Ranger Rebuild

[1mean02hd]

I'm a little more active over on the other forum, but I'll post up some pics...
It used to be like this:

And kinda ended up like this

Not too pimpin, to say the least. I'm in the process of a rebuild/ upgrade, part of which will include a fabricated, removable core support. It's a lot easier to work on stuff without it in the way as well as facilitating engine removal and installation.

 

[1mean02hd]

You can definitely see how much easier it is to work on without the core support in the way. The engine and transmission can come out in one shot if need be. No more installing the bare engine sideways and spinning it to clear.

I removed the top crossbar from the old core support by drilling out the spot welds and then straightened it out with a hammer and dolly. There's nuts factory welded to it on the ends and tangs on the inner fenders that locate it. It would be nice to remove it completely but I don't have a garage with a tubing bender and awesome fabrication skills nor do I have a lot of free time. So I work with what I've got. Also, the cross bar helps to locate the hood with the grille and the fenders.

Here I've got the inner fender "caps" made up and just screwed into the structure.

You get the general idea of what I'm trying to accomplish. I chose to upgrade with an all aluminum radiator this time and got the biggest one that would fit in the stock location. I used hockey pucks for the body mounts for the new core support.

 

[jhammel85]

I like the stance of your truck! Nice truck.

 

[1mean02hd]

Well I got some more pics and made some progress

I ditched the original idea of having a removable crossbar on the core support. I re-made the inner fender caps/ core support

No more cross bar

Mounting brackets welded to the new radiator. The radiator will be the part that really ties the 2 halves together

Adios, motor. It served well and was blast to drive, but it needs to go to make room for bigger and better things. It'll be cleaned up, and installed into a 93 LX to see another day.

Core support all finished up and the radiator installed.

 

[1mean02hd]

Been making some progress and I have a few more pics.

This is the new heart of the beast. 302, 9.5:1 compression Speed Pro forged pistons, Trick Flow Track Heat heads, Trick Flow Stage III cam, Trick Flow 1.6 roller rockers, Melling oil pump, CFR Performance oil pan and pickup, Romac SFI-18.1 balancer, Weiand Xcelerator intake (port matched), Trick Flow main girdle, ARP fasteners. You can also see my motor mount adapter plates in this pic.

Installed in the engine bay with the headers, carb, and the Canton oil filter relocator

Old transmission mount and crossmember and the new transmission mount and crossmember. The old crossmember was trashed from hitting on speed bumps. The old trans mount was ripped completely in half. The new trans mount is a GM Energy Suspension polyurethane piece I picked up locally at Advance Auto.

New trans crossmember and mount

I'm hoping to have this thing fired up this week. Still got alot to do but the major stuff is done.

 

[Tominator]

Nice work! Keep your progress report up to date and more pics!

You might consider mounting the radiator with some rubber standoffs or ?? Aluminum radiators do not like vibration.

 

[1mean02hd]

I have a flat piece of rubber that serves as a washer that runs the whole length of the angle brackets to isolate it from the core support. It's about 1/4" thick, which i think (and hope) is enough to suffice.