'85 Ranger Restomod

[85_Ranger4x4]

I finally tracked down a complete not-really-that-common flip down overhead maplight at a JY out of a '84 EB BII. I am going to have to make a bezel for it to work with my steel roof truck but it will be neat whenever I get around to it.

I also snagged a clutch pedal assembly out of a '91. I think that was one of the first parts they put in the cab... I fully expect switching the trannnys to be a funner job than switching the stupid pedals.

 

[dangerranger83]

I have that exact same map light in my truck. Only bad part is it was broken by the PO of the donar so it doesn't stay pushed up on the little black button to keep it turned off so it didn't have a bulb in it. But it is a 12v source of power. I use mine for the time more then anything.

As for hooking to the roof, oir trucks have a double roof so I used very short sheet metal screws to hook to mine in and have been good for over 5 years.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

IIRC the rooflines are completely different though.

 

[dangerranger83]

I'm talking I used 1/4 long screws for the holder, didn't pre drill either.

 

[Lariat]

Which yard did you find that in?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Which yard did you find that in?

U-Pull-It in Lincoln on north 70th. They had more first and second gens than I have seen in Omaha for a few years. Probably 10-15 counting Explorers.

GF had class Saturday so I went junkin' while I was there.

They seem to get a lot of them from the Lincoln Auto Auction which is kinda sad in a way.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

New project on my little cherry picker:

Going to put legs on this '86 frame and practice pulling a TTB for when I find a D35. Going to then break it down and pull the radius arms off for the swap as well. And then once I get a D35 I am going to mount it on the stand and use it to hold it still while I change the carrier, axleshaft joints and ball joints without either wrestling with it on the floor or laying the truck up for longer than it would have to be.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Somebody hasn't been up to any good :

Somebody also got their butt dragged out of a snowdrift by a tractor:

I was digging through it, once the front DS dropped and dirt cascaded over the hood I was like "uh oh" when both rears dropped I figured I was pretty much done, the truck wouldn't even shake.

I can't wait to get a L/S in the front of this thing, per the gopro on the PS door the PS front tire was more of an anchor than a source of traction.

 

[Lariat]

Pulling a ttb isn't too terribly bad... I mean we do have one from the 92 that dad pulled the 4.0 out of. Just needs the gearset you want. Although dad's not sure what we're doing yet.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, I was wanting to break the spare D28 down for parts, the shafts might be good to hang on to for someone. I am also curious why after 15 years the pinion doesn't turn, if it is full of water or what. And figure out how to get a TTB assembly broken into two pieces to more easily drag the D35 out of the JY by myself.

Then throw whatever I find on my stand to rebuild it rather than laying up my truck for both the swap and R&R.

Pulling axles in a JY always struck me as spooky, they usually have their stands under the axles so you have to hoist the front of the truck up and move the stands back... and the back end is on stands too. Just afraid of the whole thing coming down. Just haven't got amped up about it yet, I gotta do something though and I really don't want to rebuild the D28.

Hopefully your dad will use his yet

 

[Lariat]

Yeah getting front end parts spooks me too... also, makes two of us that hope he does!

 

[SenorNoob]

The yard I go to for that kind of thing has stands under the frame. They can still make it a PITA to get to things sometimes.

Getting a TTB out is easy. Two pivot bolts, two shock studs, the driveshaft, two radius arm nuts, loosen the springs enough to twist them out of the upper mounts, and the sway bar. Then just pull it forward and down. Dad and I pulled one in like 45 minutes. Putting it back in takes much longer. (3 days after painting and acquiring new joints to be ready for alignment.)

 

[bobbywalter]

do a ttb 44


ttb 44 and coilovers along with some proper shocks will make it a tough truck monster.




your tractor is awesome....i am jealous.

 

[bobbywalter]

you couldnt rock out of that.....i had the b2 hung a few times yesterday on the lake...but it was able to work out...


or were ya just taking the easy way out because it was close.


on edit....brake bias is easy to hook up and likely there is a 3 chanel abs on one of the gen 1 explorers in the yard you were at....it would aid in the dead front wheel thing so you get completely stuck...or out...or explode the spiders or....lol.


always keep a shovel and traction aid in winter....or big honkin tractor nearby.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The yard I go to for that kind of thing has stands under the frame. They can still make it a PITA to get to things sometimes.

Getting a TTB out is easy. Two pivot bolts, two shock studs, the driveshaft, two radius arm nuts, loosen the springs enough to twist them out of the upper mounts, and the sway bar. Then just pull it forward and down. Dad and I pulled one in like 45 minutes. Putting it back in takes much longer. (3 days after painting and acquiring new joints to be ready for alignment.)

The thing is it would just be me pulling it. I have done everything but the pivot bolts on the axle in the truck.

you couldnt rock out of that.....i had the b2 hung a few times yesterday on the lake...but it was able to work out...


or were ya just taking the easy way out because it was close.


on edit....brake bias is easy to hook up and likely there is a 3 chanel abs on one of the gen 1 explorers in the yard you were at....it would aid in the dead front wheel thing so you get completely stuck...or out...or explode the spiders or....lol.


always keep a shovel and traction aid in winter....or big honkin tractor nearby.

I didn't want to toast the trans or turn the D28 inside out. It wouldn't even wiggle so I didn't see the point. I just walked back and got the tractor that had the boom on it (it had a snow blade on it by then though) The abs thing would work better if I could see the tires, I use that principle with the differential brakes on my tractors... and actually used it to jerk the truck out.