My 04 single cab

[Busypees]

Hey,

Ive had my ranger a number of years now, it was actually my first vehicle I purchased so it has some sentimental value attached to it. Its been through a bunch of changes over the years and has allowed me to learn how to work on vehicles in the process. It was a little rough around the edges when I bought it but Im slowly changing that.

The day I picked her up
Vs
How she sits now

 

[Busypees]

Most recently Ive pretty much got the interior looking how I want it. I made a youtube video going into more detail about each change, Il link it here

Above is what the interior was like when I bought the truck, painted radio bezel, rips and stains in the seats, dirty carpet.. You get the point lol

Here is after:

 

[fernando8877]

Your build is looking pretty good. Looking forward to the next part.

 

[Busypees]

Your build is looking pretty good. Looking forward to the next part.

Thanks Fernando!

 

[Busypees]

Small update:

I knew the stepside bed currently on the truck had some holes in the floor so I removed it to see how bad it was. Turns out 2 on the cross braces were rotted out along with the holes. I have a 36" brake but the cross braces are 39" long so I have to make them in 2 pieces and weld them together. I know some people go to a shop with a big press brake to have them made but that would probably cost a lot more.

 

[CrabGuy]

Love those Subie seats. Are they pretty comfortable? I ask because the seats in my 2018 Forester are not fun at all for a long road trip. Yours are shaped more like a WRX and seem to fit the Ford base sections almost perfectly. Great job on your build so far!

 

[Busypees]

Love those Subie seats. Are they pretty comfortable? I ask because the seats in my 2018 Forester are not fun at all for a long road trip. Yours are shaped more like a WRX and seem to fit the Ford base sections almost perfectly. Great job on your build so far!

Thanks Crabguy, they're very comfortable, much more than stock. The bolstering actually keeps you in place and hugs you as opposed to the stock bench seat that had me sliding around. I believe the WRX seats for the year were the same shape and form as the impreza sport seats just different colour/materials but I could be wrong.

 

[Busypees]

I finished remaking those bed braces and they turned out okay, I would have done a couple things different If I had to make another set but here is how they turned out

 

[onequerl]

Can't wait to see how it turn out.

 

[Busypees]

Well I ended up getting a DJM 4/5 lowering kit with the shocks included from someone locally. Finished installing one side on the front end along with new bearings, rotor, pads, painting the caliper and the frame. Definitely a much needed refresh

 

[superj]

that looks great. your new bed cross members look really nice too. i like that you went from a straight side to a flare side bed. to me, that flare/step side look is the best you can get on a truck.

 

[Busypees]

that looks great. your new bed cross members look really nice too. i like that you went from a straight side to a flare side bed. to me, that flare/step side look is the best you can get on a truck.

Thanks man, and I like the stepside too but I found a super clean fleetside so I may have to go back!

 

[Busypees]

Decided to make a video series on my djm 4/5 install along with bearings, rotors and pads. This part is mostly showing the disassembly, give it a watch if you have a min.. or 10 lol

 

[JoshT]

Lot of good work going on here. I know that they make crossmember kits for the full size trucks, but don't know if they ever did for the Rangers. I'm not sure I would have even attempted to tackle that bed repair. I would not have had the skill and patience to make those myself.

View attachment 65771

I like what you've got going on here, so what made you decide to go lower? Nothing wrong with it, just curious as to why.

 

[Busypees]

Lot of good work going on here. I know that they make crossmember kits for the full size trucks, but don't know if they ever did for the Rangers. I'm not sure I would have even attempted to tackle that bed repair. I would not have had the skill and patience to make those myself.



I like what you've got going on here, so what made you decide to go lower? Nothing wrong with it, just curious as to why.

Thanks and yes I noticed they make a lot of crossmember kits for the full size trucks but I couldnt find anything for the rangers. I thought about going to the junkyard to cut some out of a box there but any box I found the crossmembers were in terrible shape which prompted me to just make them from scratch. Definitely learned a lot making them especially having to make them in 2 pieces and weld them together. If I had to make another set I think they would come out a bit better.

The truck came with the 3inch body lift already in it and the ride quality wasnt the greatest. Although the lifted look is cool I dont go mudding or live in a rural area not to mention its 2wd lol so I decided lower is the way to go from here on for the truck.