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What did YOU do today?


Curious Hound

Formerly EricBphoto
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Ford Ranger
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Manual
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4WD
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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.


85_Ranger4x4

Wallows in rivers
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scotts90ranger

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Dayton Oregon
Vehicle Year
1990, 1997
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Ford
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2.3 (4 Cylinder)
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2.3 Turbo
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6
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35"
Been on the tractor for almost 8 hours today... got all the dirt moved, picked up a bunch more rocks which my back and knees are not a fan of then switched to some lower impact tractoring by putting the rear finish mower on and mowing pretty much everything behind the house aside from the lower stuff that the finish mower doesn't like... I don't feel like going in first low for hours...

I'll try to get pics of the finished dirt work here after a bit...
 

sgtsandman

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Location
Aliquippa, PA
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2011/2019
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Ranger XLT/FX4
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4.0 SOHC/2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Pre-2008 lift/Stock
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31X10.5R15/265/65R17
Other than getting the fall maintenance done on the 2019 (see what did you do to your Ranger in the 2019+ section), I got the grass cut and some other small tasks. Me and my buddy, who is in for annual training, sat by the fire ring for a bit as well and got to enjoy the benches I built earlier in the year. With as busy and chaotic as the year has been, this was sadly the first chance to have a fire and use the benches.
 

mikkelstuff

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Location
Brighton, CO
Vehicle Year
2002
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Friend of Bill W.
Got a haircut - which is to say the wife cut my hair. I'm always amused by the occasional "oops" and "oh darn"s. No more hair than I have left, she still thinks I care.
 

Jim Oaks

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Location
Nocona, Texas
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1996 / 2021
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Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 / 2.3 Ecoboost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6-inches
Tire Size
33x12.50x15

1000009462.jpg

My son-in-law inherited a 1980 Turbo Trans Am after his father passed. His dad bought it new and parked it in 1985 after the turbo went out. The car has 44,000 miles on it.

It's sitting in the lower level of their barn in Ohio. My SIL and his friend tried to start it but it wasn't getting spark. He replaced the components in the distributor along with new plugs and wires, and still no spark.

I remembered that these Turbo T/A's had a spark control module. After some research I found it under the front of the center console, unplugged it, cut the green wire for the G connector and the black wire for the J connector and connected them together with a butt connector.

A shot of starter fluid and it started right up. It will stay running if I keep spraying starter fluid in the carb. My SIL was pretty happy / excited to see it run.

1000009464.jpg

He had removed the fuel line that goes to the fuel tank and ran a hose into a gas can, but the pump isn't sucking up the gas. I pulled the line off of the carb to confirm that there isn't any gas flowing through it.

It's great to see the T/A run after 39 years. Looks like the next step is replacing the fuel pump and draining the tank.

He talked to a company about a replacement turbo. Not sure what he's going to do. If it were me, I'd yank the 301 and replace it with a 400.
 

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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
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!

My son-in-law inherited a 1980 Turbo Trans Am after his father passed. His dad bought it new and parked it in 1985 after the turbo went out. The car has 44,000 miles on it.

It's sitting in the lower level of their barn in Ohio. My SIL and his friend tried to start it but it wasn't getting spark. He replaced the components in the distributor along with new plugs and wires, and still no spark.

I remembered that these Turbo T/A's had a spark control module. After some research I found it under the front of the center console, unplugged it, cut the green wire for the G connector and the black wire for the J connector and connected them together with a butt connector.

A shot of starter fluid and it started right up. It will stay running if I keep spraying starter fluid in the carb. My SIL was pretty happy / excited to see it run.


He had removed the fuel line that goes to the fuel tank and ran a hose into a gas can, but the pump isn't sucking up the gas. I pulled the line off of the carb to confirm that there isn't any gas flowing through it.

It's great to see the T/A run after 39 years. Looks like the next step is replacing the fuel pump and draining the tank.

He talked to a company about a replacement turbo. Not sure what he's going to do. If it were me, I'd yank the 301 and replace it with a 400.
Twin Turbo LS swap.
 

Curious Hound

Formerly EricBphoto
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Age
60
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
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.

superj

Well-Known Member
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Joined
Oct 1, 2021
Messages
4,143
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3,588
Location
corpus christi, texas
Vehicle Year
2004
Make / Model
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
holy cow!!! that is awesome!!

my stepmom had a silver trans-am when i was really little. it had the 400 and looked just like the smokey and the bandit car, other than it was silver
 

Rick W

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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

My son-in-law inherited a 1980 Turbo Trans Am after his father passed. His dad bought it new and parked it in 1985 after the turbo went out. The car has 44,000 miles on it.

It's sitting in the lower level of their barn in Ohio. My SIL and his friend tried to start it but it wasn't getting spark. He replaced the components in the distributor along with new plugs and wires, and still no spark.

