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07 level II YELLOW submarine


MaicoDoug

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590
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Location
Texas
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Ranger FX4 LVL2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2 inches in the back, not enough in the front
Tire Size
32x11.5x15
The bed rails of this style Ranger are not flat. They taper down towards the outside. The bed camper top has a flat shape that won't sit flush, so I needed to come up with some sort of gasket, not a typical topper gasket, something that has some height. The top's mating surface is totally flat and in contact at the inside, with a 1/2" gap at the outside.

Enter the color coordinated gasket.....
1724795482154.jpeg

1724795536519.jpeg

1724795570069.jpeg

This is redneck as I've gotten in awhile.....
 
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MaicoDoug

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Messages
590
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Location
Texas
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Ranger FX4 LVL2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2 inches in the back, not enough in the front
Tire Size
32x11.5x15

Curious Hound

Formerly EricBphoto
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Age
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Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
The bed rails of this style Ranger are not flat. They taper down towards the outside. The bed camper top has a flat shape that won't sit flush, so I needed to come up with some sort of gasket, not a typical topper gasket, something that has some height. It's totally flat and in contact at the inside, with a 1/2" gap at the outside.

Enter the color coordinated gasket.....
View attachment 116269
View attachment 116270
View attachment 116271
This is redneck as I've gotten in awhile.....
Is that a length of plastic hose? Ingenious!
 

MaicoDoug

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
590
Reaction score
470
Location
Texas
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Ranger FX4 LVL2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2 inches in the back, not enough in the front
Tire Size
32x11.5x15
From lowes, extra section of "no kink" garden hose, better than the new stuff.
 

MaicoDoug

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
590
Reaction score
470
Location
Texas
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Ranger FX4 LVL2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2 inches in the back, not enough in the front
Tire Size
32x11.5x15
Getting ready for an excursion out to the south west section of Texas where the tiny towns of Marfa & Alpine are located. Where the local women regularly kick city mens butts. Getting together a group of rockhounds headed off road with the 2wd SUVs. I will have my rigging straps just in case. Somebody needs to bring the tools & stuff (me).

Will be accompanied by Frankie the cardiac nurse (part of my anturage). She was the one with the white knuckles up on Imogene Pass last July.
Here we all are here........:)
1728741721494.png

Really the only thing to get done is an oil change, maybe attach some gaskets above the headlight buckets. I've tried various glues and PSAs with nothing staying attached at all. The surfaces prepped with solvent. So time to go with the #4 button heads and tap the thread into the thin clear plastic. I'm using (this time) some door gasket material that slides into place on exterior entry/exit building doors at the bottom. Sweeper type gasket. This plugs the 3/4" opening above the EBAY headlights. I'll post a pic of the problem area before & after. Also a few pictures of the rock hunt.

I stole the above pic from some TV ad, thought it would be an interesting pic of what may be (in my head) when my ship comes in ~haha. Oh yea, that's me in the white suit. Have a super Saturday yall.
 
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Lefty

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Location
Saint Paul, MN
Vehicle Year
2003
Make / Model
Ranger Edge
Transmission
Automatic
Getting ready for an excursion out to the south west section of Texas where the tiny towns of Marfa & Alpine are located. Where the local women regularly kick city mens butts. Getting together a group of rockhounds headed off road with the 2wd SUVs. I will have my rigging straps just in case. Somebody needs to bring the tools & stuff (me).

Will be accompanied by Frankie the cardiac nurse (part of my anturage). She was the one with the white knuckles up on Imogene Pass last July.
Here we all are here........:)
View attachment 118892
Really the only thing to get done is an oil change, maybe attach some gaskets above the headlight buckets. I've tried various glues and PSAs with nothing staying attached at all. The surfaces prepped with solvent. So time to go with the #4 button heads and tap the thread into the thin clear plastic. I'm using (this time) some door gasket material that slides into place on exterior entry/exit building doors at the bottom. Sweeper type gasket. This plugs the 3/4" opening above the EBAY headlights. I'll post a pic of the problem area before & after. Also a few pictures of the rock hunt.

