• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

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


lil_Blue_Ford

Cut & Weld
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
8,874
Reaction score
7,296
Location
Butler, PA, USSA
Vehicle Year
00
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0l
Transmission
Automatic
Total Drop
4”
So yesterday (Saturday) I noticed the rear in the green Ranger suddenly felt a little squishy. Took a look under there earlier today and see that my leaf springs are apparently not up to the task because I’m sitting like maybe an inch and a half off the bump stops. I also notice that the bushings in my shackles are splitting apart already. Joy.
 


JoshT

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Banner 2012-2015
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
4,586
Reaction score
2,839
Location
Macon/Fort Valley, GA
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Meant to post this here, not the other thread.

Short block is assembled. Paint not yet applied, weather hasn't been right. Maybe one afternoon this week.

Truck was pulled back in and disassembly started. Depending on how doctor appointment goes wednesday, hopefully I'll have the engine out by the weekend.
 

rumblecloud

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2020
Messages
1,525
Reaction score
1,278
Location
48022
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ranger Splash
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
1-1/2 inch front leveling
Total Drop
Stock
Tire Size
31/10.50/15
My credo
What's the worst that could happen?
looks beautiful and peaceful.
 

snoranger

Professional money waster
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
ASE Certified Tech
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
13,358
Reaction score
14,518
Location
Jackson, NJ. And Manahawkin too.
Vehicle Year
'79,'94,'02,'23
Make / Model
All Fords
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
I tried to find the speed limiter and failed. I was running low on real estate at 106 MPH and had to let up because I was coming up on another car. I try not to do stupid things with other cars around.
 

scotts90ranger

Well-Known Member
RBV's on Boost
Joined
Feb 28, 2001
Messages
8,650
Reaction score
5,294
Location
Dayton Oregon
Vehicle Year
1990, 1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.3 Turbo
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6
Tire Size
35"
Drove home from work as fast as possible in the '97... depending on what you believe it's around 104F here right now and no A/C (only working A/C we have in a rig is the wifes Camry) and some people had the gall to drive like 45 on the last 5 miles where almost everyone does 58-62, I needed the airflow and was getting tired of braking for no good reason...
 

Rick W

Lil Big Rig
Supporting Member
Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
May 15, 2020
Messages
3,145
Reaction score
5,542
Age
69
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
Drove home from work as fast as possible in the '97... depending on what you believe it's around 104F here right now and no A/C (only working A/C we have in a rig is the wifes Camry) and some people had the gall to drive like 45 on the last 5 miles where almost everyone does 58-62, I needed the airflow and was getting tired of braking for no good reason...
I miss the little smokers’ vent windows all vehicles used to have, the front part of the side window that you could fold out more than 90° to direct all the air into the interior.

For anybody who is really old, I also miss the old fashion vents that you would open pulling a knob linkage down by the emergency brake. Didn’t have the vents and baffles and duct switching vacuum things. Just a blast of air down by your crotch.

And I’m waiting for the first really old guy to say the emergency brake wasn’t down on the bottom left. Back then it was a handle on the right hand side that you pulled back by the ashtray. I’m thinking that’s what our 1960 Chinese eye Comet had.
 

sgtsandman

Aircraft Fuel Tank Diver
TRS Forum Moderator
U.S. Military - Active
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Mar 11, 2017
Messages
13,759
Reaction score
14,504
Location
Aliquippa, PA
Vehicle Year
2011/2019
Make / Model
Ranger XLT/FX4
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC/2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
I miss the little smokers’ vent windows all vehicles used to have, the front part of the side window that you could fold out more than 90° to direct all the air into the interior.

For anybody who is really old, I also miss the old fashion vents that you would open pulling a knob linkage down by the emergency brake. Didn’t have the vents and baffles and duct switching vacuum things. Just a blast of air down by your crotch.

And I’m waiting for the first really old guy to say the emergency brake wasn’t down on the bottom left. Back then it was a handle on the right hand side that you pulled back by the ashtray. I’m thinking that’s what our 1960 Chinese eye Comet had.
I miss both of those vents as well as the one below the steering column that kept the crotch area cool.
 

alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
14,355
Reaction score
5,681
Location
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
Vehicle Year
’97, '06
Make / Model
Pontiac, Dodge
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
2.2,5.7
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
I miss the little smokers’ vent windows all vehicles used to have, the front part of the side window that you could fold out more than 90° to direct all the air into the interior.

For anybody who is really old, I also miss the old fashion vents that you would open pulling a knob linkage down by the emergency brake. Didn’t have the vents and baffles and duct switching vacuum things. Just a blast of air down by your crotch.

And I’m waiting for the first really old guy to say the emergency brake wasn’t down on the bottom left. Back then it was a handle on the right hand side that you pulled back by the ashtray. I’m thinking that’s what our 1960 Chinese eye Comet had.
I drove a 1954 Chevy one ton for quite a few years as my work truck. It had been updated with a built 283. I remember those vents, as well as the one in front of the windshield that popped up.
 