I remembered that these Turbo T/A's had a spark control module. After some research I found it under the front of the center console, unplugged it, cut the green wire for the G connector and the black wire for the J connector and connected them together with a butt connector.

A shot of starter fluid and it started right up. It will stay running if I keep spraying starter fluid in the carb. My SIL was pretty happy / excited to see it run.


He had removed the fuel line that goes to the fuel tank and ran a hose into a gas can, but the pump isn't sucking up the gas. I pulled the line off of the carb to confirm that there isn't any gas flowing through it.

It's great to see the T/A run after 39 years. Looks like the next step is replacing the fuel pump and draining the tank.

He talked to a company about a replacement turbo. Not sure what he's going to do. If it were me, I'd yank the 301 and replace it with a 400.
I’ve always done whatever I’ve wanted to with whatever cars or projects I’ve had. That’s what it’s all about. But if that car is an all original survivor, one owner from a family member, that would give me a strong incentive to keep it all original.

my two cents
 

Jim Oaks

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Location
Nocona, Texas
Vehicle Year
1996 / 2021
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 / 2.3 Ecoboost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6-inches
Tire Size
33x12.50x15
I’ve always done whatever I’ve wanted to with whatever cars or projects I’ve had. That’s what it’s all about. But if that car is an all original survivor, one owner from a family member, that would give me a strong incentive to keep it all original.

my two cents
He'll never sell the car.

I was listening to how much the turbo options were. He'll get more horsepower for his money doing a Pontiac 400 swap than working on this 301. I'll support his decision either way. I talked to him about the 301 turbo options, Pontiac 400 options, and LS option. The 301 has no aftermarket support. I told him if he went with another engine to keep the 301 if the car were to ever be restored to original.

He really wants to drive it down the road. I see this being fixed and driven versus being restored.

I need to figure out the easiest way to drain the gas tank without having to jack it up and drop the tank.
 

scotts90ranger

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Dayton Oregon
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1990, 1997
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Ford
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2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.3 Turbo
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6
Tire Size
35"
He'll never sell the car.

I was listening to how much the turbo options were. He'll get more horsepower for his money doing a Pontiac 400 swap than working on this 301. I'll support his decision either way. I talked to him about the 301 turbo options, Pontiac 400 options, and LS option. The 301 has no aftermarket support. I told him if he went with another engine to keep the 301 if the car were to ever be restored to original.

He really wants to drive it down the road. I see this being fixed and driven versus being restored.

I need to figure out the easiest way to drain the gas tank without having to jack it up and drop the tank.
One of these should do the trick, might take a bit but pretty easy...

 

Rick W

Lil Big Rig
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Age
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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
He'll never sell the car.

I was listening to how much the turbo options were. He'll get more horsepower for his money doing a Pontiac 400 swap than working on this 301. I'll support his decision either way. I talked to him about the 301 turbo options, Pontiac 400 options, and LS option. The 301 has no aftermarket support. I told him if he went with another engine to keep the 301 if the car were to ever be restored to original.

He really wants to drive it down the road. I see this being fixed and driven versus being restored.

I need to figure out the easiest way to drain the gas tank without having to jack it up and drop the tank.
Understood & great idea to keep the current squirrel wheel.

On the gas tank, and I’m sure you know, best to completely drain it, shake up some rocks and chain in it to loosen the rust, and then epoxy coat it. It’s not that big of a job, and it will save zillions of problems if there’s any trash in it. Rust trash can be microscopic as opposed to dust trash.

My 2 cents
 

Rick W

Lil Big Rig
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Age
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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
If you have a spare electric fuel pump & in line filter….

just don’t blow yourself up.
 

sgtsandman

Aircraft Fuel Tank Diver
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Aliquippa, PA
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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

My son-in-law inherited a 1980 Turbo Trans Am after his father passed. His dad bought it new and parked it in 1985 after the turbo went out. The car has 44,000 miles on it.

It's sitting in the lower level of their barn in Ohio. My SIL and his friend tried to start it but it wasn't getting spark. He replaced the components in the distributor along with new plugs and wires, and still no spark.

I remembered that these Turbo T/A's had a spark control module. After some research I found it under the front of the center console, unplugged it, cut the green wire for the G connector and the black wire for the J connector and connected them together with a butt connector.

A shot of starter fluid and it started right up. It will stay running if I keep spraying starter fluid in the carb. My SIL was pretty happy / excited to see it run.


He had removed the fuel line that goes to the fuel tank and ran a hose into a gas can, but the pump isn't sucking up the gas. I pulled the line off of the carb to confirm that there isn't any gas flowing through it.

It's great to see the T/A run after 39 years. Looks like the next step is replacing the fuel pump and draining the tank.

He talked to a company about a replacement turbo. Not sure what he's going to do. If it were me, I'd yank the 301 and replace it with a 400.
Bandit approves!

I didn't know the Trans AM got struck with the turbo craze in the 80's as well.
 

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