What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[Rick W]

So after a whole lot of ridiculous jumping through proverbial hoops and wasting a whole bunch of time and gas, I started stripping down the motor in the choptop this evening. Thinking the power steering and the lower intake with the fuel rail I’ll just flip out of the way so it’s less I actually have to disconnect. Everything has been apart a stupid number of times so that’s not really a problem. Getting my head wrapped back around this project has been a little more of a challenge but we’re figuring it out. Only potential bad news at this point is that I forgot we didn’t get the oxygen bottle for my torch set filled. That’s annoying because I’ll have to disconnect it and run it over to the weld shop if I need the torch, but at the same time, the weld shop really isn’t far away and they’ve been pretty good to me so far so it’s really just that the time crunch is on and I’m a little less than happy I might have to burn a little more time and gas, however little it is.

At any rate, it shouldn’t be the end of the world. I got the money for the oxygen fill if I need it and this is all pretty straightforward at this point. If I can manage not to break anything I need in the process, it shouldn’t be all that bad. Not setting any records with this swap, but for what time I’ve actually been able to put in it and all that’s going on, I’m not complaining. It should be together tomorrow, even if I have to fill the oxygen and deal with broken stuff. That should get her going again and I can make pretty later as long as it goes like it should. If there’s a hiccup along the way I’m not figuring on, well, I gave it a heck of a try to have it going for JeepFest and nobody can say I didn’t. I’ll take the F-150 if I have to to camp out and spend some time with a buddy I don’t see much. At the end of the day, all that matters is that you tried, even if life kicked you in the balls.

I work best on deadlines.

Good luck, hope all goes well, hope you make it !

I’ve never been to a jeep thing, not a Ranger thing either, but I generally like pissing people off with the stuff I do just for fun of course, so again, I wish you luck !

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I work best on deadlines.

Good luck, hope all goes well, hope you make it !

I’ve never been to a jeep thing, not a Ranger thing either, but I generally like pissing people off with the stuff I do just for fun of course, so again, I wish you luck !

I appreciate it, events are definitely worth checking out. Never been to JeepFest because I didn’t have a Jeep, but I got an invite from a friend with one, so why not. The TRS events are worth going to though, highly recommend.

I’m sure if I get the choptop to JeepFest it’s gonna get attention because it’s going to stand out like a sore thumb when people realize it’s not what a Jeep looks like but there’s some vague similarities.

We’ll see how it goes today, probably won’t get a chance to post again for a bit. I’ve done motors in less time than I have, but you can never account for everything so we’re just gonna see how it goes.

 

[Blmpkn]

I appreciate it, events are definitely worth checking out. Never been to JeepFest because I didn’t have a Jeep, but I got an invite from a friend with one, so why not. The TRS events are worth going to though, highly recommend.

I’m sure if I get the choptop to JeepFest it’s gonna get attention because it’s going to stand out like a sore thumb when people realize it’s not what a Jeep looks like but there’s some vague similarities.

We’ll see how it goes today, probably won’t get a chance to post again for a bit. I’ve done motors in less time than I have, but you can never account for everything so we’re just gonna see how it goes.

Good luck!

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I have high respect for what you're doing. Keep it up.

 

[Blmpkn]

Looked at it..

 

[ericbphoto]

View attachment 93541

Looked at it..

Several of us are looking at that this month.

 

[Lefty]

I've been hauling gravel for the past several days.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Took some pics.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Changed the fluid in the rear diff.

 

[sgtsandman]

View attachment 93541

Looked at it..

You got a whole month to do that.

 

[Lefty]

We have never washed ours. The paint is way too faded to make a difference, the old wax job is peeling off, so any good rain is sufficient to get the dust off.
In hindsight, however, we should have been hosing down the chassis frequently. Chicago's road salt has been eating it alive from underneath for years. The frame rails at the back, and the tail end cross-member have fallen apart so the bumper is hanging on with a strong rope until I can weld some braces on (and fabricate a cross-member. Which I don't know how to do...)
Never had a car or truck before this whose chassis rotted BEFORE the body did! What does Ford use for metal, anyway? Something new on the periodic table?

Rust is like cancer. it needs fixed, either by chemo or surgery or both. I took mine apart and repainted the frame with POR15, then a top coat of rattle can spray enamel, then a clear coat of polyurethane (which lasts a long time).

This may sound excessive, but it only took a few days. My last truck died from a rotten chassis.

 

[Lefty]

More gravel again today.

 

[Maritime Drag Racing]

Seat and belts all bolted in and the cover film is off the back window. I have a feeling it's going to be a chore to get the belts adjusted to fit me...

 

[ekrampitzjr]

We have never washed ours. The paint is way too faded to make a difference, the old wax job is peeling off, so any good rain is sufficient to get the dust off.
In hindsight, however, we should have been hosing down the chassis frequently. Chicago's road salt has been eating it alive from underneath for years. The frame rails at the back, and the tail end cross-member have fallen apart so the bumper is hanging on with a strong rope until I can weld some braces on (and fabricate a cross-member. Which I don't know how to do...)
Never had a car or truck before this whose chassis rotted BEFORE the body did! What does Ford use for metal, anyway? Something new on the periodic table?

Go to an electrical wholesaler and look at Kindorf or similar channel/strut and associated fittings as a start. Kindorf and its fittings have a zinc chromate coating.

 

[Jazzer]

Second the above. Do a search for galvanized hat channel.