2006 FX4 Daily / Offroad Build

[sgtsandman]

Nice score on the arm rest cover. Those are a hard thing to find.

 

[Corey H]

Nice score on the arm rest cover. Those are a hard thing to find.

Thanks! I'm pretty happy with it but have a few ideas to make it more functional for my needs but definitely happy I found it. I got it off car-part.com which is honestly so useful if you don't mind paying for shipping

 

[Corey H]

Got to put some work on the seats and sun visors over the long 4th of July weekend. Started on the driver side and now the passenger will be easy to get apart.

The goal prior to actually getting the seats was to only get them reupholstered and dye or paint the tan parts black to match and swap them in. The Explorer though has burn marks on the outside but also had stagnate water smell to it, so this made parts of the seat frames to get some rust. Now the goal is to get the frames cleaned up and repainted and then reupholstered.

I am thinking of using the Explorer lower seat and the Ranger upper back section (don't really like the head rest from the Explorer) but I need to get the Ranger seat apar first to see what it looks like and if it can be swapped over. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[Corey H]

Started on the sun visor also, plan is to redo the headliner and sun visors in all black.

The small section sun visor was easy to get apart and was just glued together but the main visor that has the mirror is giving me some issues. It seems like there are plastic spikes that hold the fabric in place and it was easy to pull the existing fabric off. I tried to get the visor apart but the plastic is fused together I think. I broke the driver side trying to get it apart which isn't the worst cause the wire connector was messed up but i have to find some way to cut or get it apart.

 

[Corey H]

Haven't got any further on the seats or visors. Need to get the passenger seat out of the truck and torn apart to see how similar the Explorer and Ranger seat frames are and if they can be combined or not.

Also need to pick out the fabric for the visors and headliner, I think found it what I am thinking but need to get a sample. I'm looking at a knitted fabric which is similar to what is in my F150 that i like.

But I guess I have a good junkyard by me cause I had the Limited Explorer and I checked the inventory last week and a 03 Level II got put into the yard. So I went on Sunday and got the all the interior trim (expect for the passenger side door panel that was broken) including the dash. I separated the dash trim from all the dash support to because i don't need it but also to save money. I didn't get any pictures yesterday but I'll get some in the next couple days and will probably swap all but the dash in over this weekend.

 

[Corey H]

Haven't got any further on the seats or visors. Need to get the passenger seat out of the truck and torn apart to see how similar the Explorer and Ranger seat frames are and if they can be combined or not.

Also need to pick out the fabric for the visors and headliner, I think found it what I am thinking but need to get a sample. I'm looking at a knitted fabric which is similar to what is in my F150 that i like.

But I guess I have a good junkyard by me cause I had the Limited Explorer and I checked the inventory last week 03 Level II got put into the yard. So I went on Sunday and got the all the interior trim (expect for the passenger side door panel that was broken) including the dash. I separated the dash trim from all the dash support to because i don't need it but also to save money. I didn't get any pictures yesterday but I'll get some in the next couple days and will probably swap all but the dash in over this weekend.

Here are the photos of the interior trim.

 

[MaicoDoug]

You're doing great Corey! Everyone around the off road section knows about my yellow sub, it's an 2007 FX 4 Level II. I pulled out my center console swapped for an exploder unit, got the overhead also which I have not yet installed...yet.

I understand about the ride, rear on mine is crazy hard, even when loaded with Rancho 5000 adjusted to medium. It's that 3/8ths overload leaf. Now for the front, that is where I've put the majority of my time in. Uncle Gub has my old torsion bars, and fortunately my coilover mod is working out nicely.

Check out this link...https://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/winter2017/ford_ranger_coilover_conversion_overview.shtml
Also my coilover mod started here: https://www.therangerstation.com/forums/index.php?threads/07-level-ii-yellow-submarine.189474/page-5#post-1845642

Just got back from some diligent off road fun doing Imogene pass and other past the timberline wheel'in. Damn, Colorado has the white knuckle trails, sheesh!

 

[Corey H]

You're doing great Corey! Everyone around the off road section knows about my yellow sub, it's an 2007 FX 4 Level II. I pulled out my center console swapped for an exploder unit, got the overhead also which I have not yet installed...yet.

