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

[Rick W]

The issue is this kit mounts the radio in the middle of the kit instead of the top or bottom. I'm going to order another kit that will allow me to install the radio either way as soon as I figure out what speakers I want to buy.

I was joking, you said the top rail and the bottom rail were opposite, so I was joking. You should put the radio in upside down to solve the problem.

 

[Rick W]

moved it out of the driveway and parked it and the bed full of junk down the road so that people looking at our house did not see the junk and associate it with our house
lol

AJ

I’ve said before when I was injured and then sick, and delirious from both, I accumulated all kinds of junk in my yard. Some of it became the Missing Linc, and some of it became the Road Ranger, and a couple other projects, but amazingly, a lot of it is still junk!

So you inspired me. I had a half dozen 6 foot long deck panels (the corrugated panels you use to pour a concrete floor) and I came to the realization I’m probably never going to use them for any of my insane projects. It took every bit of strength I had to cross in front of the shed of miracles and put them in the back of the truck to take them over the scrapyard. Lincoln came along for moral support.

Then I realized “there is gold in them thar hills!!!!” Look at this:

Actually, the interesting part is I found out what the Missing Linc weighs. Going in:

Coming out:

Dropped 80# of steel. If you subtract 270 for me and 17 for Lincoln, The Missing Linc weighs 3,293 with a half tank of gas.

Woo hoo.

EDIT: I can’t find anywhere what the weight should be: 87 2.9 4WD short short stick

 

[JoshT]

It's alive!



Haven't been posting updates every day, but have been steadily doing a little along int he afternoons for the last three weeks and weekends. Saturday was spentgetting most of the acessory drive reassembled and the upper intake in place. Sunday we fought with getting the cat pipes back in with hopes of getting started on a temporary or good enough exhaust, that was a bust. Cat pipes went in, but quickly determined that the rest was best left to professionals with a lift and a tubing bender. Instead got the rest of the cooling system installed.

Monday we buttoned up a lot of the little things around the engine. Then after getting home I finished making my jumper harness between the Ranger body harness and Explorer start/charge harness. That connector is reversed between the Explorer and Ranger, so both sides had female connectors, but pinout is exactly the same for what maters. Didn't really want to cut into either major harness to swap ends. I stopped by the new pick-n-pull and grabbed two male conectors from wrecked Rangers, spliced them together, and split out the wires for the AC prerssure switch up near the core support.

Today we added fluids, swapped throttle cable, then trouble shot some bad connections. Turns out I never tightened the MEGA fuse nuts, kind of hard for anything to work when there's no connection.



After that was figured out we spun the engin over for a while to prime the oil system. Installed plugs and wires. Need to tidy that up, but it'll do for now. Then had to wait for a Forscan license, just used the free 2 month for this, but will probably buy year when it runs out. If I'd known it was going to take 30 minutes to get the trial key I'd have just bought it. Plugged in the laptop, ran the PATS service to initialize the module. Still didn't want to start, but a few times it acted like it wanted to. Started playing with the throttle while cranking and evenmtually it fired for the first time with the V8. Started it two more times but had to hold the throttle open for both and was running a little rough for all three. Thought that's good enough for today!

Bit later I went out and started it again because I wanted to know if my AC worked (it seems to) and this time I turned the key and it fired right up and ran smooth IMO

Tomorrow I'll be blind and have to avoid dusty environments for 24 hours, so might be Thursday before much more gets done, unless dad feels like messing with it. He's been helping a little and I think it has been good for him after the chemo, as long as he doesn't over do it. Got to replace Pass FWD O2 sensor, wrong one (year and connector) installed and the right one stripped the threads trying to remove from old pipe. Then we can install tires, get it off stands, add coolant (or water), finish filling transmission, and power steering fluid. Hoping tyhat possibly Friday I can get it to an exhaust shop and maybe have it back at the beginning of next week.

I think I'm almost ready for that V8 swap banner! Still going to wait until I've actually driven it down the road, or at least moved under its own power.

