89 Ranger 4.0 Swap and Hunting Rig, the Houndrunner

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

 

[Uncle Gump]

I swear that goat is a bit jealous of not being a hound.

I bet you were hoping for a bit more clearance?

Maybe a shackle lift?

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I swear that goat is a bit jealous of not being a hound.

I bet you were hoping for a bit more clearance?

Maybe a shackle lift?

Lol those goats are a bigger pain than my hounds. I wanna eat them all!


You’re correct, I was hoping for about 2 more inches when loaded. It rides pretty nice right now so I don’t think I’m going to add any more leafs.

After talking it over with some desert racers, I plan to to do a shackle flip to improve the ride. I will have to wait and see how it affects the height before I do any more adjustments.

 

[BlackBII]

Looking good man. That finger looks painful! I've been there. I always stress the importance of good grounds, especially in older vehicles. It won't hurt to add a few more and clean all the existing ones.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I would just do some corner trimming on the rear fenders similar to what you did in the front... I did, even folded the edges over so it almost looks stock... is plenty of room for mine with 35's and like 5" of lift... In this pic you can see mine close to when I lifted it and did the trimming, it sits lower now that it was a decade ago but I have had zero issues in the back...

For reference that is 3" lift blocks, ~1" of lift built into the spring perches (2.5" 1/4" wall tubing cut out by me), mix of Explorer leaves and some other stuff my buddy had around and Belltech shackles

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Thanks guys!

Looking good man. That finger looks painful! I've been there. I always stress the importance of good grounds, especially in older vehicles. It won't hurt to add a few more and clean all the existing ones.

The finger doesn’t hurt anymore. But when it happened, it sure as heck hurt lol. It’s still pretty sensitive where the scar is. But I don’t have a bandage on it anymore.

I would just do some corner trimming on the rear fenders similar to what you did in the front... I did, even folded the edges over so it almost looks stock... is plenty of room for mine with 35's and like 5" of lift... In this pic you can see mine close to when I lifted it and did the trimming, it sits lower now that it was a decade ago but I have had zero issues in the back...
View attachment 77138

For reference that is 3" lift blocks, ~1" of lift built into the spring perches (2.5" 1/4" wall tubing cut out by me), mix of Explorer leaves and some other stuff my buddy had around and Belltech shackles

I have a 4” lift with stock chevy leafs. Think they ride better now than before. I used to bottom out easily when loaded. Now it’s nice. I plan to trim fenders but want to also pull them out some. Just haven’t done it yet. Found more importanter things lol. Probably do it this week when I get back home.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Oh I know how the list goes, I've had the stuff to do extended radius arms since like 2012? Even cut up a pair of radius arms and trimmed them to fit 2" tubing like in the tech article or wherever it's been on here since then... hopefully soon once I get my shop further... then I'll push the front axle forward a little to get some firewall clearance, I'm tired of the noise... apparently it doesn't hurt the tires even though it sounds horrible? , the passenger front fender started buckling from hitting the tire even...

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Oh I know how the list goes, I've had the stuff to do extended radius arms since like 2012? Even cut up a pair of radius arms and trimmed them to fit 2" tubing like in the tech article or wherever it's been on here since then... hopefully soon once I get my shop further... then I'll push the front axle forward a little to get some firewall clearance, I'm tired of the noise... apparently it doesn't hurt the tires even though it sounds horrible? , the passenger front fender started buckling from hitting the tire even...

Yeah that whole time management thing is elusive lol. When you build them I recommend you bend the tubes in some. I didn’t and my tires rub on my RA’s.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Well I finally got around to pulling the bed sides. I gained about 1.5” and they clear much better. I still need to trim them some because the bottoms rub just before full flex. I will have to trim the fronts also. About 1” on the tops, sides and about 2” at the bottom.
I had the driver’s side coil come out of the coil bucket while hunting a few weeks ago, so I’ll have to make a clamp/retainer for that.
The other day I finally got the engine temp to start to get warm. It was about 95 deg and I was idling up a steep road in a rocky canyon. It didn’t get hot but it actually showed the engine was getting over 180 deg where it normally runs. I didn’t think to put the temp gun on it at the time.

Did some exploring, drove up an old creek bed to get the dogs before it got too hot for them. Since I ended up just a couple hundred yards from a spot I had been to. I tried to find half of an arrow from when a buddy shot a lion with me a few years ago. No luck but my daughter and I played in the sand for a while, to give the dogs time to cool off in the shade.

 

[DPDISXR4Ti]

There are junkyard options. @PetroleumJunkie412 put in one from a Volvo iirc.

Speaking of the Volvo EHPAS (Electro-Hydraulic Power Assist Steering), about a year ago I contacted this guy about coming out with a controller for the Volvo pump. He has come through big time and has come up with two solutions, totally designed for the DIY swapper...

Volvo electro hydraulic pump Archives - ANT Steering & Electronics - Bruno Steering

www.brunosteering.com

As much as I've praised the Saginaw pump swap (I've done it to two of my Fords in the past), the Volvo EHPAS swaps will be what I do in the future.

 

[BlackBII]

Speaking of the Volvo EHPAS (Electro-Hydraulic Power Assist Steering), about a year ago I contacted this guy about coming out with a controller for the Volvo pump. He has come through big time and has come up with two solutions, totally designed for the DIY swapper...

Volvo electro hydraulic pump Archives - ANT Steering & Electronics - Bruno Steering

www.brunosteering.com

As much as I've praised the Saginaw pump swap (I've done it to two of my Fords in the past), the Volvo EHPAS swaps will be what I do in the future.

This is awesome. I may use it on my Fiat

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Finally got around to trimming the fenders and built some coil retainers. I need to buy new bolts though. The ones I have barely worked.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Well after 50 stupid hard miles yesterday, I think I’m ready to start the coil over install. I think my coils have reached the end of their lifespan. I pulled up to the gas station last night and my tires were leaning in heavily. I didn’t inspect the whole front end yet, maybe the abuse has thrown the camber and caster out. I will try to put together a YouTube video of what I drive through regularly. Might take a while to get that put together though. Here are a couple pictures. The one of it in the spring is deceiving. It was almost ready to roll. The weight had transferred over and I might have been able to push it over. I mostly drive un maintained mining roads from who knows when, trying to get to my dogs. I didn’t take any pictures of it, but I had to limb up half a dozen trees just to be able to drive one road. There were a dozen more that I should have limbed up but was able to get through.

 

[RumPunch]

What springs are you planning to replace with?

 

[scotts90ranger]

I don't remember if you are running the fully adjustable NAPA alignment bushings like I am but I've had a heck of a time keeping them from rotating whenever they feel like it, mine's shrunk a little over the last 12 years but only a couple inches, when my alignment is thrown off it's usually the passenger side alignment bushing twisting... I've tried loctite and soforth but haven't tried hard in a while since I don't drive on the roads much anymore and I've given up on keeping it aligned perfect...