- Joined
- May 15, 2020
- Messages
- 2,269
- Reaction score
- 3,690
- Points
- 113
- Age
- 68
- Location
- Atlanta
- Vehicle Year
- 1997 1987
- Make / Model
- Ranger XLT x2
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Engine Size
- 4.0 & 2.9
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
- Total Lift
- 97 stock, 3” on 87
- Total Drop
- N/A
- Tire Size
- 235/75-15
- My credo
- Never put off ‘til tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely
Snow White came to see Mickey to console him. But when she got to him, he wasn’t in tears, he was angry. She said to him “oh Mickey! I heard that Mini was sleeping with Donald Duck. But please, don’t be mad, don’t do anything foolish!” At first Mickey looked at her with a look of confusion. Then he laughed, and belted out “I never said she was sleeping with Donald Duck,
I said she was fu**n’ Goofy!!!”
Ok, maybe I’m goofy too with the Rick’s Ranger Rig tractor trailer project.
Recap: besides my 87 4WD Rick-storation project, I bought another complete 87 2WD, complete except for the engine and trans, for parts. I bought the 93 2.3L for the seats and wheels and a couple other parts for that project, thinking it wasn’t running.
After I realized it was running fine except fo bleeding the clutch, it became the base for my 6X2+4 project.
I also bought 3 HF trailers, an old welding trailer, an old weird Dirt Bike Trailer, and another heavier 5 x 6 utility trailer made on an old double JetSki frame, and I bought two extra 87 6’ beds and one 87 7’ bed, all to make matching trailers for the 87 and my 96 F250 Diesel 4WD. Oh, and a couple camper tops and a pile of ranger tires and rims. All craigslist stuff, I spent very little money.
Writing about it all here has been a great help for me to figure out some of the details of how I will do these projects, and it has also brought down the wrath of the gods who are a little disillusioned about my design, implementation and sanity in general!
Well, it’s become like eating peanuts - after one you just can’t stop! Or maybe these rangers multiply like rabbits all on their own...
A couple days ago I picked up a 97 extended cab short bed 2WD 5-speed with the 4.0 V6 engine in it. Again, very little money. The reason I jumped on it is because, even though it has high mileage (310,000 miles), it is a one-owner truck that has been well cared for. The father had it since new, and when he passed away, the son has been driving it for about a year, but he is not mechanically inclined and it needs “tinkering.”
It’s what a mechanic hobbyist looks for. The body is mostly straight and rust free. All of the interior panels are very good condition, no tears no cracks, etc. Its all original inside, with just a little bit of wear on the driver seat. All of the original tools, etc. are there. The 4.0 purrs like a kitten, the clutch is good, and the trans shifts and runs fine. He had all the receipts from new, including receipts for ninety-seven oil changes! Aside from being a little muddy, I’m pretty sure the son did that, it runs out really good. The only things I didn’t like, that are easy to address, is that it has the right/left braking, and the front end is a little loose. If you’re not familiar with right/left braking, that’s when you step on the brakes and sometimes it pulls left and you step on the brakes and sometimes it pulls right!
If you remember my other thread about the 93 dually project, I have given up on making anything dually, but I will use this 97 4.0L truck and proceed with Rick’s Ranger Rig. That’s good and bad for a few reasons.
If you remember the 93 thread, RobbieD needed a 2.3 L donor truck. I talked to him last night and I think we’re going to work out passing the 93 along to him at cost, which is little money.
On the downside, I was really looking forward to using the tiny 2.3 to make my rig, show it can be done (think Tarzan yell now) and then ride around in front of all of the naysayers!!! But I have to admit, they were also the folks who were telling me to get the longer truck with the bigger engine. I just don’t like to overdo stuff. Like I said, I’m learning a lot on all of this although I will not be distracted from my central inspiration!
Soooo, As I move forward with the 87 4WD Rick-storation, I will continue to post in that thread. I’ll post info on the fixup of the 93 2WD for RobbieD in that dually thread. And I will start a new Rick’s Ranger Rig A thread in the 97 4WD category.