 

[Rick W]

It's alive!



Haven't been posting updates every day, but have been steadily doing a little along int he afternoons for the last three weeks and weekends. Saturday was spentgetting most of the acessory drive reassembled and the upper intake in place. Sunday we fought with getting the cat pipes back in with hopes of getting started on a temporary or good enough exhaust, that was a bust. Cat pipes went in, but quickly determined that the rest was best left to professionals with a lift and a tubing bender. Instead got the rest of the cooling system installed.

Monday we buttoned up a lot of the little things around the engine. Then after getting home I finished making my jumper harness between the Ranger body harness and Explorer start/charge harness. That connector is reversed between the Explorer and Ranger, so both sides had female connectors, but pinout is exactly the same for what maters. Didn't really want to cut into either major harness to swap ends. I stopped by the new pick-n-pull and grabbed two male conectors from wrecked Rangers, spliced them together, and split out the wires for the AC prerssure switch up near the core support.

Today we added fluids, swapped throttle cable, then trouble shot some bad connections. Turns out I never tightened the MEGA fuse nuts, kind of hard for anything to work when there's no connection.



After that was figured out we spun the engin over for a while to prime the oil system. Installed plugs and wires. Need to tidy that up, but it'll do for now. Then had to wait for a Forscan license, just used the free 2 month for this, but will probably buy year when it runs out. If I'd known it was going to take 30 minutes to get the trial key I'd have just bought it. Plugged in the laptop, ran the PATS service to initialize the module. Still didn't want to start, but a few times it acted like it wanted to. Started playing with the throttle while cranking and evenmtually it fired for the first time with the V8. Started it two more times but had to hold the throttle open for both and was running a little rough for all three. Thought that's good enough for today!

Bit later I went out and started it again because I wanted to know if my AC worked (it seems to) and this time I turned the key and it fired right up and ran smooth IMO

Tomorrow I'll be blind and have to avoid dusty environments for 24 hours, so might be Thursday before much more gets done, unless dad feels like messing with it. He's been helping a little and I think it has been good for him after the chemo, as long as he doesn't over do it. Got to replace Pass FWD O2 sensor, wrong one (year and connector) installed and the right one stripped the threads trying to remove from old pipe. Then we can install tires, get it off stands, add coolant (or water), finish filling transmission, and power steering fluid. Hoping tyhat possibly Friday I can get it to an exhaust shop and maybe have it back at the beginning of next week.

I think I'm almost ready for that V8 swap banner! Still going to wait until I've actually driven it down the road, or at least moved under its own power.

Sounds great! And just to be clear, you made a jumper out of the two male connectors to go between the two female connectors? I’d like to think I think of everything, but I would’ve never thought of that.

 

[JoshT]

Yes. Cut connectors with about a 10" pigtail from two harnesses. Used solder sleeves to join the three needed wires together with a wire length of about 8" between them. That's still too long, but works fine. Wrapped that with split loom and tape. Then I extended the two wires for the AC high pressure switch up to the radiator support where it is located on the explorer, about 3' of extension. That too was wrapped withsplit loom and tape. Though about taking before I started making it, but didn't remember until it was finished and installed in the truck. I guess I'll have to make it to the 25th so everyone can ooh and aah (or point and laugh).

I can't take all of the credit. I think we both developed the idea independently, but @lil_Blue_Ford beat me to it on the execution. He had the idea and made it first, but I didn't know about it until a later discussion when I was gathering parts to do my swap. Actually that seems to be a common thread for our builds, similar build direction, but the ideas developed independently with him beating me on the execution.

 

[Rick W]

Yes. Cut connectors with about a 10" pigtail from two harnesses. Used solder sleeves to join the three needed wires together with a wire length of about 8" between them. That's still too long, but works fine. Wrapped that with split loom and tape. Then I extended the two wires for the AC high pressure switch up to the radiator support where it is located on the explorer, about 3' of extension. That too was wrapped withsplit loom and tape. Though about taking before I started making it, but didn't remember until it was finished and installed in the truck. I guess I'll have to make it to the 25th so everyone can ooh and aah (or point and laugh).

