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The "Donkey" build/rebuild


Bracket racer

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Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!
So...one step ahead, two steps back...
Put the driveshaft on and the rear end rolls quite a bit when it comes up and locks up the u-joint. With it sitting there in the normal driving position, it's down about 15deg so I have to make a set of wedges. (shortening the wheelbase REALLY changed the driveshaft angle lol) I have to pull the u-bolts so I can pull a leaf or two out anyway so I'll add this to the list. Once the rearend is rolled back and the u-joint angle is better it should be able to raise quite a bit more than it is now. Currently it goes up about 6-7 inches but I want more. (plus it is binding at that point) Once I get it apart, if its too much for a wedge then I'll have to cut the spring perches off, don't really want to have to do that though!
 


Dirtman

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Automatic
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2WD
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It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
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Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
What kind of helmet do you use? When I was younger I could get away using pretty much any helmet, lens type, color, or shade. As I got older I found it much more important to use better equipment and change shades depending on the job. Cheater lenses also help alot if your nearsighted.
 

Bracket racer

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Location
Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!
Well I'm a dumbass....found the welding issue. (not the eye issue)
Got so mad at the popping and garbage welds I stopped and lifted the side door on the welder. Inside is "the chart".
.035 wire...1/8th or so metal...
Calls for #5 setting, 375v and 22 for wire speed.
Checked the machine, #9 setting?? toggling through, it says a whole bunch of crap. (dig, time off, pre weld or whatever, I don't know)
Set it to #5, 375, 22....bzzzzzzzzzzt. HOLY CRAP I CAN LAY A BEAD AGAIN!!!

What a dumbass! Of course nobody knew who, but somebody changed it. Tried to cover with wire speed, voltage, gas flow.....

So, no pictures yet but I have the shortened factory leaves on the back, (again) a custom made gas tank (jerry can but retains the factory fuel pump/lines/sending unit/etc) a bunch more welding and cutting on the frame.
Oh, for "black Friday" I saw a super deal on 10,000lb winches that I just HAD to get, so there is something else to rig up.

Also, we had a cub cadet side by side in the shop getting the tranny fixed, they pulled the dump box off it. I thought, hmm, that looks pretty close.Two of us carried it over and HEY, that fits! Of course that got my mind going again and I'm thinking, if I'm putting the box back on (albeit shortened) why not make it tilt as well? Not sure if that's going to happen now that I have the winch...but...we'll see.

Pictures soon.
 

Bracket racer

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Location
Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!
Ahhh, crap, had to go and take at least one picture...and one of the winch too, lol.

34223



34222
 

Bracket racer

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Location
Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!
Forgot to mention, if you look at the back of the frame you can see the 3/4" threaded rod I had to use to pull the frame rails together so the hangers/housing/shackles would line up. I'll be welding the ass solid obviously but this was the first step. And no, the picture isn't "squished" the rear leaves are really just 26" long.

Buddy dropped off a set of strut assemblies, heard I was thinking of going coil in the back...crap, if I used a long piece of square tubing as a trailing arm, I could use the strut assemblies for springs/shocks.....add a panhard rod to keep the rearend centred....and, if I did a long arm in the front, I could just weld plates in the middle of the frame and mount both front and rear arms on it like monster trucks do....hhhmmmm, what if...AAAHHH!!! STOP IT! Have to just finish the freaking thing. Maybe next year I'll swap to coil instead of leaf.


Too many idea's...
 

Bracket racer

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Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!
Still haven't got pics posted...but....
Got the winch mounted, exh done, gas tank filler and vent done, took it home from the shop and went for a drive. 3' of water with 3" of ice on top, chewed it's way through. Went about 23 Kim's on the power line and side by side trails. Was about 2kms from home and I was playing(drifting) on the icy roads. Went around on me and ended on its left side. Mama took out the consol as she landed on me cracking 2 ribs and hurting my shoulder I had surgery on. She smacked her head and got a goose egg. The donkey? Well, the whole drivers side is caved in 6" and broke drivers window and the side glass for the ext cab. Broke the windshield. Tore the exhaust off. Put the drivers headlight a foot higher and a foot closer to the right one. Made the rad a Z. The front left rad support body mount is at least a foot from the frame mount.
Poop.
Do stupid things, win stupid prize.