I stole the above pic from some TV ad, thought it would be an interesting pic of what may be (in my head) when my ship comes in ~haha. Oh yea, that's me in the white suit. Have a super Saturday yall.
Every Ranger I know looks just like this. All dressed and ready to change the oil or a tire, or pull a nieghbor out of the mud.
 

MaicoDoug

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
590
Reaction score
470
Location
Texas
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Ranger FX4 LVL2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2 inches in the back, not enough in the front
Tire Size
32x11.5x15
Crazy colorful........
1729514902140.jpeg


Dry without water even.
Local cuisine was the best....
1729515090098.jpeg

In the middle of nowhere.......
1729515150422.jpeg

1729515200277.jpeg
 

MaicoDoug

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
590
Reaction score
470
Location
Texas
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Ranger FX4 LVL2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2 inches in the back, not enough in the front
Tire Size
32x11.5x15

Lukey81

New Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2024
Messages
1
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1
Location
Idaho
Vehicle Year
2004
Make / Model
Ranger edge
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
I think I’m going to model my front suspension rebuild after yours! Anything you would change as an afterthought?
 

MaicoDoug

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
590
Reaction score
470
Location
Texas
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Ranger FX4 LVL2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2 inches in the back, not enough in the front
Tire Size
32x11.5x15
Lukey81 Thank You!

Q: Anything you would change as an afterthought?
A: Not really, and I'm always willing to give a critique. Just put the work in realizing that to remove the shock, the lower A arm will need to come out. Since you won't have the exact kit that I started out with, make sure that the structure that both shock ends connect to are well engineered to support the force of the shock. That is where it connects to the lower A arm & the upper frame mount.

My next step would be to try a "dual rate" spring assembly. The Eibach 800 pound / inch spring is a tiny bit stiff for my stock trim level (no added weight, example- winch on the heavier front bumper), so while maintaining the added in 2 inch lift, so far so good, but the ride could be slightly softer but only during the initial 1.5" of travel. The adjuster is apx 30% up the threaded section. So that gives me interest in running a softer spring coupled on top of the main 800 Eibach spring, pls note that the final length will be the same height & travel. I should include the stock # but Eibach uses stupid numbers like their part numbering system is simple....2.0-800- length in inches. I would need to change both springs.

These are FOX 2.0 diameter shocks. The Shock. Well affordable, just take the time to fabricate a reservoir plate and test fit it to make sure that your tire won't hit it. I really should purchase a nitrogen shock servicing kit, bottle included. The fit is very tight, but still plenty of room to do it right. So take your time. Spend a few days up on the jack stands to look at the situation such as the small amount of room needed to move the stock brake line over and what the area should look like while you weld in the tower gussets.

Take your time to do the custom installation right. Which is a development along the way, ongoing until all the parts are in their place and the only thing left to do is tune 2 things, your overall design & your adjustments within that design.....

So that's the only 3 things I still need to try-
1) Tune the nitrogen shock pressure lower by 10-20% (stock 60/40 valve timing is fine).
2) Try a dual rate spring system (see Eibach spring catalog or other).
3) Soften up the rear axle initial spring rate, it's stiffness makes the front receive weight transfer rather quickly.
4) Top out straps & bottom out bumpers. So far I've had no issues at either end of travel- so far. I removed the stock bottom out bumpers, I believe the shock springs stack up solid at full travel & the springs don't become loose at any point fully extended. Start looking at the exact shock model I used referring to the full extended & compressed lengths.

Please post here any questions you may have, I believe I covered my main concerns along the way here in the Yellow Sub thread, but also feel free to start your own thread and I'll be looking forward & watching, replying with the rest there also. Remember (in shear) Grade 8 hardware for the shocks! - Doug
 
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