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What did YOU do today?


bilbo

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I washed and waxed the Dodge today, and found this.
IMG_6248.jpeg

No idea what I ran over to cause that. I was planning on some new tires later this year; I guess I’ll move that up the list.
 

pentode

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I washed and waxed the Dodge today, and found this.
View attachment 113185
No idea what I ran over to cause that. I was planning on some new tires later this year; I guess I’ll move that up the list.
Dang, I see steel. 😬

Bad luck.
 

snoranger

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Location
Jackson, NJ. And Manahawkin too.
Vehicle Year
'79,'94,'02,'23
Make / Model
All Fords
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
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Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
The dry rot between the treads says that tire was already gone anyway. We call them “Maypops”… they may pop today, they may pop tomorrow; but they’re definitely going to pop soon.
 

Rick W

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Age
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Atlanta
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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
I finally mounted my Airtank in a way that I liked, it’s in the build thread.

But I wanted to mention here that I actually finally found a relatively easy product to clean and polish the aluminum diamond plate. It looks like it’s going to work great on the mag wheels as well.

IMG_2307.jpeg
IMG_2306.jpeg


I think the spray cleaner is some kind of mild acid from reading the instructions. It will take off calcium and rust, etc. The toolbox lid looked almost white, except for the dirty spots. I sprayed the stuff on, waited a minute, and then worked it in with a nylon brush. I used some 0000 steel wool on the bad spots The aluminum didn’t look a whole lot better, but I could tell from the black water and muck that a whole bunch of something came off. Then I rinsed it all off and let it dry.

The paste/polish is weird. It’s waxy, but it is light almost like a piece of Styrofoam, but it is a paste. Initially, I was applying it with a shop towel with meager results. Then I put a buffing cone (1.5 x 3?) from Harbor Freight on my 3/8 drill. This let me work around all the diamonds on the diamond plate. I was flat out astounded at how quickly it brought the diamond plate to a pretty good shine! That toolbox lid piece is about 14“ x 20 1/2“, with the turn down edge, and flat ends, and I did the whole thing in about 10 minutes.

IMG_2305.jpeg


This before/after picture doesn’t do it justice.

Keep in mind I have tried 10 or 12 different kinds of buffing wheels and pads, and all kinds of metal cleaner, and I got good results, but it took hours.

I bought the stuff while ago, it was a little pricey, but it is worth every single nickel if your time is worth $.50 an hour!
 

bilbo

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2WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Dang, I see steel. 😬

Bad luck.
It is unfortunate, but It made it home from a 60mi. trip on Thursday so I’m saying good luck!

I’m surprised at the cracking on these tires. They’re Coopers, which I had good experiences with in the past. I put them on shortly before we moved here so they’re only a little over two years old.
 

pentode

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2WD
It is unfortunate, but It made it home from a 60mi. trip on Thursday so I’m saying good luck!

I’m surprised at the cracking on these tires. They’re Coopers, which I had good experiences with in the past. I put them on shortly before we moved here so they’re only a little over two years old.
Wow, 2 years? That's very surprising.
Definitely good luck you didn't have a blowout, yeah!
 

snoranger

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Location
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All Fords
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4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
I just about filled a 19 cu yard dumpster with construction debris at my new house.

757FD730-12AE-45AE-A36F-B86D056BDB97.jpeg


This pic was just because I can find the humor in everything. Even moving tons of garbage on one of the hottest days of the summer.

BBCC2E47-8032-4106-8A7B-717582E75FAB.jpeg
 

Curious Hound

Formerly EricBphoto
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6"
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35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.

snoranger

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Location
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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!

sgtsandman

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Location
Aliquippa, PA
Vehicle Year
2011/2019
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Ranger XLT/FX4
Engine Size
2011 - 4.0 SOHC/2019 - 2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2011 - Pre-2008 lift/2019 - Stock
Tire Size
2011 - 31X10.5R15/2019 - 265/70R17
My credo
Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Plan for it as best you can.
I washed and waxed the Dodge today, and found this.
View attachment 113185
No idea what I ran over to cause that. I was planning on some new tires later this year; I guess I’ll move that up the list.
It's just playing peek a boo.
 

sgtsandman

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Location
Aliquippa, PA
Vehicle Year
2011/2019
Make / Model
Ranger XLT/FX4
Engine Size
2011 - 4.0 SOHC/2019 - 2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2011 - Pre-2008 lift/2019 - Stock
Tire Size
2011 - 31X10.5R15/2019 - 265/70R17
My credo
Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Plan for it as best you can.
I didn't get as far as I had hoped with the boxes. The glued together boards for the bottoms and lids came out pretty good for not being a cabinet maker. Anyway, everything has been planed and sanded. I'll start gluing and nailing the pieces together tomorrow. The neighbor's are having a party that myself and the family were invited to and it was getting too hot to continue working the garage.
 

superj

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corpus christi, texas
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2004
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ranger edge
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
182 ci of tire shredding power
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
-2
Total Drop
2, so far
Tire Size
235s
My credo
drives a stick shift ranger
The wife and i came back from the river to get ready for the hurricane, since its now supposed to be a direct hit for my town. It might be a cat1 which is a little more wind than we normally have though, so no one is worried.



20240706_181347.jpg
20240706_181327.jpg
 

97RangerXLT

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Make / Model
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4.0
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Automatic
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Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
31"
@snoranger provided me all the basics (thanks again), but I don’t know why I am intimidated by AC systems. It’s my understanding a little extra PAG oil may compromise the peak cooling capacity, but too little PAG OIL, and the compressor will eat itself.
dunno what Sno provided you, but I did do a A/C revival thread in the tech library about 11 years ago... https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/resurrecting-your-ford-ranger-air-conditioning/


there is also an a/c basics thread as well in the tech library... https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/automotive-air-conditioning-101/

my walk through covers most of what you will need to get it going, specific to a 97 Ranger but with a few changes/ details will work for other years.

Nice score on the pump. I got an ancient pump for 35 bucks 11 years ago... but it works great. you can see it in the pics.

AJ
 

Rick W

Lil Big Rig
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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
dunno what Sno provided you, but I did do a A/C revival thread in the tech library about 11 years ago... https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/resurrecting-your-ford-ranger-air-conditioning/


there is also an a/c basics thread as well in the tech library... https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/automotive-air-conditioning-101/

my walk through covers most of what you will need to get it going, specific to a 97 Ranger but with a few changes/ details will work for other years.

Nice score on the pump. I got an ancient pump for 35 bucks 11 years ago... but it works great. you can see it in the pics.

AJ
THANK YOU’
 

snoranger

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Joined
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Messages
13,626
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15,349
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!
After finishing filling the dumpster, I ran some more wiring. This time it’s for lighting in the new section of the closet.

36210584-E2E3-4F8B-8B82-DCFA97797C2F.jpeg


I had to see how bright the new lights are, so I installed them.

Now I’m relaxing in the pool after a long day.

EC6E9197-6892-409E-920D-062A811C3320.jpeg
 

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