RBV-46 Dodge

T Hilde · Jul 10, 2014

Got the 8.8 installed, mostly. Still need to weld on the shock mounts.

All the brackets were bad. Used the spring pack out of the explorer.

Dana 35 is ready to go in.

Found a place for the ranger horns.

T Hilde · Jul 10, 2014

Well, that is 10 months of work so far. Next week is vacation, so I hope to get a bunch done. The plan is to have it yard drivable by the end of October.

Since I am using the Ranger wiring harness that came with an amp meter, is there a special trick to eliminating it? I was thinking of just splicing the wires together.

Anybody have a good project name for this? :icon_idea:

Thanks Again TRS :beer:

jhammel85 · Jul 11, 2014

Wow! That's a lot in ten months.

Great build! The non conventional builds like this are really cool to see.

What are you going to do with the Ranger Body? The classifieds might be interested in whats left!

T Hilde · Jul 11, 2014

Thanks, the body was pretty well roached and got recycled the day it came off.

Rowdy Fitzgerald · Jul 11, 2014

Wow man very good work! You've done a ton of work to it! This is one of the coolest builds I've seen yet!

My girlfriend's father is doing a similar project with a model A cab on a 89 2wd ranger. He's goin for the rat rod look. Your truck reminds me of it but you're going way faster than he is lol.

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T Hilde · Jul 12, 2014

Dana 35 swap

Here is todays project.
Got the Dana 28 stripped out.

This is light, was easy to pull out from underneath.

The Ranger radius arms were thin in the bushing mount area. I really like the hidden sway bar and through bolt of the Ranger. Here I am converting it the old style. Transfer punches have been a great investment.

All back in solid.

This was about 8 hours with lunch and a trip to NAPA. I also added another leaf to each side in the rear and took the front fenders off today.
Disclaimer-I worked in a front end and brake shop for a few years, so I may be quicker than the average Joe.

Il Brutto · Jul 12, 2014

Nice work man, love the truck. Almost like the ranger frame was made for that cab the way some of that stuff lines up. Lots of work there, props on the fab work.

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T Hilde · Jul 20, 2014

Shop-cation week update

Got a few non-picture things accomplished, welded the shock mounts to the rear axle, put a flange on in place of the yoke on the transfer case and installed an explorer driveshaft (bigger u-joints than the ranger), Found a molded lower radiator hose (waiting on a 3" extension tube from Jeg's to complete).

Decided to make my own headlight relay kit. Probably saved $10 plus shipping. Also added a buss bar on each side, so the fenders can come off easily.

Picked up receiver hitch for an explorer off the local auction site for $1.50. Narrowed it up 8 1/2 inches and fits nice.

Except for bolts this bumper is all from the scrap pile.

This license plate bracket is 1/8" from the scrap pile too. It will be welded under the bumper.

97RangerXLT · Jul 20, 2014

Very nice! Keep the pics coming. Are you going to paint it up or are you going for a rat rod look?

Btw.. this gives new meaning to F***ed Over Rebuilt Dodge ;-)

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T Hilde · Jul 20, 2014

Eventually I would like to get it painted, first I want to get the mechanicals all sorted and drive it for a year. I don't mind a ratty look but not tacky and silly.

doorgunner · Jul 24, 2014

It's looking good! That's a good idea to drive it for a while to work all the kinks out.......

And don't bother wrapping up the wiring bundles nice and Purdy for a few months......(don't ask me how I know about that.....LOL!).

T Hilde · Aug 18, 2014

I've been working. Dad bought a car trailer to haul his tractors to the farm show and I'm helping get that spruced up and brakes on his WD Allis Chalmers (they're a 8!+ch).

The trailer came in rusty black with beat fenders. After a few weeks its almost done.

Also been doing a little work on the truck, painted some interior trim and the dash. I used rustoleum brown hammer finish.

RockRanger · Aug 18, 2014

Cool Build.

T Hilde · Aug 27, 2014

The trailer is pretty much done. I want to put bed liner on the diamond plate and make inner skirts for the fenders. This is just before the test pull.

Got a couple toys to fit.

T Hilde · Aug 27, 2014

Started working on the truck again. Got some new tires from NTB, they had a good deal on some Goodyear Wranglers. Also finishing up some details on previously shown things. Hope to get some shop time over this labor day weekend.

RBV-46 Dodge

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