'85 Ranger Restomod

[85_Ranger4x4]

I should have started one of these a long time ago, so there is some catching up to do.

In late August 2000 for my high school vehicle, I don't remember what day it was but I got insurance for it on 9-11-00 (I remember being shocked right after 9/11 when I went to put the new card in it)

Just like this but with a black grille and an aluminum toolbox that has came and went several times since:



I joined here for the first time in 2002, when my first A4LD died. I got a parts truck for the trans and that is where I got the chrome grille.

In 2003 I made a grille guard from some salvaged steel.



In 2006 I added a 3" bodylift. In 2007 I picked up a set of 235/75-15Dunlop Mud Rovers (same size as the street tires it came with) I don't have a pic of it with the regular tires, take my word for it... it looked stupid. The front bumper bracket followed shortly thereafter.



In 2008 I picked up a much better looking set of rims at a swap meet for $75.



Later in 2009 I picked up rollbar for $20 off of craigslist



Along the way I had been gather things to replace the dying 2.8 with something that if it didn't beat 10mpg... justified it. I got sidetracked on an engine that needed a ton of work, eventually I found a good one.

Swap thread:

http://www.therangerstation.com/foru...t=61372&page=3

I finished that somewhere around March (it is in that thread somewheres)

Final specs

1987 non-HO shortblock
Weiand Stealth intake manifold
Edelbrock 1403 500 CFM carb
Duraspark ignition
Hedman 88400 headers
2" true duals with glasspacks, routed between the frame rails and coming down between the bed and frame in front of the rear bumper.
C5 transmission with RBV tailhousing and BW 1350M transfer case.



A very subtle hint that it isn't a normal Ranger, the V8 badge off of the back of a 2002+ Explorer in leu of the V6 badges that it should have had (but didn't )



While I had the interior gutted I installed the interior out of two different '93 Explorers, the console out of one and the seats out of another.



As it sits now:



I have a like new (3500 mile) set of Firestone Destination MT's to put on but first I need to redo my front suspension. I have a new set of Explorer springs and radius arm bushings I hope to put in this weekend.



I also have yet to put in my Explorer 8.8. 1996, limited slip with new clutches, disc brakes and the same 3.73's that the truck already has.

[jhammel85]

Awesome. I've always liked your truck. I'm hoping to swap a V8 in mine one day.

On the C5 Trans...
What is the RBV tail housing? I take it it's a C5 from a Ranger or is it some kind of adapter?

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, it is the back end off a Ranger/BII C5, basically allows you to bolt the Ranger/BII 1350 or 1354 to either a C4 or C5.

If you are going to do much highway driving I recommend something with an overdrive.

[4.0B2]

looks good. subscribed!

[Viva*the*Ranger]

Sweet! I love the rig man, good work!

[85_Ranger4x4]

Well, since the dust has kinda settled on some family issues and the weather supposedly cooled of a little (I didn't notice a big difference) I got started on my spring swap.

Brake caliper and shock removed from the suspension...



Suspension sagged and I could finally get a wrench on the infamous nut. Much to my dismay (and I knew somehow it would give me a problem) the whole dang thing unscrewed from whatever it screwed into.



Sooo tomorrow I have to see what that is about and loosen the swaybar so I can get more drop and get the spring out.

[Rangerman4158]

nice truck you got there looks good

[Viva*the*Ranger]

Well, luckily it just threads in to the beam from there, and there is a hex on the bottom that you can put a wrench on to extract the nut on the top. They can be a real bitc# once they're rusted on like that. I suggest using some creeper oil, and heating it up with a torch. It should come off fine. I would also get new bolts/nuts for it, or wire wheel the crap out of the old ones.

You also might have to disconnect the radius arm to drop the beam down far enough to access the hex on the bottom.... Maybe not though.

-Denny

[dangerranger83]

I would love to do a v8 swap to mine like yours but I would want a manual tranny though, along with a manual tansfercase.

[85_Ranger4x4]

I can wiggle the beam and see the spring pull away slightly from the bucket, so I am pretty close that way. I think if I get the swaybar off I can get that extra half an inch. If I have to remove the RA it wouldn't hurt my feel bads too much anyway because after this I have to change the RA bushings. With the stud removed I don't have the extra length of that to deal with.

When I get the the stud out, hopefully I can get it apart and bead blast it... and then never seize it. As it is, the retainer is a awesome funnel to surround the nut in crap and never let said crap leave.

Originally Posted by dangerranger83

I would love to do a v8 swap to mine like yours but I would want a manual tranny though, along with a manual tansfercase.

It came with the manual t-case and hubs, and I serously pondered a 5 speed. But the C5 came by at a decent price all set and ready to go so I jumped on it. Getting one, converting the truck, finding a fullsize t-case that fits both the transmission and the truck and getting the driveshafts to work would have really complicated things. Using factory stuff and having the driveshaft length altered was pretty simple. If the truck had originally been a manual I would have stayed with one. OD would be nice, but since it will never be the long distance cruiser than my F-150 is anyway... it works fine.

[dangerranger83]

If your upgrading the rear, you should do the front next.

So theres no way to adapt a ranger transfercase to a full size tranny for those...???

[85_Ranger4x4]

Originally Posted by dangerranger83

If your upgrading the rear, you should do the front next.

So theres no way to adapt a ranger transfercase to a full size tranny for those...???

I will upgrade the front eventually, but I am trying to get it more drivable for the moment. I gotta tire that has a really nasty shake above 45mph (actually the one that is off right now) and with the current spring sag I can't fit the 31's I have sitting in the shed. It also horribly needs aligned. I am wanting to get this thing drivable so I can get some rust fixed on my F-150 before winter.

Everything I am doing now (4.0 Explorer springs and RA bushings) will carry over to a D35 so I am not out much there.

You can get adaptors, they are major $$ to run a weaker t-case IMO. Yeah the stock t-cases will take a mild V8 (like mine) but why spend several hundred bucks ($3-400 IIRC) to keep one?

I considered a manual for the OD, I am not a die hard manual guy. It just kinda came down to what I found first and for how good of a deal I thought it was. It might get something different down the line, but the C5 made for a quicker turn around doing the swap and works great for now. It wouldn't be that hard to go back in and switch out tranny's if I wanted to.

Edit:

http://www.advanceadapters.com/searc...eywords=ranger