What did YOU do today?

[sgtsandman]

I took advantage of the warm weather and cleaned the windows on both of the Rangers.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Finally made good progress on the camper project tonight... Sunday night I got the remote jack on switch moved to near the door instead of coiled up under the sink and isolated the front jacks instead of just having front and rear, rear jacks are spliced together somewhere that's too buried but simple enough if I can isolate the front... Monday I got a new ground bar since the old one was rusted up and finished the wiring cleanup and mounted the module, also cut out a piece of the thin plywood for under the sink area then painted it. Tonight I mounted that plywood, screwed the bedrail area to the aluminum subframe then started tackling the replacement 1x wood to be added back. I got over 3/4 done when I realized it was 10:30... Tomorrow night I'll keep at it, probably get to starting the plywood Friday night, might get to putting the fiberglass back on Sunday? We'll see... I'd really like to get this project done so I can do something more fun...

 

[Blmpkn]

Exactly. I have owned a lot of different cars, but the most fun to drive was a Jeep CJ5 with a V8. The new Broncos, especially the two door, remind me of that, especially the 2 door. My wife likes it too. We're going to take one for a test drive.

Bring the checkbook on your test drive.. your gonna want to go home with one

You should be able to find a nice selection too, depending on your location. Bronco production is FINALLY outpacing sales.. so there's way more sitting around waiting to get bought. Couple that with the 30% increase in cost for a "base" model since their debut and the trash interest rates banks are handing out nowadays.. a good negotiator could probably get themselves a healthy discount off msrp on certain models.

"Base" is in quotations because ford recently axed the actual, named as such, BASE model bronco.. which could of been had in its cheapest form for 29k in 2021.. the most affordable option now is the Big Bend and I believe ford wants 41k for one with 0 options. Price goes up yearly too, of course

Price increase is no joke, I'm one of the fools who willing paid the dealer additional markup over MSRP.. (a year ago) 3000 dollary-doos to be precise.. brought my cost to 46k. After a quick look at the build&price tool on ford's website.. today's msrp on the same bronco is 45,700$ lol.

 

[Rick W]

YIKES! My first house, brand, new custom, built, starter home, was $41,000! Of course, that was a few weeks ago…

 

[Lefty]

Exactly. I have owned a lot of different cars, but the most fun to drive was a Jeep CJ5 with a V8. The new Broncos, especially the two door, remind me of that. I never drove a first generation Bronco, but it was meant to be a lot like a Jeep.

My wife, who hated my Jeep, likes the Bronco because it's a lot more refined. She hates SUVs, because they have become so common, and she says, in trying to be both sporty and practical, and roomy, they have no personality. She's right, IMO. A 2 door Bronco is just the right size for us. We have an empty nest. That short wheel base will make it a lot easier to park.

Our other car is a Fiat. It's a great little short errand vehicle but has no legroom in the back seat. It gets great mileage, but it's very slow. It does well in winters, but nowhere near as well as a 4WD. She likes the Landrover Defender, but it's quite expensive.

We're going to take one for a test drive.

 

[Blmpkn]

YIKES! My first house, brand, new custom, built, starter home, was $41,000! Of course, that was a few weeks ago…

Couple years back we put gutters on a house that was bought/built by the grandparents of the current owners.. current owners said that the land was bought AND the house built (way back then) for the sum of 4000$. I looked the place up online and nowadays it's valued at 2.1 million


Legroom in the back of a 2 door bronco is surprisingly nice. Rear passenger comfort is actually better than a new ranger as well.. somehow.. despite the back seats being directly over the axle.

 

[Bgunner]

Today is housework day, you know the cleaning and such with later being taking down Christmas decorations outside since the weather is going to be warm. I just need to wait till the Mrs. gets up before I go outside because the dogs will go ape$#!% if I'm out in front of the house with no one with them. Her mom is in her late 80's so I let her sleep and rest and not make her deal with the noise of the beasts. The front yard doesn't have a fence so my four legged attachments can't come out there with me.

