What did YOU do today?

[sgtsandman]

I stopped at Lowes and got the materials to start making the boxes to replace the plastic bins. Since cargo straps go over them as part of securing the load, I chose to go with poplar instead of pine and they will have a lid so that load forces are spread out through the structure of the box instead of two pressure points on the sides.

The initial rough cutting to length and cutouts for hand holds have been made. The lid and bottom boards have been glued together and clamped as well. These are meant to hold kindling and sticks. So, they won't be fine furniture pieces (I'm not upto that skill level anyway). Plus, with these having a lid, I might be able to put them under the coolers, rather on top. That will also make access easier for getting at things and putting ice in them.

Tomorrow, assembly should start.

 

[sgtsandman]

Rangers were underrepresented from what I saw, sadly. I'm not a fan of crowds so I didn't see everything. Usually I tell myself I'm not paying the $15 for the big Show tomorrow but usually I cave in and go. It's a huge space in a big park so if I find a Ranger I'll definitely post it.

Did I post the lonely Toyota pic? Definitely all vehicles are welcome. It's just an event for people who love their cars. At least half the people around aren't even in the show, they just came to town in their rides to enjoy the atmosphere.

Most people view the Ranger like a Honda Civic, Ford Focus, or a Dodge Neon. Nothing special and just basic transportation. So, they don't bother to do much with them.

Not that they are wrong necessarily. One normally doesn't think of a Ranger the way us odd balls do. Such as the sport truck or as a better than average off road vehicle as examples.

 

[bilbo]

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

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]

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]

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]

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.

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.

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]

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]

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]

I just about filled a 19 cu yard dumpster with construction debris at my new house.

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.

 

[Curious Hound]

I just about filled a 19 cu yard dumpster with construction debris at my new house.

View attachment 113197

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.

View attachment 113198

That's one heck of a bidet. More of a reamer than a cleaner.

 

[snoranger]

That's one heck of a bidet. More of a reamer than a cleaner.

The shitter’s full.

 

[sgtsandman]

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]

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]

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.

 

[97RangerXLT]

@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