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'85 Ranger Restomod


85_Ranger4x4

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LMC cover painted to be somewhat close to the right color tan. Originally it was too light, I used Boots Brown or something like that Krylon. You can tell it isn't the original cover but it looks a lot better than the original cracked and faded pad.

Door panels are stock, I need a new DS but it doesn't bother me enough yet to pay what LMC thinks they are worth.
 


88ranger89camaro

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yea i think im going with their tan, dash pad, door pannels, and carpet, then paint my steering colum the same color, leave the metal parts of the dash the dark tan, maybe paint the trim piece that goes between the dash and metal bottom part

yours looks good
 

85_Ranger4x4

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yea i think im going with their tan, dash pad, door pannels, and carpet, then paint my steering colum the same color, leave the metal parts of the dash the dark tan, maybe paint the trim piece that goes between the dash and metal bottom part

yours looks good
Thanks, BTW it was maybe a little darker than my center console. It looked like a more modern shade of tan.

Report back how the door panels are, one thing that scares me is they will be the same light color.
 

bobbywalter

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Location
woodhaven mi
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1988
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FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
interior does look great:icon_thumby:
 

dangerranger83

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Maybe I missed it but what seats are you running in her and what did it take to get them to fit? Also, what does running tranny fluid in your gas do?
 

85_Ranger4x4

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Maybe I missed it but what seats are you running in her and what did it take to get them to fit? Also, what does running tranny fluid in your gas do?
Seats are out of an Explorer they bolted on standard cab brakets that I had to drill holes for. If you are very big I don't recomend them as they hit the back window. They are only there until I find a set of lowback buckets so I can get some legroom.

Tranny fluid is high in detergants and raises the octane, it was suggested to me that it might remove some of the carbon. Since I have a couple bottles the labels came off of it seemed like a great way to get rid of it since I am always grabbing it thinking it is oil.
 

nb11

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Tranny fluid is high in detergants and raises the octane, it was suggested to me that it might remove some of the carbon. Since I have a couple bottles the labels came off of it seemed like a great way to get rid of it since I am always grabbing it thinking it is oil.
Hmmm, interesting. I was going to ask about that too. Let us know if you can tell if it does anything.
 

Robert_1967

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When I was driving truck, we use to put autotrans fluid in the fuel filters, it helps cleans the injectors, and cleans the valves.




Robert
 

85_Ranger4x4

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I got the brackets painted, the poor thing must have howled like a banshee. Every idler pulley has a noise in it, the grooved pulley was really rough and hard to turn. I am going to need both idlers and the tensioner... which I suppose is good so it doesn't tempt me to chance a used pulley. :icon_twisted:

 

bobbywalter

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Location
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FORD mostly
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V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
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Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
hehe he


my idlers on the 6.5 are so bad you cant hear the engine running:icon_rofl:



i have had them riding in the truck for 6 months.....one day i will put them on:D





oh yeah...one other thing on trans fluid...
my truck actually runs on used trans fluid:thefinger:
 

85_Ranger4x4

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It would take some doing to drown out the clanking rattle of a GM diesel :D

Not liking the smell of tranny fluid exhaust... it does help though.
 

bobbywalter

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Location
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Vehicle Year
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FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
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Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
tranny fluid smells great compared to engine oil or diesel. fryer oil is pretty good though...


my truck is quieter on tranny then diesel. its hard to tell its a diesel sometimes.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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It has a different funk to it mixed with gas though. :dunno:
 

dangerranger83

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So it is safe to add tranny fluid to your gas and isnt going to screw up the plugs or carb stuff? Is it okay to run it in the winter time? Why I ask this....well I have some laying around and my truck is a manual tranny, so I have no need for it.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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So it is safe to add tranny fluid to your gas and isnt going to screw up the plugs or carb stuff? Is it okay to run it in the winter time? Why I ask this....well I have some laying around and my truck is a manual tranny, so I have no need for it.
I have been running it on 20 degree days, the truck sill runs fine. Aside from a greatly reduced ping you can't tell a difference in seat. I ran the truck until it was on fumes just about and went to the gas station. I had to hold the flapper open with a small screwdriver (or I would probably still be there waiting for the fluid to creep past it) then then filled the tank completely to mix it in.

Some Ford manuals use ATF, pretty sure the M5OD does.
 

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