I understand about the ride, rear on mine is crazy hard, even when loaded with Rancho 5000 adjusted to medium. It's that 3/8ths overload leaf. Now for the front, that is where I've put the majority of my time in. Uncle Gub has my old torsion bars, and fortunately my coilover mod is working out nicely.

Check out this link...https://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/winter2017/ford_ranger_coilover_conversion_overview.shtml
Also my coilover mod started here: https://www.therangerstation.com/forums/index.php?threads/07-level-ii-yellow-submarine.189474/page-5#post-1845642

Just got back from some diligent off road fun doing Imogene pass and other past the timberline wheel'in. Damn, Colorado has the white knuckle trails, sheesh!

Thanks!! Appreciate it! It's only been a few months but its been a lot fun living out all my teenage Ranger modification dreams lol Adult money has been very helpful but potentially dangerous also hahaha

I read through your thread and you have done some work on your yellow sub! I saw you went with a new OHC and console, how did the console go in?

If you saw on the first couple posts on here, the suspension is what I also want to put some time and effort into but just haven't decided on the path yet. Did you look at the BTF long travel suspension when doing your coils? I'm looking at that or doing the Rough Country 5 inch lift with coils. Either way i want to get ride of the torsion bars for clearance and ride.

I know that area! I am from Denver originally! But went to college in Durango, Colorado and did a good amount of camping and fishing all over the La Plata mountains! Got to love going over the Million Dollar Highway in the winter hahah

 

[MaicoDoug]

Hello again Corey-

The Explorer console, well it fit perfect. Mounted to the tranny hump with tek (self tapping) screws, #10 x 3/4" long using some 1/8" aluminum 120 degree 1 inch wide mounting tabs that I fab'ed up. It's pulled back enough to have all the amenities in easy reach especially the arm rest which is the real reason why I opted, the original unit I still have, but it was just too low as compared to sitting in the tall Level II seats which are high. So there is a big open area now ahead of the console's front where it used to interface into the explorer's dash...that's where things have halted. But alas...there is progress. I bent up a piece of 1/8" aluminum to fill up that area. Need to buy some padded black vinyl before it gets installed into the old ashtray, then goes down and bending back meeting the console front. I'll do a separate thread on it soon. Going to be a nice cargo area as I just couldn't close off all that space when this cab needs room for stuff. 2 inch oil pressure, vacuum & water temp gauges will neatly fit also. Darn'ed Texas summers with nothing but a garage is my shop, get everything done by noon. Will most likely relocate to Durango area in a couple of years where I can work all day in a shop w/o the AC digging into my argon budget.

Those T bars, well the non I beam rangers just don't have much more than 5" of up travel (8" total) available and really require a longer A arm (without massive geometry changes) to enjoy any added travel I my opinion. Not that I haven't been thinking about this, however this will require a longer CV axle, which rumours abound, but I haven't seen anything yet. Pushing everything further out the sides works for desert environments, and down in Port Arthur.....

Oh hell no

...but not for the technical rocky trails in Colorado, I'd want to bring the mounting points together closer, having the wheels in tight and under the chassis was a real blessing for me. Manny Escara & team did it right with his I beam'ed Baja Ranger. That truck programmed me to this day.

You mean this kit Corey.....https://btffabrication.com/collections/ford-1/products/98-12-ranger-4x4-basic-longtravel

This wasn't available 3 years ago when I did mine. You'll have to get the wider rear end to match.
Keep up the good work, me personally, I'd never use any body lifts. But that's just me. Maybe 1 inch, for tire clearance, nothing more.

 

[Corey H]

Hello again Corey-

The Explorer console, well it fit perfect. Mounted to the tranny hump with tek (self tapping) screws, #10 x 3/4" long using some 1/8" aluminum 120 degree 1 inch wide mounting tabs that I fab'ed up. It's pulled back enough to have all the amenities in easy reach especially the arm rest which is the real reason why I opted, the original unit I still have, but it was just too low as compared to sitting in the tall Level II seats which are high. So there is a big open area now ahead of the console's front where it used to interface into the explorer's dash...that's where things have halted. But alas...there is progress. I bent up a piece of 1/8" aluminum to fill up that area. Need to buy some padded black vinyl before it gets installed into the old ashtray, then goes down and bending back meeting the console front. I'll do a separate thread on it soon. Going to be a nice cargo area as I just couldn't close off all that space when this cab needs room for stuff. 2 inch oil pressure, vacuum & water temp gauges will neatly fit also. Darn'ed Texas summers with nothing but a garage is my shop, get everything done by noon. Will most likely relocate to Durango area in a couple of years where I can work all day in a shop w/o the AC digging into my argon budget.