Rick W

Lil Big Rig
Supporting Member
Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
May 15, 2020
Messages
3,145
Reaction score
5,542
Age
69
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
Who’s stupid idea was it to change the washer nozzles?!?!!

@!”#%¥<€! Ford Engineers!!!!!

First, the “universal” nozzles I got on eBay? Advertised absolutely correctly. They only fit something else in a different universe.

I pulled the one in front of the driver, and chased down the hose because it wasn’t long enough, and it was a different diameter. It goes straight down into the engine compartment, makes a right turn towards the passenger size, reduces in diameter through a fitting.

The new nozzle was a smaller diameter. The only connector I had to the smaller hose on the passenger side was a T. So I used a vacuum cap on one side, and ran the smaller hose up through the top and put the new nozzle on. A little pain in the neck, but not too bad.

I pulled out the passenger side, and the nozzle is completely different. It connects at a right angle because there was something about an inch and a half down that blocks using anything longer. Long story short, I tried a half a dozen things, and nothing worked. I could write a page on the attempts. I took the old nozzle, and carefully wire brushed off all the old paint, heated up one of my harbor freight pics, and cleaned out the nozzle, and put it back. That was probably an hour after I started that side.

With Lincoln in the driver seat, I turned the key to accessory, and I pushed the washer nozzle. Passenger side was near perfect.

The three nozzles on the new unit on the driver side sprayed right into the molding at the bottom of the windshield. I had to sharpen up the point on a pic to stick it in the nozzle holes to try to angle them upward.

Yeah, @!”#%¥<€! Chinese Engineers!!!!!

After an hour, and replacing the new nozzle with another new nozzle, twice, I was able to angle the spray up to about 3 inches up the windshield. It cleared Lincolns vision of the road perfectly. I took the original nozzle, gently wire brushed off the paint, opened up the hole a little bit with a hot pic.

Works perfectly. I probably could’ve done that without even removing them. Picking up a couple clean ones is now on the pull apart list.
 
Last edited:

JoshT

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Banner 2012-2015
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
4,586
Reaction score
2,839
Location
Macon/Fort Valley, GA
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Old 5.0L short block out of the truck and on the ground. Need to transfer parts from it to new short block. Have a little suspension work to tackle/finish while engine is out, then it's time to start reassembly.

Unfortunately that will have to wait a few days, a doctor appointment tomorrow is going to keep me out of the shop until Friday. Possibly have short block going back in this weekend, then I'm on hold again for my heads to arrive.
 

Rick W

Lil Big Rig
Supporting Member
Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
May 15, 2020
Messages
3,145
Reaction score
5,542
Age
69
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
Old 5.0L short block out of the truck and on the ground. Need to transfer parts from it to new short block. Have a little suspension work to tackle/finish while engine is out, then it's time to start reassembly.

Unfortunately that will have to wait a few days, a doctor appointment tomorrow is going to keep me out of the shop until Friday. Possibly have short block going back in this weekend, then I'm on hold again for my heads to arrive.
You should do a build project thread on this. It’s everybody’s dream to put a V-8 in their buggy, and you’re doing a good job with the ups and downs on it. Just a suggestion. Seems it would take you the same amount of time and you get a central place for people to check up on it.

By to say this, hope it helps
 

JoshT

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Banner 2012-2015
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
4,586
Reaction score
2,839
Location
Macon/Fort Valley, GA
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
You should do a build project thread on this. It’s everybody’s dream to put a V-8 in their buggy, and you’re doing a good job with the ups and downs on it. Just a suggestion. Seems it would take you the same amount of time and you get a central place for people to check up on it.

By to say this, hope it helps
Probably should, but I'm not good at taking pictures. I'm also not in my own space and dad works on it some during the day when I'm not there, so I'm not going to slow things down to try and start taking them. I even started a thread on my F-100 in the appropriate section. I made one post months ago, started prepping a second, and never returned to it.
 

ekrampitzjr

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 28, 2021
Messages
823
Reaction score
1,164
Location
Virginia
Vehicle Year
2011
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Got the fuel filter replaced today. It was apparently the original installed at the factory.

The truck has 155,000 miles. I had had a few long cranks to start (up to ~10 seconds a time or two) and the truck stalled when I made a semi-hard stop at a stoplight on Monday, so that told me it was time.

Paid to have it done. With my luck, because of the questions about clips and tools and possible damage while trying to remove the lines, it seemed best to play it safe. The tech said the fuel that came out of the old filter was very dirty. The outside of the filter was also pretty dirty too, which probably confirms it was OE.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Members online

Today's birthdays

TRS Events

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Rick W
October Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

25th Anniversary Merch

Follow TRS On Instagram

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top