RockRangerII refresh

RockRanger · Feb 10, 2014

I am going to be going through my 93 ranger and giving it a refresh. I bought the truck in late 2004. Other then a rancho lift kt it was an all stock stripped truck with a 4.0 manual trans and tcase. No AC cruise or power windows. The perfect basic wheeling rig.

Here are the specs of how the truck currently sat before this refresh.

4.0V6 all stock
Stock 5 speed
d.d. machine duel case setup with manual 1350 front and 1354 rear.
Front axle is a 1984 Jeep wagonner dana 44 converted to 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern 4.88 gears and an Aussie locker
Three link front suspension using 8" skyjacker TJ springs.
Rear axle is a 1992 explorer 8.8 4.88 gears and welded spider gears.
63" Chevy springs with a bellteck shackle.
BroncoII tank behind the rear axle
Warn 9.5 XP winch behind the front grill.
Interior roll cage
37" MTR on 17" steel rims

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

I took the truck down to King of The Hammers and few years ago and did some wheeling and managed to crush the bed good. Broke both front hubs and all 4 front axles, bent the rear driveshaft and ripped a shock mount off. Due to life getting in the way it sat on the trailer for 18 months before I even touched it again. Now I plan to give the truck some love and get it back on the trials again.

RockRanger · Feb 10, 2014

First thing was dealing with the bed.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

Loaded up and headed to the scrap yard.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

Haven't started the tube bed yet.

RockRanger · Feb 10, 2014

Next I decided to trim the rockers and remount my sliders higher up. I marked a line about 1/2" down from the door jamb. and cut everything below off with a cutoff wheel. I used a 2lb sledge and rolled the bottom cut off section back under the cab so there would be no sharp edges at the door entrance.

Before

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

After

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

Then I made some new mounts and remounted my old sliders.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

RockRanger · Feb 10, 2014

A friend of mine gave me some 6" skyjacker ranger rear springs so I tossed them on as by Chevy springs were toast. The truck sits a bit tail high right now. I will make adjustments once the bed is built and see what needs to be changed. I would like to lower the truck about 2" but I will mess with that once I finish building everything else.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

I also built some quick release mudflap mounts. They are made out of 1/8" plate cut on my cnc plasma table. Welded together and then a piece of 1" square tubs slides in and held with a pin. Hopefully it will keep the law happy.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

RockRanger · Feb 10, 2014

When I was swapping the rear springs I was needing a longer rear brake line. After a trip to Napa I found one that would work. I posted the information on it here. http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147524

I also hate the lip on the bottom of the 8.8. It seams like I would get caught on it all the time. I really wanted to shave the bottom of the housing like people do with 14bolts. My skills and tools aren't there yet so I decided to try something different.

Here is the lip I am referring to.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

Did some cardboard cad

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

Drew them on the computer and then cut them out.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

Glued them to the axle. I just mig welded them on. So we will see how it does.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

RockRanger · Feb 10, 2014

While dong this work I made a few things in the garage I have found handy. With no bed and alot of fender clearance on the front tires I always am setting things on the top of the tires. Items are always falling off when you grab something so I made a tray to st on the tires. Two brackets I cut and a $4 lasagna tray from walmart and tools no longer fall off. A cookie tray would work but so far I like the added depth.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

I also got sick of digging through all my spray pant cans and never being able to find the color I was looking for. Or knocking other cans off the shelf as I am digging. So I made these brackets that combined with 1/2" emt conduit hold my cans and make it easy to see what I have.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

prerunner · Feb 10, 2014

Nice to see you on here RockRanger. Yours is one of the trucks I always looked for on the Explorer forum. I always thought you had a more 'exotic' (read: expensive) suspension and stuff. Now I see you have a lot of the same stuff everybody uses here, save maybe the doubler. Now I'm truly impressed.

Some great ideas for the garage too. Looking forward to seeing more of the refresh.

Rowdy Fitzgerald · Feb 10, 2014

I like what you're doing! What you gonna do for a bed?

RockRanger · Feb 10, 2014

prerunner said:
Nice to see you on here RockRanger. Yours is one of the trucks I always looked for on the Explorer forum. I always thought you had a more 'exotic' (read: expensive) suspension and stuff. Now I see you have a lot of the same stuff everybody uses here, save maybe the doubler. Now I'm truly impressed.

Some great ideas for the garage too. Looking forward to seeing more of the refresh.

Everything is pretty basic. 2" square tube for the links, f250 shock mounts, modified stock col buckets and lots of garage time. It the last 10 years I have well under $10k counting purchasing the truck in it. Now start adding tools into it and that is a whole different ball game. Luckily I have a very understanding wife and other then my plasma table and air compressor most of them were purchased before we were married.

Rowdy Fitzgerald said:
I like what you're doing! What you gonna do for a bed?

Tube and sheet metal. I am still thinking about the design. Think I am going to do an exo cage and tie it in with the bed. The cab is just to small for an interior cage without removing all the interior.

Grunizzle · Feb 10, 2014

sweet, subd

RockRanger · Feb 11, 2014

Started on a new rear bumper that will also tie into the tube bed. A few minutes with a tape measure at the truck and this a bit of computer time I made this.

bumper drawing by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

Then started assembling.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

Then painted.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

If I did it over again I would skip the receiver tube. With the BII tank there inst enough room to properly gusset it and make it strong enough to be worth anything.

I could use some help getting my tail lights working.
http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149091

Grunizzle · Feb 11, 2014

Sweet work! I wish I had CNC stuff at my disposal!

RockRanger · Feb 12, 2014

CNC makes it nice. My use of cut off wheels has plummeted. Use the grinders to knock some slag off and prep for welding. It is taking me time to get it figured out. I only use it for hobby stuff right now.

Grunizzle · Feb 12, 2014

is it a torch mate?

RockRanger · Feb 12, 2014

Yes. 4x8 Torchmate.

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

RockRangerII refresh

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