Those T bars, well the non I beam rangers just don't have much more than 5" of up travel (8" total) available and really require a longer A arm (without massive geometry changes) to enjoy any added travel I my opinion. Not that I haven't been thinking about this, however this will require a longer CV axle, which rumours abound, but I haven't seen anything yet. Pushing everything further out the sides works for desert environments, and down in Port Arthur.....View attachment 113812
Oh hell no

...but not for the technical rocky trails in Colorado, I'd want to bring the mounting points together closer, having the wheels in tight and under the chassis was a real blessing for me. Manny Escara & team did it right with his I beam'ed Baja Ranger. That truck programmed me to this day.

You mean this kit Corey.....https://btffabrication.com/collections/ford-1/products/98-12-ranger-4x4-basic-longtravel

This wasn't available 3 years ago when I did mine. You'll have to get the wider rear end to match.
Keep up the good work, me personally, I'd never use any body lifts. But that's just me. Maybe 1 inch, for tire clearance, nothing more.

Definitely will be interested to see how the center console looks in the end! You will have a one of kind for sure when its completed and that you are getting a different look then the standard Explorer swap. I do like the OEM one i got but I do wish it had better storage but I get the purpose was for the sub, since I'm not using or want the sub there might have to think of something but not sure what.... .

Summers in Durango were some of the best! Definitely can be outside all the time and not need to go to the hospital for heat stroke like Texas or Florida right now, i walk outside to throw trash out and im sweating haha

I would be curious how the long travel would work on the trails with our trucks being smaller then average trucks today, I would think a wide wheel base would help but that's only because I see a lot of Tacoma's that offer mid and long travel specifically for overlanding.

That's the exact kit I was looking at, its definitely a pretty penny but you can tell its a solid high quality kit and would outlast the truck haha would you think a wider rear end is needed? One the pictures on BTF it seems they are only wide the front. Nah I haven't ever liked body lifts, so i am 100% staying away from those.

Thanks for the support!

 

[Corey H]

Been trying to work on the truck but the Florida heat is keeping me away.

Did pick out a fabric for the visors (which I still have to figure out how to pull apart) and the headliner. The company has a website but i would have to pay for shipping or they sell through Amazon and i get prime free 2 day lol so easy choice, here is the fabric.

A few things will happen when i replace the headliner. I know I will do the OHC but since I don't have it, I'll do the cut out so i can get a better finish and fold in the edges. Second I don't like the dome light so with the extra material from the OHC cutout I'm going to fill in the dome light opening and cover it. Even though the OHC will have the Buggman LED in them, I took inspiration from my 16 F150, which has LED's in the OHC and a set of LED lights above the rear doors. Found a set on Ebay for $40 and will be putting them above the rear door and extending the wire from the dome. Will I need resistors or is that just for flickering on turn signals? I know this will probably be overkill with lighting for the small cab but oh well haha

I was going to work on the black interior swap but looking at all the pieces, everything needs to be cleaned and some areas are fading. I did some research on restoring the plastic and I am going to use Cerakote Trim Restore. It restores the plastic and adds a ceramic coating to it. Also playing around with the idea, since the cab will be basically empty to add sound deadening and insulation while I have easy access.

 

[MaicoDoug]

Detail wise, the 'ole vinyl paint actually works extremely well fusing into the material, trim, rests ect. Just use very light coats not flood the grain and loose that detail in the surface. Duplicolor, Eastwood, Colorbond all work very well. I'd think twice about the Ceracoat. I know their stuff works well, but what I don't know is if it will take a new coat of paint if & when you decide to re-paint. I guess it depends on how bad the trim is. Ceracoat is some real good stuff no doubt.

 

[Corey H]

You're right it depends on how bad the trim is.

