shocks
Explorer 8.8 4:10 L/S with disk brakes (old 7.5 had open 3:08)
30" All-Terrains
Ranger leafs mixed in with current pack
Thrush Turbo Muffler
09 Ranger split bench seats (modified seat brackets)
KC Apollo Pro's
Sony Bluetooth stereo
CB Radio
Tool box
and a ton of maintenance!
Here are a few random pics
The other Ranger is my younger brother's. Its a 1991 3.0 2wd with 162,xxx. He gets a lot of my parts when I take them off to upgrade. His username is BrendenP99. Hopefully he will one day be able to make his own build thread!
Anyways, her engine has been leaking oil since I bought it, and its gotten quite a bit worse in the last few months. Thought I might regasket the engine when it got warmer. That was the plan until she blew her head gasket last friday at 143,xxx. And rather then throw money away rebuilding the old 2.3, I'm just going to buy a 1991-1994 explorer on the cheap and throw the 4.0 and transmission in my truck. I plan on using a 1991-1992 Ranger 4.0 harness (Because it will plug right into my existing dash wiring, right?) and everything else I will source from the explorer donor. Should pretty much be a "plug and play" swap from what I understand. If I am wrong, please correct me and save me a headache!
Here are my future plans:
4.0 swap with 4x4 tranny and t-case
Part time snorkel, explorer overhead console and other interior stuff, custom bumpers and sliders
Dana 30 SAS (like the idea of matching bolt patterns with my 8.8, and I will take the body lift off)
33" tires, and locker in Dana 30
and probably a lot more after that plus little things here and there
Anything you guys know is always welcome! I could always use the help. 4.0 should be happening here pretty soon. Started pulling the 2.3 today, should have it out by next week, and once thats out I just need to find my donor explorer.
This is how it started when I bought it in 2013. It was a 2.3 2wd 5spd manual with 128,xxx miles on it. I was the happiest kid in the world to be able to afford it.
As I slowly replaced and fixed the truck, I started wanting to do stuff to it. It got new tires and wheels for my graduation, 3" body lift and some other stuff. This is where I thought it would stop for a while.
But no more then 6 months later I wanted it built up more and decided that off-roading was pretty fun. Even if it was only a 2wd, I still find myself more places then most people take their 4x4s. I added the following items:
2" lift coils with camber/caster bushings
93 F150 front shocks
Explorer 8.8 4:10 L/S with disk brakes (old 7.5 had open 3:08)
30" All-Terrains
Ranger leafs mixed in with current pack
Thrush Turbo Muffler
09 Ranger split bench seats (modified seat brackets)
KC Apollo Pro's
Sony Bluetooth stereo
CB Radio
Tool box
and a ton of maintenance!
Here are a few random pics
The other Ranger is my younger brother's. Its a 1991 3.0 2wd with 162,xxx. He gets a lot of my parts when I take them off to upgrade. His username is BrendenP99. Hopefully he will one day be able to make his own build thread!
Anyways, her engine has been leaking oil since I bought it, and its gotten quite a bit worse in the last few months. Thought I might regasket the engine when it got warmer. That was the plan until she blew her head gasket last friday at 143,xxx. And rather then throw money away rebuilding the old 2.3, I'm just going to buy a 1991-1994 explorer on the cheap and throw the 4.0 and transmission in my truck. I plan on using a 1991-1992 Ranger 4.0 harness (Because it will plug right into my existing dash wiring, right?) and everything else I will source from the explorer donor. Should pretty much be a "plug and play" swap from what I understand. If I am wrong, please correct me and save me a headache!
Here are my future plans:
4.0 swap with 4x4 tranny and t-case
Part time snorkel, explorer overhead console and other interior stuff, custom bumpers and sliders
Dana 30 SAS (like the idea of matching bolt patterns with my 8.8, and I will take the body lift off)
33" tires, and locker in Dana 30
and probably a lot more after that plus little things here and there
Anything you guys know is always welcome! I could always use the help. 4.0 should be happening here pretty soon. Started pulling the 2.3 today, should have it out by next week, and once thats out I just need to find my donor explorer.