My 99 Ranger Build Thread

[Jim Oaks]

Damn....

 

[RJLougee]

And today's project, get the transmission shifter set up. I can't believe this took the majority of a day to get completed...

So to start, the 4R70W shifter lever would contact the driveshaft under compression. In essence, the lever "zigged" and I needed it to "zag". So this is the lever in it's stock form:

What I did was cut the circular end with the trapezoidal mount off, turn the "lever" piece around and reweld it together. In addition, the stock ball end was smaller than the stock one for the Winters cable, so I cut that off, drilled it out and installed a slightly larger version.

At this point all is installed, cables hooked up and adjusted, but what a total PIA it was to get together.

And good clearance from everything underneath:

 

[RJLougee]

So the last few days have been continuing to organize parts, figure out what comes next and ordering parts to support.

Built a plate to seal out most of the water/dust from the firewall.

And built a cover to go over and seal the EEC housing. I'll be running the PiMP EFI setup and I'll need the EEC in the cab with me so I can program it.

 

[RJLougee]

Then I got started on building the seat mounts. I'm using PRP Daily Drivers, I've had them for years, but they are freshly back from PRP after being recovered. They will be mounted to plates that I bent up to fit over the front seat mounting area.

Bending up the plates:

Gotta get the angle right...

The sliders add about 2" height to the mounting, but allow the seats to mover fore/aft in case someone else drivers it (like my son., he has short legs..).

Bolted down and mounting tabs welded on:

And a fresh coat of paint so they don't rust out:

 

[RJLougee]

I didn't like the actuator rod that came with the hydroboost bracket, so I made one slightly different (mine's the short one). Probably really nothing wrong with the original, just much too long for this particular application.

 

[RJLougee]

And so here's my dilemma and I can use some input. I am considering adding some sliders, actually, I really want to add some sliders, I'm just not sure of how I want to do that.

My original thought was to get some pre-existing rocker panel protection, but I can't find any for a Ranger. The closest I've come, something that might work, is these, designed for a 97-02 Wrangler:

Anyone have any experience with these in comparison the angles of the Ranger rockers?



Otherwise, my next thought was to cut most of the rocker off and weld in some 2"x6" rec-tube, maybe something like this:

 

[sgtsandman]

I have a link for some but I’m not home now to look it up and see if the year range covers your truck. I think they are called rockshox or something like that.

 

[RJLougee]

Any info you can send, I appreciate it.
Joe

 

[sgtsandman]

Yep, these will work. There are a few different options to consider.

Ford Ranger Rock Sliders: Ford Ranger Rock Sliders and Step kits, Rockrails

Nobody wants the rocker panels on their Ford Ranger to be damaged. With Rocky Road's Ford Ranger rock sliders you have no need to fear!

www.rocky-road.com

 

[RJLougee]

BTW, no other rigs were injured during the making of this thread, all rigs and views expressed are entirely my own...

From right to left:
My rock buggy: built by me in 2012, Explorer 5.0, built C-6 with wide ratio gear set, HD everything, etc..., 4-speed Atlas, KP D60/ARB front, True Hi9/spool rear, 35 spline front/back, 4.10 gears, 39.5" BFG stickies, 2700#,...
my '66 Bronco Roadster: just a shell at this point, someday TBD...
my '66 Bronco wagon: frame off resto/build, front axle moved 2" forward, full width axles, 4.10 gears, ARB rear/open front, SEFI F4TE 351W/ZF-S542/D20, PS, PB, disks front/rear, 37" Grabbers, etc...
my '70 Bronco: '93 Mustang 5.0, NP435/D20, PS, PB, disk D44 front/9" drum rear, 4.10 gears, 33" tires, basic, but nice driver...
my '72 Bronco: SEFI F4TE 351W/AOD/Atlas, PS Hydroboost, PB, disks front/rear, 5.38 gears, ARB front/rear, BJ D60 front/35 spline True Hi-9 rear, 40" Goodyear MT/Rs, dove-nose front, ...
my '83 Bronco: SEFI F4TE 351W/ZF/BW1356, PS, PB, disks front/rear, 5.13 gears, ARB front/rear, 37" Goodyear MT/Rs, ...
my '81 F250 RV/Motorhome: SEFI F4TE 351W/ZF/BW1356, PS, PB, D44 front/Sterling rear, 4.10 gears, Trac-loc front/rear, 35" Falkens, ...
my Son in laws 4-Runner.
A hint of the Jeep Liberty in the top right corner...
Missing: several rigs...
Joe

 

[RJLougee]

https://www.rocky-road.com/media/ranger_rockrail.jpg

Thanks, I am familiar with Rocky roads, they also do a lot of Early Bronco stuff.

Unfortunately, most of what I can make out looks like they are all frame mounted. I'll give them a call on Monday and see if they have anything body mounted, even if it's just the plates.
Thanks, Joe

 

[RJLougee]

One of the things I added for this engine, is the drill/tap of the rear water passages in the intake, so it will also pull water from the back of the intke. It's supposed to help it run cooler, not sure if it will really help or not... Anyway, from the drivers rear it runs to the passenger rear, T's together and runs up toward the front. And the main outlet at the passenger front id Y'd together with the rear and the water pump.

 

[RJLougee]

Tewco sent me the wrong cable, so I got all excited when it came, only to find a 14' cable, instead of the 6' I needed. Eventually, we got it sorted out and the correct cable is now in the to work the planetary section of the Atlas 4 speed.

 

[RJLougee]

Got the transmission cooler mounted to the back of the cab, should work out, there's plenty of space between it and the cab material. Also got the hoses built, AN8 to/from wit the black as the feed line and silver as return. Same as I did with the fule lines, just so they are the same...

Got some crappy bubble-gum weld on the small spreader bar, apparently, I need my reading glasses to weld now... This getting old stuff sucks... I gues it's better than the other side of the dirt...

 

[RJLougee]

And I changed my mind on what headers to run. I was OK with the smaller tube, smaller diameter collector with the stock 351W, but once I put the 408 stroker in there, that wouldn't do. So I ordered up some BC Broncos headers and installed them. 1 5/8" primaries and 2.5" collectors and ball flange mating.

There was some significant trimming to be done, dropping the heat shield from the bottom of the floor pan, as well as notching the shock mount and welding in a brace so it's not too weakened...

But I had these same headers on this engine in the '72 EB, so I know they work well.