I can't take all of the credit. I think we both developed the idea independently, but @lil_Blue_Ford beat me to it on the execution. He had the idea and made it first, but I didn't know about it until a later discussion when I was gathering parts to do my swap. Actually that seems to be a common thread for our builds, similar build direction, but the ideas developed independently with him beating me on the execution.

Whole thing is way cool. Closest I’ve ever come to seeing how one was converted.

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

I ordered a balancer bolt (see my other thread about my annoying front timing cover seal leak) on Amazon on Monday. You know, the one you can’t reuse. It was $5, genuine ford, I figured it would be a good deal and faster than elsewhere......

Nope! This is what showed up yesterday.... with the ford PN label on it from amazon and everything...

Later yesterday I went to the local ford dealer just for giggles, to see if they happened to have the bolt. Lo and behold, they did! $6 and a few minutes later, and I had the RIGHT bolt in my hand. I'm still surprised they had parts for a 20 year old truck, but I can't complain!

 

[Rick W]

I ordered a balancer bolt (see my other thread about my annoying front timing cover seal leak) on Amazon on Monday. You know, the one you can’t reuse. It was $5, genuine ford, I figured it would be a good deal and faster than elsewhere......

Nope! This is what showed up yesterday.... with the ford PN label on it from amazon and everything... View attachment 107735

Later yesterday I went to the local ford dealer just for giggles, to see if they happened to have the bolt. Lo and behold, they did! $6 and a few minutes later, and I had the RIGHT bolt in my hand. I'm still surprised they had parts for a 20 year old truck, but I can't complain!

Good for you. Question, how hard do you have to hold it in your hand to stop the leak?

Seriously, I just bought the multi function switch for my 87. While I was looking, I ran across a couple of those tables that show every vehicle it fits. I was astounded at how many different models over I think more than 20 years use the same switch, Ford Lincoln and Mercury. Sometimes I wonder if they design anything new except the sheet metal (er, I mean plastic).

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

Good for you. Question, how hard do you have to hold it in your hand to stop the leak?

Seriously, I just bought the multi function switch for my 87. While I was looking, I ran across a couple of those tables that show every vehicle it fits. I was astounded at how many different models over I think more than 20 years use the same switch, Ford Lincoln and Mercury. Sometimes I wonder if they design anything new except the sheet metal (er, I mean plastic).

I know- as much as I make fun of ford for reusing parts (see the dome light in my truck from the old broncos), it really does make life easy.

 

[JoshT]

I know- as much as I make fun of ford for reusing parts (see the dome light in my truck from the old broncos), it really does make life easy.

IIRC the inside door handles for my 68 were still used in one of the E-150 until 2014 at least. They are plastic instead of metal, but look the same. About a 45 year run for the same part.

 

[Rick W]

I’ve said before when I was injured and then sick, and delirious from both, I accumulated all kinds of junk in my yard. Some of it became the Missing Linc, and some of it became the Road Ranger, and a couple other projects, but amazingly, a lot of it is still junk!

So you inspired me. I had a half dozen 6 foot long deck panels (the corrugated panels you use to pour a concrete floor) and I came to the realization I’m probably never going to use them for any of my insane projects. It took every bit of strength I had to cross in front of the shed of miracles and put them in the back of the truck to take them over the scrapyard. Lincoln came along for moral support.

Then I realized “there is gold in them thar hills!!!!” Look at this:

View attachment 107724View attachment 107725

Actually, the interesting part is I found out what the Missing Linc weighs. Going in:

View attachment 107726

Coming out:

View attachment 107727

Dropped 80# of steel. If you subtract 270 for me and 17 for Lincoln, The Missing Linc weighs 3,293 with a half tank of gas.

Woo hoo.

