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


600$04Ranger

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Ashland, OR.
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2004
Make / Model
Xlt 4wd 4.0L V6
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4.0 V6
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Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
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31x10.5
My credo
Mandates are for fascist dictators!
The original discussion has disappeared. IDK.

We need some positive news. What did you do to your Ranger taday?
Swapped out my wimpy stock front sway bar bushings and end links with the polyurethane kit from Energy Suspension. Easy job that didn't even require jacking the front end up. Used two jack stands to hold the sway bar up closer to the frame which made it easy except that I mounted the new bushings to the frame without making sure the ends of the sway bar was already above the upper control arms and realized I would have to start over since you can't just swivel the ends up when the control arm is in the way. DOH! No biggie though.

Was it worth the $45 and 20 minutes? Hell yeah! Feel a noticeable increase in stiffness and stability. The stock links use a plastic sleeve between the 4 small bushings while the new ones use a stout metal sleeve over that looks beefier too:) I replaced the worn out after only a month transmission mount I paid $10 for to replace the stock mount with their $60(worth it!) polyurethane mount and loved the way it eliminated some noticeable vibrations and my wobbly shifter. Thinking about getting the control arm bushing kit next since my lower bushings look old and worn. Anyone have any comments on that kit?
 


Roert42

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Ranger XLT
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4.0 SOHC
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Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Swapped the sender on the Red one, hopefully that sorts out my issue I was having with spidering under hard throttle.

Swapped the tires back between the blue one and red one, since I’m driving the red one all the time. Broke one of the lug studs on the blue one, have to change that now.

Gave my brother the ‘97, he was super excited about that. Helped him fix the reverse lights. Also helped him make a new handle for the parking brake release. Welded a old wrench to the lock collar
67745
 

ThatOneGuy

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South sound
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1983 1993
Make / Model
Ranger Explorer
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
Explorer is 4.0 ranger is 2.3 soon to be 4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
235/75/15
My credo
Let the universe take you where it will !!!
Been working in fabricating the new transfercase shift linkage. Here is what I have so far runs through the gears quite nicely. Now I just have to figure out how to get it up into position for the shifter. First pic is 2high 2nd pic is 4low
20211031_154055.jpg
20211031_154638.jpg
 

ThatOneGuy

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Ranger Explorer
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Engine Size
Explorer is 4.0 ranger is 2.3 soon to be 4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
235/75/15
My credo
Let the universe take you where it will !!!
Well here is the stopping point for the night gotta clean my mess up, gonna probably have to wait till it's in the truck to get the handle design dialed in
20211031_174008.jpg
 

85_Ranger4x4

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Drove it out of the garage, put a tire in the back off my F-150 that has a not quite slow leak and backed it back into the garage so I don't have to scrape ice in the morning.
 

ekrampitzjr

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Do you push the A/C button to turn the lights on? :p That’d actually be pretty neat

I pulled the wiper arms this week and repainted them. Flat is too flat for OEM look. It’s probably supposed to be semi gloss or one notch flatter than that.
View attachment 67603
You're looking for "semi-flat" black, which is between flat and semi-gloss. Finding it aftermarket is hard. Eastwood carries it as "underhood black".
 

Roert42

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4.0 SOHC
Transmission
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2WD / 4WD
2WD
You're looking for "semi-flat" black, which is between flat and semi-gloss. Finding it aftermarket is hard. Eastwood carries it as "underhood black".
I’ve never seen any paint advertised as semi flat, but satin seems more or less what we’re looking for here and it’s pretty common finish. I used satin black rustoleum on my bumper.
 

ericbphoto

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1993
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Ford Ranger
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3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
Satin is too fancy and expensive. I buy cotton.
 

Uncle Gump

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Ranger/BroncoII
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4.0L SOHC/2.9L
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Lead follow or get out of my way
I use this stuff for a bunch of projects... it comes in a rattle can too.

cayon black.jpg
 

RustyShackleford94

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Manual
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4WD
Towed some 10’ ish dock sections for the boss with it. Little 2.3 didnt really disappoint all things considered. Held 4th at 55mph with 1300lbs of trailer, probably 1500lbs of dock, and a couple hundred pounds of crap in the bed no problem. Indiana is flat AF just fyi if you didnt know.
D46C4817-2BA0-4921-A92B-AC599C5ED755.jpeg
0566470D-1829-4A73-99C0-88A8303FC92C.jpeg
 
Last edited:

superj

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ranger edge
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3 liters of tire smoking power
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2WD
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none
Total Drop
none
Tire Size
235s
My credo
Grew up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s
all my dad's plumbing company trucks were 2.3 ford/mazdas. they always hauled everything with no trouble. bed full of fittings and tools and pipe rack with lots of pipe.

i would imagine you will not have a problem hauling with a 2.3
 

holyford86

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7
Tire Size
33x12.50R15
You're looking for "semi-flat" black, which is between flat and semi-gloss. Finding it aftermarket is hard. Eastwood carries it as "underhood black".
check out auto body supply stores, SEM trim black, comes in a few different options
 

RustyShackleford94

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4WD
i would imagine you will not have a problem hauling with a 2.3
Ehh, if it were much bigger i wouldve wanted my GMC. Going was slow but not problematic slow, braking was a different story. Left lots of room between me and things in front of me. If i couldve had a little more weight in the front of the trailer i would’ve been more comfortable. No way to distribute the load since it was touching the front of the trailer and barely cleared the door.
 
Last edited:

RustyShackleford94

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Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Pulled the bossmans pontoon from the unheated old tractor shop to the front of the building.
AB9EC057-0B3B-4B99-8FFE-6CFB00D62661.jpeg

the route required about 1/4 mile of highway see purple line
624DC4A2-0DDA-4943-B868-DAC543B4B1B1.jpeg

Had a feeling I should’ve drove the GMC to work today but the ranger got it done.
 
Last edited:

tw205

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Engine Size
2.8
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4WD
Total Lift
6” skyjacker 2” body
Tire Size
33x12.5
Installed a new set of the correct rocker arm shaft stands on my blue 85 BII Alice. P O used some strange stands with huge bases preventing the baffles from mounting in the fray. @AndyB. hooked me up with new old stock. Baffles fit nicely. Readjusted the valves to accommodate said baffles and took her for a rip. Thanks Andy
image.jpg
 

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