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

[RangerBilly]

Our 1993 Ranger has 170k miles and we haven't changed the differential oil since we bought it in 2011. I had seen no record of the previous owner changing it, either. So I expected the worst.
The RTV was shredding, hence the seepage at the 3 to 7 o'clock position. When I popped the cover, and the stinky dark brown oil dribbled out, I was pleased to note no broken metal bits at the bottom, no wear or scoring that I could feel on the ring gear, and no damage to anything else.

I used a Fel-Pro paper gasket coated with Permatex Indian Head gasket goop, and bolted a new cover secured with ten stainless steel bolts. Poured in whatever gear oil I could find on the clearance shelf at Auto Zone: Valvoline, STP and Lucas 85w140.

Took three hours. Hoping for no leaks. I don't expect to remove the cover again (will this 30 year old truck last 100,000 more miles? I can hope, can't I?)

Maybe if I get the urge to install a an no-slip or a Torsen for very occasional off-road use will I need to remove the cover again. Got a 300 foot long unpaved driveway at a rural location that gets muddy during rainy season and we have gotten stuck there more than once!

 

[superj]

mine is unpaved too, though only around 100 foot long. i could see getting stuck very easily when its been raining alot and muddy. everyone drives through the grass when its 50-60 foot puddle from the street back though so no stuck vehicles yet

 

[Lefty]

I washed it. Does that count?

 

[RangerBilly]

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?

 

[ben_2_go]

The GF followed me home in my Ranger after I bought this. She ain't real good at taking pics.

1952 Ford 8N

 

[ben_2_go]

I washed it. Does that count?View attachment 92257

Is that a winch behind your vehicle knocker? Got a thread or pics on how you mounted it there? Real clean install.

 

[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?

I drove a rusty Isuzu for many years in a rust belt city. I completely understand. Ford uses the same steel as everybody else, but the wrong kind of paint.

 

[Lefty]

Is that a winch behind your vehicle knocker? Got a thread or pics on how you mounted it there? Real clean install.

Yup. I posted a thread here a year ago. It's 4,700 lb winch with synthetic cable and remote control. Some members said that this was much too small, arguing mine will never work off road. Maybe so, It certainly won't pull an F150 out of the quicksand, but it will get a neighbor out of a snowbank on reasonably level city streets.

I should know. I had one on my old pickup for twenty years and used it many times. I put this new one on the Ranger and used it twice last winter...no problem. The valance is well supported just behind the fairlead. The winch is bolted to a 4" wide 1/4" steel plate that spans the two frame rails.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The GF followed me home in my Ranger after I bought this. She ain't real good at taking pics.

1952 Ford 8N

Nice! I picked up a 1950 Ferguson TO-20 last year, virtual twin to the Ford 8N/2N/9N tractors. Mine wasn’t running when I got it and I still haven’t got it to run right, but I have got it to run a little. Think the governor might be stuck. Fix one problem to find another.

 

[ben_2_go]

Where you able to use Ranger instr cluster for gauges, very interested in that information on my build

Yup. I posted a thread here a year ago. It's 4,700 lb winch with synthetic cable and remote control. Some members said that this was much too small, arguing mine will never work off road. Maybe so, It certainly won't pull an F150 out of the quicksand, but it will get a neighbor out of a snowbank on reasonably level city streets.

I should know. I had one on my old pickup for twenty years. I used this new one twice last winter...no problem. The valance is well supported just behind the fairlead. The winch is bolted to a 4" wide 1/4" steel plate that spans the two frame rails.

Thanks. I'm planning a future project. I'd like to have a front winch and a removable rear winch. Hidding it like yours may prevent theft. I won't be pulling much, except the project truck if it gets stuck and needs a little bump out. I'm not planning any real harcore offroad stuff in it. Heck, I've gotten stuck on wet grass in my level yard, with street tires, in my current Ranger.

Nice! I picked up a 1950 Ferguson TO-20 last year, virtual twin to the Ford 8N/2N/9N tractors. Mine wasn’t running when I got it and I still haven’t got it to run right, but I have got it to run a little. Think the governor might be stuck. Fix one problem to find another.

Those are nice tractors too. I got lucky with my 8N. The guy I bought it from has been maintaining, using, and restoring tractors for around 40 years. I'm almost 50.

 

[Lefty]

Thanks. I'm planning a future project. I'd like to have a front winch and a removable rear winch. Hidding it like yours may prevent theft. I won't be pulling much, except the project truck if it gets stuck and needs a little bump out. I'm not planning any real harcore offroad stuff in it. Heck, I've gotten stuck on wet grass in my level yard, with street tires, in my current Ranger.

I think mine cost $130.00. I had been thinking about bolting tow loops on the frame in back, but I've got dual exhausts instead.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Those are nice tractors too. I got lucky with my 8N. The guy I bought it from has been maintaining, using, and restoring tractors for around 40 years. I'm almost 50.

I got mine pretty cheap and it’s arguably in pretty good shape. No real rust on it, little dirty and a couple tires don’t hold air real well. Previous owner did a hack job of a 12 volt conversion, gas tank needed cleaned out, sediment bowl was broken, carb needed rebuilt (I just bought a new aftermarket), fixed a bunch of wiring, new oil, it’s just been shy about running right so far. When I finally got it going it took off at full roar and wouldn’t adjust with the throttle so I’m thinking the governor might be stuck or something. Gonna have to go on the back burner again I guess.

 

[Rick W]

2-2x8 x10
1-2x8 x12
2-2x10x12
1-2x10x10
2-4x4x8
1-4x4x7
3 post foundation blocks
All pressure treated
All straight as an arrow, new, stored in a dry basement.

$60

I love Craigslist!

The Missing Linc and Road Ranger had to stay home patiently while I fetched them with Big Red. Big Red got a wash for the occasion (I couldn’t bring him dirty, but I didn’t wash the inner fenders)

 

[Lefty]

Thanks. I'm planning a future project. I'd like to have a front winch and a removable rear winch. Hidding it like yours may prevent theft. I won't be pulling much, except the project truck if it gets stuck and needs a little bump out. I'm not planning any real harcore offroad stuff in it. Heck, I've gotten stuck on wet grass in my level yard, with street tires, in my current Ranger.




Those are nice tractors too. I got lucky with my 8N. The guy I bought it from has been maintaining, using, and restoring tractors for around 40 years. I'm almost 50.

That is a sweet heart, a real collectable too. Guys around here love to restore them.

 

[racsan]

went to lowes to get garden plants & yard flowers, was going to get topsoil too but no more room in the back of the ranger after loading all the plants in.