$500 ranger- next project

racsan · Dec 13, 2016

found this truck near me and for 500 bucks, just couldn't say no. it will give me something to drive while I make a few upgrades to my 92. then I will do a few things to the "new" ranger. the new-to-me truck is a 97 2wd reg cab longbed, 3.0 v6, 4r44e automatic, 345 gears. have been told trans slips a little in 1st so I guess that's the first thing that gets addressed. somewhere down the road I'm going to swap out the 7.5 rear end for a 8.8 with 4.10 gears, I think the 345s are just too steep for a 3.0, that would be probly 1500 rpm in overdrive at 55. too low for a 3.0 id think. plus I'm planning on swapping the 14 inch tires out for 235/75/15s. no pictures yet, its silver, doesn't look too bad. for 500 I might be able to sell it later if it doesn't work out for me as a work truck after my 92 (in my avatar) gets a engine rebuild, front ball joints, and a rear axle upgrade. I'm not a fan of a automatic in a ranger, might even consider a manual trans swap someday. ive still yet to get it home, guess ive got a winter project.

97RangerXLT · Dec 13, 2016

nice. anxiously waiting for pics

AJ

Andy D · Dec 16, 2016

I wish you all the best. The Rat only cost me 600$ , That was about 3K$ back. The end is nowhere in sight either.

racsan · Dec 17, 2016

yep, got it home last night, wouldn't start so had to use a come-along to pull it up onto the tow dolly. 12 mile trip home at 35 mph (if the automatic isn't trashed, I didn't want to ruin it) a ranger towing another ranger, wish it wasn't too dark, was a intrstrsting sight, my longbed '92 with a cap tow dolly hooked on with another longbed ranger in tow. the 2.3 did pretty good, but I did notice running empty later it didn't want to maintain 70 mph, which it will do on its own, a tow dolly empty should have very little drag resistance. to get the silver ranger off the dolly I first tried putting it in park and pulling out from under the front end, that didn't work so I backed up (towed ranger in neutral) and hit the brakes. rolled right off. now to get it in the barn. no fuel pump noise when key turned on, fuel guage doesn't work either, and I filled it up before I left town. so a possible fuse or fuel pump problem, i'll check the interia switch first, but I doubt it, shouldn't affect the guage.

not sure if this will work-link to original for sale ad with pictures.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/510769408979063/permalink/1145684925487505/?sale_post_id=1145684925487505&comment_id=1157174854338512&reply_comment_id=1157175651005099&notif_t=group_comment&notif_id=1481380455628144

Mightyfordranger · Dec 17, 2016

Sounds like it'll be a good way to kill time if you have a nice war place to wrench on it I only get the snowy cold ground so I just don't wrench in it screw it it can wait till spring lol

Mightyfordranger · Dec 17, 2016

I just seen your in Ohio well have to meet up some time and trade some parts I have a decent amount of 2.3 parts and and a few other odds and ends

racsan · Dec 18, 2016

racsan · Dec 18, 2016

racsan · Dec 18, 2016

Mightyfordranger said:
I just seen your in Ohio well have to meet up some time and trade some parts I have a decent amount of 2.3 parts and and a few other odds and ends

ok,cool. im going to be in the market for a 8.8 rear axle for this project, wanting 4.10 gears too, considering a lock-rite. the 3.45/7.5 it came with is just too high a gear for what im planning to use this for.

Mightyfordranger · Dec 18, 2016

I don't have any spare axles right now but I'll keep my eyes peeled

racsan · Dec 28, 2016

well, got it running, has no 1st gear, can start in 2nd and once im above 30 mph put it in drive and will drive normally until you slow down enough to where it wants to be in 1st again and then you have to put it in 2nd. needless to say, its pretty sluggish doing a 2nd gear start. in drive (or 1) at a standing stop you can hear something turning but nothing happens as far as the truck moving. reverse works (and i was under the impression that if you lost 1st, reverse would be gone too) i know theres a band adjustment that can be made, but at 180K im thinking its probly past a adjustment. a/c works, gas guage doesnt. seems to drive pretty good, very lightweight, took it to the local grain elevator to weigh it and its just a little over 3,000 pounds.

racsan · Dec 29, 2016

Andy D · Dec 29, 2016

Body looks great. How is it underneath?

racsan · Dec 29, 2016

looks very good underneath, hanger brackets ok, frame good, new-looking fuel tank straps. think its a 20 gallon tank as the back of the tank goes clear to the rear axle (my '92 longbed has a 15 gallon tank and theres alot more room between the back of tank and the rear axle) only real bad spot ive seen is the front core support, its not horrible but rust has started there. my '92 has that issuetoo and my '93 was extremely rusted. front bumper will be a easy fix, loosen bolts and move it back to where it was supposed to be. the grille guard from my '93 might work. have a 7/8 rear sway bar to put on but not doing that until i swap in a 4.10 ratio 8.8
interior shot, just your basic std cab interior. but a xlt with a/c and automatic, but manual windows and no cruise control? weird.

racsan · Jun 3, 2017

out behind the barn, just before pulling the bed,
pulled bed off, fuel would leak just as fuel tank would get filled, easiest way to get to the hose is with bed off.

uh-oh, found major rust issue with frame, rear hanger brackets are new, fixed fuel hose problem, not sure i want to put a $1400 new transmission in it now

decided im going to save the bed off this truck and make a trailer from it, putting a flatbed on this, always wanted to build one.

fixed the bent front bumper and found a ford emblem for the front grille. ive drove it a few times, weighs about the same as it did with the steel box. put 225 70 15's on rear, 205 75 15's on front, think the black steel wheels "fit" the flatbed version better then the alloy wheels.

$500 ranger- next project

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