 

[Lefty]

Bring the checkbook on your test drive.. your gonna want to go home with one

You should be able to find a nice selection too, depending on your location. Bronco production is FINALLY outpacing sales.. so there's way more sitting around waiting to get bought. Couple that with the 30% increase in cost for a "base" model since their debut and the trash interest rates banks are handing out nowadays.. a good negotiator could probably get themselves a healthy discount off msrp on certain models.

"Base" is in quotations because ford recently axed the actual, named as such, BASE model bronco.. which could of been had in its cheapest form for 29k in 2021.. the most affordable option now is the Big Bend and I believe ford wants 41k for one with 0 options. Price goes up yearly too, of course

Price increase is no joke, I'm one of the fools who willing paid the dealer additional markup over MSRP.. (a year ago) 3000 dollary-doos to be precise.. brought my cost to 46k. After a quick look at the build&price tool on ford's website.. today's msrp on the same bronco is 45,700$ lol.

I noticed that. We pay cash when we buy. Dealers give discounts that way. We hate making car payments anyway. We also get a Ford family discount. My nephew is an exec in Detroit.

That's part of why I bought a Ranger in the first place. I love to ask him stupid questions.

 

[cbxer55]

Woke up! LOL!

Recently moved from an apartment I lived in for 11 years. Renting a three bedroom two bathroom house from a friend. Two car garage with a car port. So my three bikes and LIGHTNING are garaged, Ranger under the car port. My understanding from the neighbors is this house has a had a lot of occupants the last few years. Told my friend I don't want to move again, so I'm here til the cows come home. He's fine with that. Anyway, trying to pay my February rent, and he's like "No Rush!"

So, the yard is a mess. Looks like no one ever bothered to rake the leaves the last few years. And large broken tree branches in the back yard. Weather has been great so far, a week in January when the Polar Vortex moved through. Otherwise, 50's and 60's. Been using the warm weather to try and get the yards straightened up. Smokun a big fat cigar and drinkun either spiked covfefe or suds. Or both.

 

[cbxer55]

Drove to a friend's house Sunday in the old Ranger. Highway speeds. Going there it was fine, running along 85 to 90 mph with everyone else. Coming home, it suddenly lost power. Would barely maintain 60 mph with a lot of throttle. Checked it yesterday and found the sleeve on the PCV line that connects it to the oil filler tube was split open and unconnected. AHAH! Big vacuum leak. Made a new one and put it on, back to it's good old self again.

I know no one believes it, but I love my 3.0. With 4.10 gears and a shift kit in the trans, it's a fun vehicle to drive. No muffler, and people ask me what size V-8 it has. CAI with two scoops on the hood for cold air, a large scoop in the middle keeps the intake manifold cold to the touch, and especially the steel three inch tube from the MAF to the TB. Cold to the touch. Runs awesome. I love it. Also fitted it with some 50 year old barn find Cragar Mag Master rims two years ago, with knockoff center spinners. OLD SCHOOL!

My friend has a 1994 Honda Accord with the VTEC four cylinder. Has headers and a CAI. Lowered on 17 inch rims. Front air dam, side skirts, lowered rear pan, and double wing rear spoiler. Doesn't even have 12,000 miles on it. Garage kept with a cover over it. It's immaculate. Factory paint, interior and all the rubber on the outside is factory stock. Buying it from him for ten large. My offer. KBB says it isn't even worth a grand. But you should see it. Only thing it needs it blacked out windows. Yes, tinting is legal here in Oklahoma. Lots of people, including me, have a minor tint on our front windshields. Even a lot of the police cars out here have tinted windows, including limo tint.

 

[Lefty]

Drove to a friend's house Sunday in the old Ranger. Highway speeds. Going there it was fine, running along 85 to 90 mph with everyone else. Coming home, it suddenly lost power. Would barely maintain 60 mph with a lot of throttle. Checked it yesterday and found the sleeve on the PCV line that connects it to the oil filler tube was split open and unconnected. AHAH! Big vacuum leak. Made a new one and put it on, back to it's good old self again.

