New 92’ Ranger - A great build and a lot of fun

[BIGTIRE]

Hi everyone I just picked up a 92 ranger build, 351C bored out, rebuilt 3100 miles ago, roller rockers, weiand tunnel ram, dual Holly 600 carbs, firewall moved back 5’, custom headers, C3 trans, 2800 stall converter, slap shifter, ladder bar suspension, narrowed 8.8 posi rear end, 4.10 gears, skinnies up front with massive 31-16-15R Mickey Thompson’s on Weld rims, beautiful interior, all new metal perfectly straight and clean. This build is a riot and a bunch of fun to drive. Regards, Dave

 

[Jazzer]

Looks like fun. Easy to burn off those back tires if not careful.

Welcome to TRS!

 

[BIGTIRE]

Looks like fun. Easy to burn off those back tires if not careful.

Welcome to TRS!

Thanks Jazzer it will smoke the rear end instantly, Im still getting used to it but I have a bunch of rides in it over the last week. The numbers all look good for oil temp, coolant temp, oil pressure and trans temps.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Now that's a scooter.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Holy shit!!

Do you have a license to fly that thing?

 

[Jim Oaks]

 

[BIGTIRE]

Thank you Jim, high praise from the Supreme Ranger himself. I will get the entire scoop out over the next few days. It’s kinda funny as my best bud always laughs at me and says you dont know what I want for a hot rod. I’ve been looking for 1.5 years but never really saw what I really wanted. Price was not the hang up but rather the perfect rod. Then one day I woke up and saw this on FB and knew it was exactly what I have always wanted and knew this was the one. Stupid tiny truck, massive motor, cartoon rear end all wrapped in black satin. Over the next few days I put the deal together and bought if for less than I was hoping and actually feel like i stole it based on its current state. Really a great ride that still scares me a bit to drive but Im seeing a therapist about that now. Regards, Dave.

 

[Curious Hound]

You bought it that way???? Wow!

 

[BIGTIRE]

Yep I saw it on FB on a Thursday and it was in my garage on Saturday. Built by a for engineer back in 2000-2005 (several years) Then he passed away and his son a ford tech had it for about 15 years. Then a ford customer service rep at their plant bought it and had it for 5 years and made a lot of good improvements to it. Then a ford lover (me) bought it and added it to my fleet of fun fords. I really cant believe it for the price its really an insane build and I love it.

 

[BIGTIRE]

Some of the additional build includes
Massive new aluminum radiator with two electric fans on thermostat
Transmission fan 14"
Ladder bar rear end (fully adjustable)
Cut out in the hood was reinforced...I wanna add two piston rods
Tires are brand new this spring that was a chunk of cash
Since the firewall was moved back the seats got pushed back 6" and the rear seats removed
New beautifully created trans tunnel
Its a two foot driver right on the gas and left on the brake
It was built from three rangers, all the metal is flawless not a blemish anywhere
Painted by a well known guy in Detroit so its not in black primer
Weld forgestar 5" skinnies up front with the 31x16 in the rear.
The rear frame was narrowed up about 12" on both sides for the slicks and then really nice rear tubs were fabricated
Lots of new bracing to keep this thing from twisting itself in half, guy was a good welder for sure
Everything was done right and with great build quality...that's impressive

Next up before winter storage...only 7 weeks away in Michigan
Ride the shit out of it and see what's not right...put a bunch of gas through it and get the fuel system cleaned out
Remove the hideous red tint, replace rear window with weld splatter, then take it in for a proper tint job
Shroud all the brake lines with 2500 degree wrap (lots of header heat)
Finish wrapping all the wiring in the entire truck
Keep checking all the temps and pressures and make sure everything is right under all driving conditions.

Low hanging fruit this winter
Pull, sandblast and paint headers
With those off paint the block and firewall
Clean up everything under the hood and paint everything I can with the motor in place
Cleanup the entire bottom side and shoot everything...it is super clean
Drilled and slotted rotors in the front, New drum kit in the rear, and paint calipers, bleed system
Detail the inside really well and replace the headliner
BIG ASS stereo and speakers
Change the fuel cell foam and fuel filter
Change out ALL the fluids and start fresh on my schedule

I'm sure the list will get longer but I gotta save some love this winter for the other rides as well. This car is by no means finished and I look forward to the next few winters to wrench on it and get it over the finish line. Dave

 

[Jim Oaks]

So, did someone build this with the idea to race it, or for having a bad ass street machine. I'd love to take this out on a Friday night cruise and hit the hot cruising spots.

Does anyone do that anymore, or does everyone these days get up at 6am for Cars & Coffee??

God I miss the '80s.

 

[RobbieD]

God I miss the '80s.

God I miss the '70s.

I just don't remember much of the '80s . . .

 

[Jim Oaks]

God I miss the '70s.

I just don't remember much of the '80s . . .

70s was fun as a kid, but I wasn't old enough to drive until '83. I had dirt bikes prior to that though.

I guess I'm officially at the age where I can start saying how much better things were back when I was young.

 

[BIGTIRE]

Oh he built it for both I bet but mostly for a bad ass street rod. Funny that Art (previous owner) did not change several things and on the car from the original owner. The switch plate its wired for NOS arming and purge. I know the top end is built like a freight train that I have seen. My guess is this block is bored and stroked to a 408 and is filled with all forged internals as the goal was to spray it. I wont know that for certain till I get the motor out, flipped, and pull the pan and measure things up. The 2V heads has always been known as the best street head and flow a crap ton of air through the oversized exhaust ports and out into those custom stepped headers. The 4V heads were for the race cars. That tells me bad ass street machine with a 100 hp shot of NOS...down each carb putting this around 800hp with a crap ton of torque and the right setup to handle all that power.

I got my license in 1984 and by 1987 as the judge took my license away he told me I was the 12th worse driver in the state of Michigan! Eventually I learned self control and here I am today...rehabilitated. This truck is going friday cruising...!

 

[Jim Oaks]

Oh he built it for both I bet but mostly for a bad ass street rod. Funny that Art (previous owner) did not change several things and on the car from the original owner. The switch plate its wired for NOS arming and purge. I know the top end is built like a freight train that I have seen. My guess is this block is bored and stroked to a 408 and is filled with all forged internals as the goal was to spray it. I wont know that for certain till I get the motor out, flipped, and pull the pan and measure things up. The 2V heads has always been known as the best street head and flow a crap ton of air through the oversized exhaust ports and out into those custom stepped headers. The 4V heads were for the race cars. That tells me bad ass street machine with a 100 hp shot of NOS...down each carb putting this around 800hp with a crap ton of torque and the right setup to handle all that power.

I got my license in 1984 and by 1987 as the judge took my license away he told me I was the 12th worse driver in the state of Michigan! Eventually I learned self control and here I am today...rehabilitated. This truck is going friday cruising...!

I've seen big engines like this built and tuned for the street versus drag. I was just wondering. Did the previous owner ever run it through a 1/4 mile?