I looked over the pieces again and the only area honestly that would bug me is the driver panel at the top by window. Which is fading on my current grey interior so not a surprise the black is also. The rest could probably get away with a good wash and call it day. Right now I think I would rather get the swap done and then restore it later if it really needs after I've had it for some time.

Also please tell that picture of the car isn't from Colorado ahaha that thing is ridiculous

 

[MaicoDoug]

Houston man, you know H town?

The look these days, hummm. Don't get me started. Your pic of your ride is what is right. Most states don't allow anything to protrude from the fender wells. So that high chair look (spread out waaay beyond the wheel wells) is only a local thing here in Texas, and I'm sure other states.

As you know on the tightest trails, we must not trade paint, and the door handles are what's closest. An inch apart. I could reach in & change radio stations on who I passing. Up close & personal is just good trail educiate. But in the desert, perhaps someone might roll over. You know it's a fine line between form & functionality.

Wider rear axle? What comes to my mind is this; if I were to argue increasing an inch to the track width, I would also make sure that the tread patch would go inside the same amount. Consider preserving the overall centerline if at all possible. The physics of exactly how weight is articulated & distributed differ when suspensions do different things, especially at different speeds. There is slow & technical style, where only the tightest areas can be accessed. Then there is keeping your center of gravity (CG) under control in differing conditions. And you know like others to go fast in open areas. Remember Manny Escara? He's still my hero way back with his 1983 Ranger winning multiple times at Baja 1000 and others. I think some of his design crew hangs around TRS here. Twin I beam front suspension never worked better for anyone. Still a worthwhile design.

When I move to Durango in 2 years, I will have an open shop where I do plan on building a sand/desert Ranger, but I'm 67 y/o and the all day long work days are starting to limit me in the shop. Right now with this level II that I was lucky to fine for $7k, I simply want keep it as stock as possible and not molest it simply keeping up with the maintenance. The front coilovers can always come out if ever anyone must. But the ride now is so much better. 800lb Eibach springs they are on the firm side, but not too firm. I like the way my Ranger handles, holds the road. The delay in response is fast to planting, then turning when the wheels are in tight like the factory designed. And I'm the biggest non-conformist you ever met.

When Ford produced the Raptor, it looked great, started a whole new big deal all about wider track widths from the Detroit factory. Now Dodge has a look alike, and you know where I'm going. The F-150's wheel track is 67", a Raptor's is 73.6". That's 3.25" per side wider, don't know if this is the actual centerline or just outside width. However the Raptor did l loose tire patch & weight directly under the chassis when it was moved to the outside. Personally Corey, I think the "stance" of your suspension looks perfect, but it all depends what you are doing with it. Try some wheel spacers and see, and it is also a common practice to have a wider front when offroad as compared to the rear. The Blazers did that, the Scouts too I think.

I was just glad to see Mr. Bob Fox finally get the respect that his company deserved with those OEM shocks. Still made in the USA too....and those FOX tee shirts still look nice when worn by certain sweethearts. I remember Johnny Carson mentioning on the Tonight Show about attending one of his favorite pastimes, going to the Saturday night dirt bike races where all those pretty pit crews wearing those "foxy tee shirts"!

 

[Corey H]

Luckily I have only been in Houston for about an hour on a layover, I'll have to get some pictures of stuff I see in South Florida.... its a different world down here hahah

Down here a lot of trucks are mall crawlers, lifted, massive tires that don't fit , a ridiculous negative offset on wheels that will never see dirt. Which I hate also and want to stay away from that look and want to stay in the offroad look. When you say you like the stance and look of the truck are you referring to the one I posted a few back or the ones from my intro and first post on this thread? Cause I like my height but might add an 1" with new tires when the time is right with 33's.

That's a really good idea on the spacers, its a cheap and easy option that lets me see if i like the look of a wider front. BTF states the kit pushes out the tires by 4.5" so i will have to look into those. I think my want is to make into something I drive on most days that is comfortable and a better ride but I can get off road its going to perform well also. I don't want a dedicated offroad or desert runner or just a truck for the road.

I would either go Bilstein's or Fox but would prefer Fox since in my opinion are still one the best shocks out there.