EDIT: I can’t find anywhere what the weight should be: 87 2.9 4WD short short stick

Afterthought. Did you ever do something without thinking about it, and you go on about your business, and then you think about it when you’re falling asleep and you get really scared?

I don’t know what I was thinking when I drove the Missing Linc into the scrapyard. What if they didn’t let me leave with it?!?!?

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

Afterthought. Did you ever do something without thinking about it, and you go on about your business, and then you think about it when you’re falling asleep and you get really scared?

I don’t know what I was thinking when I drove the Missing Linc into the scrapyard. What if they didn’t let me leave with it?!?!?

All the time. I feel you.

 

[Curious Hound]

Good for you. Question, how hard do you have to hold it in your hand to stop the leak?

Seriously, I just bought the multi function switch for my 87. While I was looking, I ran across a couple of those tables that show every vehicle it fits. I was astounded at how many different models over I think more than 20 years use the same switch, Ford Lincoln and Mercury. Sometimes I wonder if they design anything new except the sheet metal (er, I mean plastic).

Hey! Don’t complain. They already DO design too many new parts when they already have something that works perfectly fine. For those of us who shop at junk yards more than Advance or O-Reilly, interchangeability is important. And I would much rather get a 15 year old part to put on my 30 year old truck than to buy a 30 year old part that will crumble immediately like the original part.

 

[JoshT]

I don’t know what I was thinking when I drove the Missing Linc into the scrapyard. What if they didn’t let me leave with it?!?!?

I don't know what you would have done. If I were placed in that position, the scrapyard would be having a very, very bad day.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yes. Cut connectors with about a 10" pigtail from two harnesses. Used solder sleeves to join the three needed wires together with a wire length of about 8" between them. That's still too long, but works fine. Wrapped that with split loom and tape. Then I extended the two wires for the AC high pressure switch up to the radiator support where it is located on the explorer, about 3' of extension. That too was wrapped withsplit loom and tape. Though about taking before I started making it, but didn't remember until it was finished and installed in the truck. I guess I'll have to make it to the 25th so everyone can ooh and aah (or point and laugh).

I can't take all of the credit. I think we both developed the idea independently, but @lil_Blue_Ford beat me to it on the execution. He had the idea and made it first, but I didn't know about it until a later discussion when I was gathering parts to do my swap. Actually that seems to be a common thread for our builds, similar build direction, but the ideas developed independently with him beating me on the execution.

So actually I should probably give some credit to @holyford86 for making up adapters using salvaged connectors with a pigtail of wire, he suggested it to me back when I was putting a 4.0 in my Choptop and the harnesses didn’t plug completely together (he was also the one to get me the harness I needed out of a 2nd Gen Ranger because I found out the Explorer 4.0 harness was waaayyy different). So now I have a collection of factory Ford pigtails to use when I have to make adapters, lol.

As for my 5.0 AWD Ranger project, well, to be honest, it’s something I wanted to do for many years and really started collecting parts for and kinda planning the build since I bought my green Ranger after my hip surgery back like 9-ish years ago (at the time I was specifically looking for a 98-00 extended cab with third doors 4.0 automatic 4x4 with every intention of doing the swap). So there’s been a lot of “behind the scenes” that has gone into my build. I’ve also spent a ton of time on forums and stuff to plan things out as much as possible. I ended up really going into largely uncharted territory with my build, but that doesn’t bother me. Dad’s 5.0 Ranger was a much more straightforward swap because we didn’t get into the crazy build that I went for. Dad wanted a stock height to 2” lifted truck and nothing crazy. I wanted a lowered sleeper mini truck monster because I wanted one of those for the last like 25 years. I still have a bunch of issues to work out on my build yet, but as it sits… man… I absolutely love it. I had originally hoped to build a 331 stroker out of the 5.0 before dropping it in, but things happened and it wasn’t possible to make happen yet, but it’s still on the future list. As it sits, it’s downright mean and will shove you into your seat plus rail around bends, but it looks like a rough, worn old Ranger with a cap and not a wicked toy.