I'll post pics when I can, it's back in the welding shop and I'm debating about swapping cabs.
Will a 1995 door and side window fit a 1991?


Wife is pissed, won't even talk about off roading now...
 

alwaysFlOoReD

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Ouch.
Pretty sure the cab/door changed profile enough that parts from a 93 up won't fit 92 down
Still haven't got pics posted...but....
Got the winch mounted, exh done, gas tank filler and vent done, took it home from the shop and went for a drive. 3' of water with 3" of ice on top, chewed it's way through. Went about 23 Kim's on the power line and side by side trails. Was about 2kms from home and I was playing(drifting) on the icy roads. Went around on me and ended on its left side. Mama took out the consol as she landed on me cracking 2 ribs and hurting my shoulder I had surgery on. She smacked her head and got a goose egg. The donkey? Well, the whole drivers side is caved in 6" and broke drivers window and the side glass for the ext cab. Broke the windshield. Tore the exhaust off. Put the drivers headlight a foot higher and a foot closer to the right one. Made the rad a Z. The front left rad support body mount is at least a foot from the frame mount.
Poop.
Do stupid things, win stupid prize.

I'll post pics when I can, it's back in the welding shop and I'm debating about swapping cabs.
Will a 1995 door and side window fit a 1991?


Wife is pissed, won't even talk about off roading now...
 

Bracket racer

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Location
Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!
Kid just sent me some pictures, let's see if this thing will post...
35252
35253
 

Bracket racer

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Location
Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!

Bracket racer

Active Member
Canada Military - Veteran
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Location
Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!
And loaded in the toy hauler to go back to the shop.
35257
 

Bracket racer

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Location
Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!
Tried to tow it out with the pick up, not a chance. So I went and got the toy hauler (bus/motor home I use to haul the drag cars) and broke the tow strap. Put a brand new strap on and at first the bus spun, then pull it onto the road. I turned around and the kid fired it up and followed me home. Drove it into the shop today, the rad is a Z and the shroud is jammed into the fan. As long as the clutch fan is cold though, no problem! Lol.
Already started on it, resealed the windshield (only inside pane is cracked, it's good to go lol) Put the porta power frame straightener from the seat bracket on the right, over to the b pillar on the drivers side and 3tons of pressure later, the body is somewhat straight...kinda...sorta...if you squint real hard. Bent the door to fit and straightened out the linkage. Both inner and outer door handles work and the door opens and shuts easily. ( ish )
Called about getting some plexiglass to fill in the windows, holy hell did that get expensive at some point! 4' X 2' piece, they quoted $94!!!
Might as well go to a junk yard for the actual windows!
Anyway, that's the story of my life, build it, go wide freaking open, break it, work on it more, wash, rinse, repeat.


What a dumbass.
 

Bracket racer

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Location
Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!
Hey, my other pictures came through too. Here is some before shots.
This is how I mounted the 10,000lb winch and the heavy angle iron braces as well as the 6 1/2 ton tow clevis's.

35258
 

Uncle Gump

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Looks like that will just rub out...

Nobody hurt?
 

Bracket racer

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Location
Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!
35259

The exh.
Wife didn't like the BRAAAP! When I floored it with the twin stacks and homemade mufflers so I made a y pipe and ran the single dynamax muffler and stack.
 

Bracket racer

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Canada Military - Veteran
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429
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43
Location
Socialist republic of Nova Scotia Canadastan
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ranger supercab
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Crap load
Tire Size
35X12.5 (bald so I don't break parts)
My credo
Low range in Nova Scotia on YouTube!
35261


The gas tank I made from a jerry can.
 

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