I know no one believes it, but I love my 3.0. With 4.10 gears and a shift kit in the trans, it's a fun vehicle to drive. No muffler, and people ask me what size V-8 it has. CAI with two scoops on the hood for cold air, a large scoop in the middle keeps the intake manifold cold to the touch, and especially the steel three inch tube from the MAF to the TB. Cold to the touch. Runs awesome. I love it. Also fitted it with some 50 year old barn find Cragar Mag Master rims two years ago, with knockoff center spinners. OLD SCHOOL!

My friend has a 1994 Honda Accord with the VTEC four cylinder. Has headers and a CAI. Lowered on 17 inch rims. Front air dam, side skirts, lowered rear pan, and double wing rear spoiler. Doesn't even have 12,000 miles on it. Garage kept with a cover over it. It's immaculate. Factory paint, interior and all the rubber on the outside is factory stock. Buying it from him for ten large. My offer. KBB says it isn't even worth a grand. But you should see it. Only thing it needs it blacked out windows. Yes, tinting is legal here in Oklahoma. Lots of people, including me, have a minor tint on our front windshields. Even a lot of the police cars out here have tinted windows, including limo tint.

Now you got me thinking. Do you think a hood scoop or any kind of cold air intake will help to increase performance?

 

[Blmpkn]

Now you got me thinking. Do you think a hood scoop or any kind of cold air intake will help to increase performance?

Your truck is, from the factory, equipped with a cold air intake. Your usage of the truck would in no way benefit from a short ram (or rather HOT air) intake like he has on his.

 

[Bgunner]

Now you got me thinking. Do you think a hood scoop or any kind of cold air intake will help to increase performance?

If you have over heating issues a hood scoop could help keep the engine bay a bit cooler but otherwise there is no reason for a true hood scoop/louvers. The non functioning ones do add a touch of cosmetic styling to the hoods.

The Rangers come with a cold air intake already ( air intake is in the radiator support behind the headlight area or fender well ) so performance isn't increased other than the filters have a better air flow. The issue with having a cold air intake is that the filters can suck warm air from the engine bay reducing performance. The cold air intakes do add a cool sound to the engine bay because you can hear it sucking air while the stock system is designed to reduce this noise. I personally just added a high air flow filter designed to fit in the original air cleaner box.

 

[Lefty]

Your truck is, from the factory, equipped with a cold air intake. Your usage of the truck would in no way benefit from a short ram (or rather HOT air) intake like he has on his.

Yes, but for a second there I had hoped so. I do notice a difference in acceleration when the weather gets really cold. Otherwise performance is more or less the same, summer or winter.

 

[cbxer55]

I'm only going to repeat what my friend, who does transmissions, told me after he did the axle and shift kit, "That is one strong running V-6!" The louvers on the hood of my truck are fully functional. Just idling, there is a lot of air coming out of them. Couple winters ago, I had cleared the snow off the hood, but left it in the heat vents. At around 45 mph, ten pieces of snow came flying out of them and hit the windshields, without ever touching the hood. Lot of pressure escaping them.

The hood scoop is a very large Boss 429 part. With 25 1.5 inch holes in the hood beneath it. Even in the summer ,my aluminum intake doesn't get anywhere near as hot as it used to. And during the winter, it's cold to the touch. Sure, idling, it gets warm. Drive it 10 minutes and it's cold again. Most important is the three inch diameter intake tube, made of polished stainless. It used to get hot enough to fry an egg on. Not anymore.

My air filter is a Spectre stainless steel mesh filter. Man it makes a lot of racket. There are two small scoops on the hood directly above it. As with the intake manifold and intake tube, it never gets hot at all.

Exhaust has no muffler, with two exits in front of the passenger. Sure it's loud. I love the way it sounds. And I have a JET chip on the computer altering the fuel trims, the timing and the transmission shift points.

I always forget this. It has a larger throttle body as well. Close on to 70 mm. Stock is 50. I also hogged out the front inner surface of the upper intake manifold so there would not be a step from the larger throttle body tot he manifold.

Yup, sure runs good. A lot better than it ever did when it was stock.