1989 WALL-E Ranger Build

[Dugan]

Picked up and mounted a hitch today, 50$ for this beefy ass hitch from a buddy of mine. Before mounting the hitch, I wanted more ground clearance so I took the knuckles off the outsides, PB and an Acetylene torch with a BFH later and swapped them to the other sides so the hitch was then up instead of down. Also removed the spare tire carrier because it wouldnt hold my 32" tire so I said screw it time for a bed tire carrier. I used the first hole on the old bumper mount as my start point, Prob shoulda pushed it back a bit but oh well if anyone rear-ends me my truck is safe haha

Moved up my ugly ass bumper and cut off the middle of it where the old ball was. Got to use my plasma cutter on 240V for the first time. Man that makes me so much happier about it then how it was on 120V haha.

The way I moved the bumper up was to unbolt the rear bed mounts, I beat out the bumper mounts a bit to fit around frame rails. Once Mounted and the bed pushed up a bit using a bottle jack and 2x4, I slid out the 3" mounts and positioned bumper. I realized the hole in the frame and bed was like 1/2" off center compared to bumper. So I cut out the side of the bumper mount and tacked a piece of square sheet steel with a hole in it in place and slid the bumper back on and mounted it. Now I have a tow point and a beefy ass one at that. I might drill a new hole farther back on the hitch so the hook can move in more for being pulled out but for towing Ill leave it as far out as possible.

Oh and if anyone noticed my perfect tailgate is now merked, dana 60s are heavy and should not rest on ranger tailgates... ugh

 

[Dugan]

Took the ranger out a few times lately, its been doing pretty good on the allterrains, but im ready to put the tsls back on and do some real wheeling.

Will post some pics of it later.

Also after trail riding the other nights and while drifting corners the motor was cutting out due to the fuel being full of crap, I was getting pissed.

So out came the tank which was very easy to remove...

TONS of shale and crap was in this tank. If I put my hand in and wiped the wall of the tank my hand was black..

So Ive been flushing it with water and getting it out.
Im taking my time and spending a little extra to make sure I dont have to do this again. Im just putting a garden hose at the bottom of the tank and letting the water rise out the crap. So far its worked well. If anyone has any other ideas im all ears its hard to get into the corners of the tank. Might try my shopvac a bit.

 

[kris97ranger]

Only thing ive heard is some gas and a chain in the tanjs shake the shit outta it

 

[jhammel85]

How did you move up the bumper? Make some brackets?

 

[Dugan]

I removed the two rear bolts on the bed and removed the 3" blocks. Beat out the arms of the bumper and slid it on top of the frame. Once realizing the bolts would go through only with a new hole drilled next to the middle one on the bracket, I created two 2"x2" square plates and cut a hole in the middle. I cut out the side of the bumper bracket next to the hole and welding those plates over it. Now the bumper could be slid on and the blocks repositioned and bolts sent through. I have jumped on the bumper no prob but you do feel it move when weight is applied. Its too high to get my fat ass on now so I just step on the hitch.

 

[jhammel85]

That's good. A lot of people have talked about ways to move up the bumpers after a body lift. I was going to go that route but I buzzed in a roll pan instead.

In a way, I wish I kept a bumper...For obvious reasons.

 

[Dugan]

I love the roll pan look my 49 has a pretty nice one.

It was raining and I had to drive it to work in the morning so I was like Ill just make the bumper work. Looks a lot better then it did. Now to just do the front end. I have a Full Size tube bumper im going to cut down to fit the ranger and prob trim the outsides to fit the width.

 

[Dugan]

I have to start building this bed tire carrier soon because this tail gate is pissing me off, It closes, but to open it with the bow in the middle you have to open it then push it in and it will engage the two bottom mounts. It wants to slide out now since the bumper is there. A normal tail gate would be fine tho.. darn D60.. this mazda project better be nice..

Or that d60 will be going under a ranger mwaha

 

[Dugan]

Anyone local have a BII gas tank they dont want??? Id love to relocate the tank

 

[Dugan]

First pic that I have of the truck on the trails.

Removed the gas tank, bitch is quite dirty...

This is def a good reason why my fp is clogging up... this was after a flush too...

 

[jhammel85]

Check this out. Someone's parting one out around us:

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/pts/3262805963.html

 

[Dugan]

Yea that's a good friebd of mine he has like 10 of em. he has my axles i want too. He said i can have that b2 for 300 would that be worth it. 5spd m tcase

 

[Dugan]

Went to the misfits 4x4 car show saturday to see how it was brought the ranger aswell.

They had a mud pit, crawling courses (One with 4ft deep holes, a 54" or larger tractor tire that was pretty tall and concrete pipes), and car crushing

Tried the mud pit, but with my small tires I fell right in the jeep ruts and got sucked up by the mud. It was the width of a backhoe and soupy as a mofo.

Tried the beginner crawling course with no issue did it pretty fast and gf hated me for bouncing her around. Then we did the harder of the two and had the ranger almost on its side a few times. Got hung up on the tire and hi-centered. That was fun to see the ranger go into two 3-4ft deep holes on opposite sides and still have the tires getting traction. Then I was hesitant about the car crushing, a buddy with an f350 was all over it with his crap tires but I didnt wanna slice up a good TSL. So instead I hit the most flat part of the cars, the explorer!

That D28 has surprised me this weekend, I was trying to break it crawling something or in the mud pit and she held strong even climbing up tires concrete and cars!

F what ya heard about the d28 I love mine...

 

[Dugan]

Soupy Ass Mud

Got stuck coming up the hill in the middle, need a front locker

Went to backup for another shot and sank

Right after I got unstuck from that huge tire, hi-centered. The part to the right up to the tire was 3ft deep holes and the part before the tire was passenger side 4 ft hole, drivers side up on normal ground then the drivers side goes onto the tire and the pass side rear sinks into the hole... the ranger did it just didnt hit the gas hard enough to get over the tire.

This is where I thought I was gonna say bye bye to that dana 28 haha

 

[Dugan]

A friend had mentioned rear leaf spring sliders made by liquid iron industries to help with rear flex.

As I use a shackle now for rear lift would putting this shackle in the slider cause any issues? If anything it sounds like it would give the spring more articulation to move..