Billy's Resto' Log

[Billy Cranston]

Hey all, figured I'd drop my Ranger and update as I work on it. I plan to keep it 99% stock, I just want to do maintenance, keep it running and looking nice.

This is the condition I picked her up in. 190k miles with a poorly fit camper shell, no Alcoa Wheels & a host of problems (including a failing wheel bearing) I've been working through.

What I've done so far: removed the shell, swapped the wheels, replaced the RF hub assembly, the starter and then driver side valve cover gaskets and an oil change.

I'm going to refurbish the running boards, change out a bunch of gaskets and seals, replace the front suspension, shackles and hangars, OEM lights... A new passenger side door... Pretty much going to change out the whole car

 

[Ranger850]

I plan to keep it 99% stock

Pretty much going to change out the whole car

 

[Uncle Gump]

Are those factory Alcoa wheels and caps?

Where did you find those?

 

[Billy Cranston]

Maybe I don't understand what stock means... I'm going to keep the same ride height, no plans to add bull bar or light bar, when I get to the suspension it'll be Motorcraft errything ( & Bilstein shocks).. When the engine fails it'll stay 4.0.

I'm not keeping the original head unit though; Billy needs some creature comforts! It's already been swapped out but the one in the truck currently is fried

Are those factory Alcoa wheels and caps?

Where did you find those?

They are, but with a twist . They were chrome plated by the previous owner! I found them on ye ole list of Craig from another Ranger guy in Palm Springs.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Well that's a pretty good find...

The trick is gonna be finding the 5th one for a full size spare. My search continues.

With a couple suspension tweaks but within factory limits.. you can get 33x10.50's under that.

 

[Billy Cranston]

Well that's a pretty good find...

The trick is gonna be finding the 5th one for a full size spare. My search continues.

There's a set on FB MRKT place right now for less than $300 but the center caps are in rough shape and one's missing. They're in Central Utah, I have them tabbed if you want the link. There's also a few individual ones for sale on Ebay, search terms 'Ford Alcoa 15 inch'. All have some damage to the clear/corruption of the aluminum...

 

[Billy Cranston]

I Haven't done too much since my last update. I was changing my driver side valve cover gasket so I could inspect the timing chain cassette and of course it was FUBAR. So, I'd been saving and then waiting as my mechanic did the R&R. I thought it was prudent considering the scope of the job.. It ended up taking like 2 weeks but they had to drop the transmission after the reinstall because the crankshaft seal was leaking.

Riding on the 'special bolt'

got her flowers while she was sick

parts bill alone was like

At least now all my oil pan, girdle, crankshaft seals are all new! Next up is the differentials and all that (drive line?). Might do that on my own, man's broke AF after that timing service.

Before I realized the damage to my timing chain cassette, the guy who sold me my wheels contacted me about a N.O.S. Borla exhaust. He sold it as a bolt in unit but it turned out to be for the previous gen ranger. The mandrel bends were the same but the hangars were not so I had to cut them off and use universal ones

I had a Nature's Special Muffler Delete AKA the muffler had rusted through, haha!

 

[Billy Cranston]

Oh and I removed those crusty ass running boards. Broke damn near every bolt as I wrenched them and it sounded like a damn rain stick if I upended them (it was rust in the tubes)