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Rejuvinating project "Outrangerous"


rjaaaaaa2

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Hello everyone and Merry Christmas
I did a 4.6 conversion a few years ago on my 2001 ranger 2wd edge step side, its still running fine.
Now it's time to freshen up the body, it's starting to show it's age. I'd like a few custom touches added to the truck such as custom tailgate, relocated handle to inside tailgate, recessed license plate in tailgate , new custom tail lights and rear marker lights, reworking the rear fenders in shape and size ( I'd like to stick some 17" x 12" wheels under them with some wide tires, more on that later).
I'm going to replace the rear window with a smaller oval style window out of a 48 gmc pu, new grill and lights up front, wooden bed floor, new under truck full length dual exhaust. new bucket seats, console, carpet etc. inside and what ever else comes to mind during build.
I'm going to take the truck off the road for the winter and hopefully be ready for paint in spring.
I started this week by pulling the tailgate off and started on it, (still have a couple small projects in garage that must be finished) before I pull the truck in and take off the bed.
I started on the tailgate by relocating the handle to the inside of the tail gate. It turned out to be a simple thing to do. I removed the access panel on the inside of the tg and removed the existing handle and mech. I then took a cutoff wheel and cut the recessed portion for the handle out of the tg, I trimmed the removed piece to be reused as a support bracket. Flatten piece and bend ends to fit tg, bolt new support bracket to handle and test fit on tg. Connected tg latch rods and operated latch release. looks to work ok.:headbang::headbang::yahoo:
Will be welding patch to front side.
 

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bobbywalter

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welcome back...thanks for keeping us updated.



window idea sounds awesome mang...diggin it:icon_thumby:



they sell all kinds of gizmos for remote latching ect for the doors/gate and custom roll pan and tail gate gee whizzery......you could make use of some cameras i would think with the window mod...


look forward to the progress.
 

rjaaaaaa2

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Outrangerous update

Been working on the tailgate, removed the handle and moved it inside, made up a panel and welded it in, fabbed up a sheet metal box to hold the recessed tag, and cut out the hole for the tag.
Had to open up the back side of the tailgate in order to install the sheet metal box and weld it in place.
started the body work on tail gate, it was pretty banged up after 17 years but it hammered out ok.
I shot a my first coat of black guide coat on it, looks ok
Still have to weld the panel back in place that I cut out and put the handle assembly back in.
It's coming along.
 

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Ranger850

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Do you have a build thread on your 4.6 conversion. I have a lincoln continental as a motor donor and was curious about the headache I'll be giving myself
 

rjaaaaaa2

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outrangerous build

Do you have a build thread on your 4.6 conversion. I have a lincoln continental as a motor donor and was curious about the headache I'll be giving myself
Yes, it's not a build thread exactly but I documented a lot of the issues that come up during the swap. Search threads by rjaaaaaa and I think you will find the info.
if your doing a Lincoln 4.6 than it's the twin overhead cam version of the 4.6 and that's a whole different animal. Because of the twin cams the width of the engine is much wider then the single cam. This causes more interference everywhere but it has been done.
I did all the work myself and don't know how much you plan on doing yourself. Some of the mods are easy, some are not, the wiring harness change was the biggest challenge, be sure to purchase both factory wiring books.
Any questions I can help with just pm me and I'll give you my email.
It's well worth the swap if your willing to do the work. It's a lot of fun to drive.
 

Ranger850

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Kool. Thanx. I have the lincoln, but am looking for an expo/mounty donor. But if all else fails I have the lincoln. A transmission would be my biggest treasure hunt. I think???
 

rjaaaaaa2

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Kool. Thanx. I have the lincoln, but am looking for an expo/mounty donor. But if all else fails I have the lincoln. A transmission would be my biggest treasure hunt. I think???
the aod in the Lincoln will work fine.
 

Ranger850

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pjtoledo

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Unfortunately it's a98 Lincoln Continental and is front wheel drive
memory banks are a bit fuzzy, but I seem to recall something very different about the bell housing patterns on 4.6s in FWD Continentals. may warrant investigating.
 

Ranger850

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memory banks are a bit fuzzy, but I seem to recall something very different about the bell housing patterns on 4.6s in FWD Continentals. may warrant investigating.
What do you mean by "different"?
I will see what I can find. :icon_thumby:
 

pjtoledo

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What do you mean by "different"?
I will see what I can find. :icon_thumby:

Wiki has info on the 4.6 DOHC and lists the Continental version as having a different FWD bell housing. the 90s Continentals were based on the Taurus, so those 4.6's had to bolt to a Taurus fwd transaxle. from there my info is a bit sketchy. that should be the 3.8 Essex v6 pattern. which in Taurus fwd is maybe the same as the 3.0 Vulcan?????




with apologies to taking this post slightly off topic.
 
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Ranger850

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So it might bolt up to my current tranny??? Would my trans hold up to that kind of power.
My apologies as well to OP
 
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pjtoledo

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:dunno:

maybe someone knows for certain.

Ford Performance Specialists near Atlanta once told me he could build the 4R44 to take more power.

a few years back there was a magazine write up on the differences of the 4.6
not sure when or where.

sounds like the OP used a SOHC in his swap because he mentioned the DOHC would be a challenge, and that puts this thread back on track. :icon_thumby:
 

85_Ranger4x4

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Wiki has info on the 4.6 DOHC and lists the Continental version as having a different FWD bell housing. the 90s Continentals were based on the Taurus, so those 4.6's had to bolt to a Taurus fwd transaxle. from there my info is a bit sketchy. that should be the 3.8 Essex v6 pattern. which in Taurus fwd is maybe the same as the 3.0 Vulcan?????

with apologies to taking this post slightly off topic.
No idea on the 4.6. 3.0/3.8 bellhousing boltpattern would greatly limit the size of the torque converter on a 4.6 though.

3.8 and 3.0 have different bellhousing bolt patterns in RWD applications, it wouldn't surprise me if they were different in FWD applications too.

So it might bolt up to my current tranny??? Would my trans hold up to that kind of power.
My apologies as well to OP
:scare:

sounds like the OP used a SOHC in his swap because he mentioned the DOHC would be a challenge, and that puts this thread back on track. :icon_thumby:
GregR (he changed usernames at some point though) had a 4v 4.6 in a roughly 2001 2wd Ranger.
 

rjaaaaaa2

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Tail gate mods

moving along with tailgate mods, sprayed first coat of primer, getting close. need to primer inside yet and connect and close up panels. Came out pretty nice. Will be pulling bed off soon, plenty of mods planned for it.
 

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