Woah Black Betty, the Danger Ranger!

[strugbus]

Ok, so this is my last post of queued up pics. My girl's looking pretty good now considering where she started.


How she started and looked for the decade we owned and drove her:

How she looks now:

Ok enough fawning! Back to work!
Fitting the hitch from the donor:

Can anyone tell me how important the spare tire carrier is for chassis/frame stability? I'd really love to remove it and fit a spare/secondary fuel tank and/or a compressor and tank.

Getting the info off the diff on the donor truck:

Of course it's illegible... where's the 80 grit!?!

There all better.

 

[strugbus]

Oooh I'm double posting.... don't tell anyone. I thought I'd do a quick plan update for the project moving forward. I have waffles over some of the build aspects but think I've come up with a solid plan. I have a spending deadline for work on the truck of April. Anything not bought and paid for doesn't get done.

Upcoming work:

Suspension:

• Spindle lift up front
• Add a leaf rear lift
• New stock fitting UCA'S and LCA's with new urethanes and ball joints
• New tie rod ends
• New front & rear shocks front will be Bilsteins, rears will be a load assist set

Exterior:

• Fab custom rear bumper with side guards and dual swingout
• Buy and move to 33" tires including a new spare
• Add winch
• Add 3rd tail light and plate light
• Tune headlights
• Add 360⁰ individually switched area lighting
• Mount and wire CB and GMRS radios
• Fab rock sliders/steps
• Fab mounts/holders for shovel/jack
• Add rack wind deflector with custom lettering
• Add train horn
• Add compressor and air tank
• Add female calvin passing on a GM logo to camper glass
• Add removable stripper poll to roof rack
• Still with me?

Interior:

• Wire in fuseblock to the cab for radios, lights, cameras stereo amp and train horn
• Trim out interior
• Install seat covers
• Fab, wire and mount custom speaker Boxes, amp and sub
• Mount radios
• Mount backup camera monitor
• Mount switch panel for lights etc.
• Get fuzzy dice

Mechanical:

• 8.8 rear end swap w 4.10's and an elocker or air locker
• 130 amp alternator upgrade
• New belt
• New fluids
• New hoses
• Full wheelhub rebuilds
• New filters
• Check motor mounts

Camper shell:

• Strip original fabric liner off roof interior and silicone all penetrations before flex sealing.
• Insulate entire shell in 1+ inches of closed cell foam
• Build bed platform/storage cabinets
• Build kitchen slide outs
• Mount batteries
• Mount water
• Plumb water
• Mount electrical and wire
• Cut mattress and make custom foam cushions/bed
• Make cushion/bed covers
• Install and plumb hot water heater
• Install and plumb cheap Chinese diesel heater

If anyone has input on this, parts for sale or suggestions please chime in! I'm in desperate need of ideas to make a 3x5" piece of steel look cool and function well.

 

[strugbus]

I guess you could say, I'm... LOCKED ON!

Edit: Just pulled the trigger on the shocks and lift kit as well. Front end refresh kit will probably need to wait a couple weeks.

 

[sgtsandman]

The spare tire carrier does provide SOME structural rigidity but not a huge amount. As far as installing a secondary tank. It's been done. There is at least one good thread on it. I think in the article section. If I remember correctly, the tire carrier was cut out and a bracket system was welded in to support the tank from a Bronco II. The back of the tank is a bit exposed but if you mount it as far forward as you can and with you having a hitch installed, it should be protected pretty well. BRB, I'll see if I can find the thread I'm thinking of.

EDIT: https://www.therangerstation.com/forums/index.php?threads/blackbiis-white-ranger.138828/page-30

 

[strugbus]

Gearing question for those in the know. I'm going to have my differential done by a pro. The donor I just bought has 4.10's in it but now is the best time to regear I'll have.

My plan was to run 33's but if I find a good deal on a set of 35's I might jump on them. They seem to be really common in my area fairly lightly used.

I'll have a 4" spindle lift, 2" add a leaf with load assists in the rear. My front fenders are already large fiberglass aftermarket deals. I can trim the rear as needed too and add spacers if I need.

If I regear to like 5.12 or whatever it is ,(sorry, it's almost 3am can't sleeeep!) But go with 33's instead of 35's will I be kicking myself?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Gear Ratio Guide For Larger Tires (therangerstation.com)

 

[sgtsandman]

Uncle Gump’s link is the best resource to look at and decide where you want to be.

Take into account what you want to do with your truck and your terrain. Pay attention to the economy gearing, best all around, and power and towing bands for your tires and gear combination.

Since I’m on my phone, I can’t see where you are from, if you have it listed, and the details on your truck.

Keep in mind that the power in most Rangers is a bit weak. So it might be in your best interest to go lower than economy. I find the economy range to struggle a bit in certain situations with the hilly/mountainous terrain in PA. If you live in a fairly flat area, that might not be much of a concern.

Also, with the terrain around here, economy mpg ends being about the same as the power/towing mpg. So for me, it’s a wash on that front but the get up and go is much better using the towing/power end of the scale and the truck doesn’t struggle. For you, it might be a bit different. If you do a lot of highway and Interstate driving, you might want to consider the best all around to keep your RPMs lower and your fuel economy up.

 

[strugbus]

Thanks for all the info. I'd seen the chart before but couldn't find it again.

I spent my new years making a lot of racket and passing my neighbors off. Went down to my landlord's shop to do all my cutting and grinding.

All tucked in:

Cutting metal and laying out the plan:

Drilling brackets out of angle to make the entire thing removeable.

Angle iron bolted to the truck for fitment:

My girlfriend came and cut the angles for the wrap arounds, she is awesome and extremely capable. I had just gotten stuck on how to proceedand she figured it out instantly.:

Aforementioned wrap arounds, I used ratchet straps to make the hold the angle while I welded:

Bumper with wrap arounds mocked up, holes drilled for the swingouts:

Then I slept! Saturday was a climbing day:

Got some new wire for the welder and tackled a little side project:

Fitting wraparound with swingouts bolted on and hoops welded on:

Bracing and swimming for welds:

Welded on, don't beat me up to hard on the welds. There's some fill and I started having wire feed issues. I'll iron those out, grind back and get it on like donkey Kong!

New years is off to a good start so far!

 

[ericbphoto]

Since I’m on my phone, I can’t see where you are from, if you have it listed, and the details on your truck.

Turn your phone sideways to landscape view. The profile box opens up and shows that he's in some funny-named place in California.

 

[strugbus]

Turn your phone sideways to landscape view. The profile box opens up and shows that he's in some funny-named place in California.

She

 

[ericbphoto]

She

Please accept my apologies. The anonymity of the web makes fools of all of us every now and again.

Waiting to see how this bumper turns out.

 

[leg0man]

Nice project, I hope to do something similar with my Ranger - kit it out for overland use and backwoods camping more than hardcore offroad. Love the DIY stuff!

 

[strugbus]

Please accept my apologies. The anonymity of the web makes fools of all of us every now and again.

Waiting to see how this bumper turns out.

No sweat at all!

It's hilly here and I'll be in the Sierra's a lot. She's basically just for offroading and climbing trips. I'm not really in a hurry though thankfully. Probably go with 5.13's in the rear.

 

[sgtsandman]

What's the plan with the axle hubs on the ends of the bumper? You plan on being in places that tight and at that much of an angle often enough that you need an extra set of rollers?

 

[strugbus]

What's the plan with the axle hubs on the ends of the bumper? You plan on being in places that tight and at that much of an angle often enough that you need an extra set of rollers?

Swingouts for the spare and fuel cans.