Another escape

[racsan]

Need to work on the passenger side rear wheelwell opening, but it needs to warm up first. Been waiting on new rear shocks so I can put the plastic inside walls back in, then make a plywood floor, will have a door to that lower recessed body area, good spot for jumper cables, floor jack, 4-way lug wrench or breaker bar with socket.
Im throwing around the idea of making this a bronco sport, different grill & emblems, maybe a outside swing away tire carrier. found a grille I like:

 

[racsan]

boy, emblems are really expensive!

 

[racsan]

Ive got quite a bit done in the last week, wheel well openings done, the paint is a little off and my bodywork isnt great but it is better than the rust that was there. The passenger side was the hardest, having to create the arch that had rusted away, drivers side just had a big hole but still had the arch left. At night from 10’ it looks great! lol
Got the new shocks in, they are a little shorter than the originals, had to jack up the knuckle to raise the top of the shock stud into the body so I could get the bushing & nut on. Loosening the bottom shock bolts was quite a job, passenger side I had to use a jack against the breaker bar to get it broke loose. Was a all-day job but interior is all back in and looks so much better than the bare metal and now doesnt have near the road noise when driving.

 

[racsan]

Did 2 things today, replaced the ignition switch, had to push in while turning for it to start. Pretty common gen 2 escape issue, the other one has been doing it for a few years but tues mine wouldnt start at all. Im only 10 min from work but didn’t want to take the newest car (2019 equinox) to my dirty job , so I drove it to her work (10 min the other direction), traded for her escape & went to my work. Wasnt late but usually im 30 min early.
The other thing I did was swap wheels between the escapes, im running steel wheels on mine while hers has the factory alloy wheels. These steelies are actually what ford used as the full size spare rim on gen 1 escapes, was never a road wheel on all 4. At some point I may drill/tap so I can run a center cap. For now it will be ok.

 

[sgtsandman]

Those are a nicer set of steel wheels. I'm surprised they didn't have them on at least the base model.

 

[racsan]

I believe base steel wheels were a 5 spoke design, im not even certain if gen 2 came with steel wheels on the base model, by then they went to a temporary spare. Im unsure of weather I want the spare inside or underneath. Right now its inside. Id like to build a B2 style swing away carrier. would probably have to change the back bumper for the license plate.

 

[racsan]

Got to try out the trailer hitch today, the escape did well with my 14 x 6 trailer, brought home 2 small 3-point items, a boom pole & dirt scoop.

 

[racsan]

wheel center caps, as I tend to keep everything, I still had the center caps from the polar express (white ‘92 2wd) ranger. the lug nuts I have for these steel wheels have a flange meant to be used with a factory snap on cap that base model escapes used with steel rims. Its big enough to hold the centers in place but with some free space. I put a good dab of silicone on the backside of the ranger centers where the retaining screws would go. (to take up the free playing space so they dont rattle). These centers aren’t in the best shape, some of the chrome has peeled away in spots but I think its a improvement over no centers at all.

 

[racsan]

New r.f. caliper a week ago, still not releasing so today Im trying a new hose from the hard line to the caliper. $40 for a flex line? the calper itself was $60-something. Im sure both were foreign made.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

somewhere in the gen 2 escape production the rear hatch release was moved from above the license plate to below near the bumper. My ‘09 is a little difficult to open because the latch/pull is up so high. So- I put a handle to pull with at the bottom of the back hatch. It’s actually a handle from the back of a old boat. works well.

View attachment 107295

Just an FYI 09 must have been the last year for the hatch release in the high location.

The wifes 10 had it down lower by the bumper. The button to open the glass only remained up by the plate though.

 

[racsan]

did a bit today, finally put a thermostat in it, major pain but needed to be done before it gets cold. did a little with the rear interior. removed the back seat backrests completely so my toolbox will sit lower and lid wont hit the headliner when I open it. Also mounted a spare tire in the back using the latch catch for the driver side backrest. Wanted the full-size tire but the temporary fit better. have a piece of wood under it since it wanted to squeek on the rubber mat. I really wish I could use a bronco 2 rear carrier but theres just too much plastic on the back of this thing. Funny how I bitch about the short bed in crew cab rangers/mavericks but my cargo area is only about 3ft at best now, almost 5 with no tool box. Guess thats why I have trailers now. Really miss having a truck, going to have to change that.

 

[racsan]

Im contemplating new front struts, it doesn’t ride/handle bad but I noticed the l.f. is losing a little oil, l.f. tire also has some mild cupping on the inside edge of the tread. I have some 1-1/2” strut spacers (for lift) I might put on, bought them for the ‘11 V6 awd but never put them on once I found out I needed to pull the whole strut & couldn’t just lower it down , bolt it on then raise it up into the body . I dont think 1-1/2” would be too hard on the cv joints & it would sit level then, but then again new struts (with new springs) might sit higher then whats there now. One other issue that needs addressing is the drivers side axle shaft seal. it leaks when parked, and im sure it leaks when driven but the fluid level always seems high, has always shifted fine as well. Im sure that will be a pain to change but might as well tackle it when I have that side strut out of the vehicle. Its odd how this one is less rusty than my newer ‘11. I wont tow with it anymore its so bad in the back. Thinking of a bull-bar for the front. Ive been slow on doing anything with this other than routine maintenance since theres been so much with the house & property to deal with this summer. Normally Id have everything done accessory wise in a few months, but its not happened this time around.

 

[racsan]

Got a bullbar now, found a “defect” one on fleabay , didnt put the air dam back on underneath after taking it off. I think it looks better that way & now I wont need the lower clearance car ramps to change oil, can use the regular ones! Since Ive changed the thermostat gas mileage has gone up, from 21 to 24, it wasnt “cold” just wasnt warm enough, would get to about 175 but drop to 160 if heat was turned on. Now I have a awesome heater. Theres been a couple of 40 degree mornings lately and Ive had opportunity to use it. Highway milage is most likely higher but Ive yet to drive long distance without a trailer, It does tow better than the last ranger did , brakes are better too.

 

[RobbieD]

Really miss having a truck, going to have to change that.

Easy enough . . . all that you need is a sawzall and an air chisel.

 

[racsan]

washed it for the first time in a while. wish I had time to wax it.