That way I won’t be confusing them by mixing them together, and it will provide three different platforms for people to tell me I’m insane, I’m the devil, pond scum and annoying, it’ll never work, and not only will it be impounded, I will be in jail next to the other miscreants with wrenches who can weld.
Oh, the high rise white camper cap is up for grabs. Too clean and straight and modern for my tastes!
I said she was fu**n’ Goofy!!!”
Ok, maybe I’m goofy too with the Rick’s Ranger Rig tractor trailer project.
Recap: besides my 87 4WD Rick-storation project, I bought another complete 87 2WD, complete except for the engine and trans, for parts. I bought the 93 2.3L for the seats and wheels and a couple other parts for that project, thinking it wasn’t running.
After I realized it was running fine except fo bleeding the clutch, it became the base for my 6X2+4 project.
I also bought 3 HF trailers, an old welding trailer, an old weird Dirt Bike Trailer, and another heavier 5 x 6 utility trailer made on an old double JetSki frame, and I bought two extra 87 6’ beds and one 87 7’ bed, all to make matching trailers for the 87 and my 96 F250 Diesel 4WD. Oh, and a couple camper tops and a pile of ranger tires and rims. All craigslist stuff, I spent very little money.
Writing about it all here has been a great help for me to figure out some of the details of how I will do these projects, and it has also brought down the wrath of the gods who are a little disillusioned about my design, implementation and sanity in general!
Well, it’s become like eating peanuts - after one you just can’t stop! Or maybe these rangers multiply like rabbits all on their own...
A couple days ago I picked up a 97 extended cab short bed 2WD 5-speed with the 4.0 V6 engine in it. Again, very little money. The reason I jumped on it is because, even though it has high mileage (310,000 miles), it is a one-owner truck that has been well cared for. The father had it since new, and when he passed away, the son has been driving it for about a year, but he is not mechanically inclined and it needs “tinkering.”
It’s what a mechanic hobbyist looks for. The body is mostly straight and rust free. All of the interior panels are very good condition, no tears no cracks, etc. Its all original inside, with just a little bit of wear on the driver seat. All of the original tools, etc. are there. The 4.0 purrs like a kitten, the clutch is good, and the trans shifts and runs fine. He had all the receipts from new, including receipts for ninety-seven oil changes! Aside from being a little muddy, I’m pretty sure the son did that, it runs out really good. The only things I didn’t like, that are easy to address, is that it has the right/left braking, and the front end is a little loose. If you’re not familiar with right/left braking, that’s when you step on the brakes and sometimes it pulls left and you step on the brakes and sometimes it pulls right!
If you remember my other thread about the 93 dually project, I have given up on making anything dually, but I will use this 97 4.0L truck and proceed with Rick’s Ranger Rig. That’s good and bad for a few reasons.
If you remember the 93 thread, RobbieD needed a 2.3 L donor truck. I talked to him last night and I think we’re going to work out passing the 93 along to him at cost, which is little money.
On the downside, I was really looking forward to using the tiny 2.3 to make my rig, show it can be done (think Tarzan yell now) and then ride around in front of all of the naysayers!!! But I have to admit, they were also the folks who were telling me to get the longer truck with the bigger engine. I just don’t like to overdo stuff. Like I said, I’m learning a lot on all of this although I will not be distracted from my central inspiration!
Soooo, As I move forward with the 87 4WD Rick-storation, I will continue to post in that thread. I’ll post info on the fixup of the 93 2WD for RobbieD in that dually thread. And I will start a new Rick’s Ranger Rig A thread in the 97 4WD category.
That way I won’t be confusing them by mixing them together, and it will provide three different platforms for people to tell me I’m insane, I’m the devil, pond scum and annoying, it’ll never work, and not only will it be impounded, I will be in jail next to the other miscreants with wrenches who can weld.
Oh, the high rise white camper cap is up for grabs. Too clean and straight and modern for my tastes!
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