89 Ranger 4.0 Swap and Hunting Rig, the Houndrunner

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

What springs are you planning to replace with?

I’ll probably run whatever brand I can find in the right ppi. I think the coils that came with the coilovers I bought are around 300 ppi. If I remember correctly, most people are running 300-350 ppi over a 400 or 450 ppi. But I plan to put a new bumper on, add a spare tire in a roof rack, rock sliders and a heavy duty front bumper. That’s going to add a fair amount of weight. Then I’ll go through the process of calculating the sprung weight so I can get the correct ppi coils and valving.

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...

I haven’t done the ball joints yet, but they’re fully adjustable alignment bushings. I just haven’t messed with them yet. That may be the culprit if they move that easy. I thought they would stay put once set.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, not sure why I've had so much issue but I'm usually not easy on the thing...

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Did the balljoints today. Luckily I noticed that I had broken the driver’s side lower radius arm bolt loose. I think I didn’t get it tight enough whenI put it on, so it backed out and I must have caught it on a rock. But I fixed it up. Replacing the BJ’s didn’t fix the camber issue though. I think I’m gonna have to add washers under the coils.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Ordered some 1/2” fish eye lights and a 6 gang switch kit for it. I’m gonna use set up rock lights, dog box lights, headache rack lights and to run the fog lights I already installed. Oh and I ordered 4.5 amp usb charging ports that I’ll install in the back seat for charging dog col

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[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Everything came in by that next week. The lights look good and the gang switch is pretty nice. The charging ports seem a little chincy but they have spring loaded dust covers. That’s hopefully gonna keep my kids from licking them or shoving something in them…They love packing the cigarette lighters/power ports full of coins

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I’ve been smelling coolant for several weeks and couldn’t figure out where it’s coming from. I had to finally add coolant this week and figured out it’s coming from the driver’s side of the radiator. So I’m gonna have to pull it and braze it up. If it ain’t one thing it’s another.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Pulled the Rad today. It’s got cracks on the top 5 tubes where they are welded to the tanks. I didn’t wanna deal with brazing it today, so I swapped it with a used explorer radiator.
The truck is pulling hard to the passenger side. Not sure why, it’s sitting level, the RA’s are darn near equal lengths, I checked the brakes and readjusted the wheel bearings on the passenger front. Still pulling hard…

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Test drove it while hunting today. Put around 20-25 dirt road miles on it. About 5 of those were 4wd low. She did well except I’m thinking about drilling a hole or two in the thermostat. It fluctuates wildly and I think a couple 1/8” holes may alleviate some of the fluctuation.

 

[RonD]

Flush your heater core, both directions, first

No need to drain the system, won't lose much coolant

Heater core is the water pump bypass, so if flow is reduced will will cause temp to randomly go up and then back down to normal, never "overheating", just up and then back down, for no reason

You can install a thermostat with a Jiggle Valve, 1/8" hole already in it, or add 2 holes, won't hurt anything
This was done to let air out of the system when refilling or if there is a leak, one of the holes should be at 12:00 where the air would be

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Shit...probably while the guy was laying there on the floor moaning in pain before the cops came

Flush your heater core, both directions, first

No need to drain the system, won't lose much coolant

Heater core is the water pump bypass, so if flow is reduced will will cause temp to randomly go up and then back down to normal, never "overheating", just up and then back down, for no reason

You can install a thermostat with a Jiggle Valve, 1/8" hole already in it, or add 2 holes, won't hurt anything
This was done to let air out of the system when refilling or if there is a leak, one of the holes should be at 12:00 where the air would be

Thank you Mr. Ron, I didn’t know that!

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Decided to add some sides to the dog box tonight. Found an 8’ by 7” piece of aluminum with a full length hinge, in the road a month ago. I cut it in half, straightened it out, riveted the hinge on better and mounted it so I can fold it up out of the way. It doesn’t cover the side perfectly but it’ll block most of the wind now. I had some old conveyor belt screwed on the sides but couldn’t take them off when hunting unless I spent 10 minutes unscrewing it. This will be much more convenient and I’m sure they’ll learn they can just push it up when they want to lol.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I’ve been putting a bunch of miles on it this last month or so. I think I have an intake manifold gasket leak. She makes a puffing backfire sound every once in a while when warmed up and idling, it idles real high for about 30 seconds every now and again. Then randomly when I’m coasting in neutral the rpm’s will bounce from 700-1800 ish.
Plus it’s only getting around 12.5 mpg.
Gonna order a new set of gaskets and put them on when I can.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Yesterday’s hunting trip. Trailed one for about 2 miles but the dogs made a lose that they couldn’t recover from. All in all it was a good day, the dogs got to trail some.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Well I think I was right. The lower intake manifold bolts were tightened to around 5-10 inch lbs. The passenger side was looser than the driver side. I think this will fix my fuel mileage and back firing issues. It wasn’t backfiring loud, just poofing whenit was warm and I was idling.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Back together and running like a top!