What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So I finally spent some time working on the green Ranger project. Tried extracting the one last broken bolt from the block, had to use a pipe wrench on it to get enough grip and it was slowly coming and then a couple teeth broke off the quality Chinese 8” pipe wrench. Got mad an pulled out my Rigid 12” pipe wrench and it promptly twisted off the end that I had been working on. Then I couldn’t get a good re-set bite because the china wrench mangled things. Knew I shouldn’t have bought it, but it was the first time I’ve ever come across an 8” for sale and I’m always borrowing dad’s 8” that he’s had forever when I need leverage and bite on a broken bolt or rounded nut and nothing else is working. Guess I’ll have to weld a nut on or something now.

So then I pulled the brand new timing chain cover out of the box (Allstar Performance). It was made in Mexico and looked like it was machined by a blind guy. Absolutely terrible quality. Well, maybe China made would be worse. Maybe. I cleaned off the flash from the mold when they cast it, chased the threads (since new bolts didn’t want to thread down in) cleaned up a couple scratches and distortions to the gasket surfaces, spent a bunch of time fixing the coolant passages (it was like there was a terrible fit between the mold halves and someone just shoved a piece of rebar through the hole to open it), and put the new crank seal in. Sadly, that’s about as far as I managed to get today.

 

[JoshT]

I brought the '85 home and figured out that the/a PO is an idiot and the engine isn't locked up as I was told. Also figured out I need to buy more parts so I can figure out what is wrong with the engine.

 

[sgtsandman]

I’m with you on that! When I was 18 I thought it was cool because chicks dig it. But now I’m all about being as quiet as I can get it.

Same here. As long as the the radio and speakers work, I’m good. And I don’t like to blast whatever I’m listening to.

 

[sgtsandman]

I put in my new ECU and the truck runs near perfect. Every electronic thing has been changed now. Unfortunately I still get a CEL.
Interesting note. The wheel well liner terminates in a little cup where the whole world collects and rusts the sheet metal. Now my front quarter panel just kinda flops.

The mud flaps I installed not long after I bought the 2011 seems to have helped with that. The last time I had one of those pulled down, there wasn’t much in there and the metal seemed to be in pretty decent shape.

 

[Chapap]

The mud flaps I installed not long after I bought the 2011 seems to have helped with that. The last time I had one of those pulled down, there wasn’t much in there and the metal seemed to be in pretty decent shape.

I have some mud flaps. Initially I thought that’s what was supposed to hold the panel on… then I figured out there there was some car missing.

 

[sgtsandman]

Used the XLT to run for oil for the FX4 and parking brake parts for the XLT.

Towed the trailer around for a bit of a shake down while I was at it. Not much to report there. The trailer towed well, I didn’t over grease the bearing buddies, so no grease flung everywhere, and hub and tire temperatures were good.

 

[sgtsandman]

I have some mud flaps. Initially I thought that’s what was supposed to hold the panel on… then I figured out there there was some car missing.

Mine are non factory. So, they do help hold the liner in some. I can’t speak for the factory mud flaps. At least not the front ones. The XLT did come with ones in the back.

 

[pjtoledo]

I went and visited it today, a lot more rain has happened since I stuck it. Im leary about even backing up to it witha trailer to offload my mulch & stone or lift it with the 3-point. I feel I better wait a few days. supposed to not rain until thursday and be in the high 80’s. I did get a few pictures, but it doesnt begin to show how wet & swampy it is. The ruts leading into the area are from the F150 that tried pulling me out. On top of all this the starter on the hhr was about to die, escape isnt back home yet so left a good part of this weeks check at autozone for a starter. I was worried about it enough this morning that I never shut it off from the time I left to check on the truck until I got home from getting a starter & had it up on ramps. At least I shouldn’t have to worry about it now. In town I saw a silver maverick at the ford lot. Escape must still be inside, service dept not open on saturdays.View attachment 77041View attachment 77042View attachment 77044View attachment 77045

find someone with a stretching recovery strap. Kinetic recovery rope is what they are called.

 

[JoshT]

find someone with a stretching recovery strap. Kinetic recovery rope is what they are called.

Make a call... See if MORR wants to bring the MORRVAIR out to Ohio to play in the mud and do a recovery. It might cost you a bit (or a lot of bits), but be fun for us to watch a lifted Corvair wagon playing in the mud.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Mine are non factory. So, they do help hold the liner in some. I can’t speak for the factory mud flaps. At least not the front ones. The XLT did come with ones in the back.

Factory mud flaps seem to funnel stuff in there. My first Ranger I always hosed that area out good on a regular basis

 

[racsan]

Got it pulled out of the swamp and have it at home finally! No pictures of the extraction itself, I drove my ford 2000 tractor there with the flatbed, backed the trailer as close to the truck as I dared & offloaded everything from the ranger onto the flatbed, The less weight the better. Next I moved the trailer out of the way & unhooked it. Took out my yellow tow straps (2) connected them then put my pintle hook into the hitch receiver. connected everything then backed the tractor to hook up. Used a clevis on a 3-point drawbar with swaybars, raised just enough so Im pulling “up” on the ranger and likewise “down” on the back of the tractor. Had about 40’ total strap from ranger to the tractor. Was outside the tree area just enough to where it wasnt swampy wet, just soft enough for the tractor to get a good bite. Put tractor in 1st, 1/4 throttle & it pulled it right out. I did have to stop part way & remove a strap then pull the other way along the ditch. Bren came along to be steering control in the ranger & also drive it home rather than load everything back in the truck, put tractor on the trailer then drive home towing with the ranger. Stone & mulch is still on the trailer now, Ive moved that around enough. Ants were trying to set up house in the door weatherstripping no longer than the truck had been sitting. A few more days would of been worse. Probably the worst of it all was pulling out on the road to leave & having all the mud fling everywhere. That & putting all the gear away, brought more than I needed but wasnt sure what would be needed. Had 3 log chains in addition to my 2 tow straps, a cable come-along, a boat winch with a pully, two sets of ramps, one wood & one aluminum. A shovel, floor jack, many 2x4’s and duct tape. yes duct tape. (hate it when log chain hooks come unhooked, so I tape em!) Was going to back up to truck, raise it with the 3-point & put ramps underneath but decided against it, didnt want to chance sticking the tractor and I figured making the butt end of the ranger weigh less would be my best bet. Ive yet to put the tailgate back on or wash it. Maybe tomorrow.

 

[sgtsandman]

Replaced the logic module for the cap brake light and replaced the parking brake shoes and hardware on the XLT. Also gave her another quick bath for the parade tomorrow.

For those with Explorers, Sport Tracs, or a 2010 & 2011 Ford Rangers with the rear disc brakes, the tip for installing the front spring on the outside of the shoes instead of inside of the shoes was a fantastic one. There was no way in Hades that those springs would ever get installed in the factory position without pulling the axles.

 

[Bgunner]

What is the logic module and why is it needed?

I would think that you just draw the power from the stop light circuit and be done with it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

What is the logic module and why is it needed?

I would think that you just draw the power from the stop light circuit and be done with it.

It would be needed if you tap into the taillights because if you didn’t, the third brake light would come on with the parking/running lights.

I tapped into the third brake light circuit in the cab and ran a wire back for both mine and dad’s. Also ran a 12 volt hot and a ground back there so I have a light inside the cap.

 

[Briansshop]

Did a little exhaust work:

Had some scaps around so fabbed a tip: