1994 ranger build "Lizzy" (Slow build thread)

[Funnyman141]

I figured I should start a build thread for Liz,

Its a 1994 4x4 ext. cab Ranger, 3.73 gears, D35 T.T.B. front, 1354M Transfer case (was a 1354E case) , M5OD trans, 8.8 L/S rear, 4.0 O.H.V., Warn manual hubs, running 30/9.50R15's on the rear with 235/75R15's up front (not for long, i hope)

So far plans are J.D. 2.5-3" suspension lift, with a 1-1.5" body lift, built up 4.0, build a real rollbar, winch front and rear bumpers, half doors, C.B., Bronco II or a 70's F-150 rear tank, and re-gearing to 4 something gears and locking the D35 & 8.8 to finish her up.

So far I have Installed a 1354M transfer case from an early 90's ranger, 1999 Escort sport Zx2 bucket seats, I've killed off the 5 cylinder 4.0 with loads of water, mud and gas, I'm at the tail end of installing a 4.0 from a 92 exploder, and a M5OD from a 96ish Ranger.

I might also have a line on a D60 and 9" from a certain 78 F-150 I used to own, although I'm looking (passively) for a sterling 10.25 rear axle, and I'll probably be building a center console to house my C.B., Winch switches, and cupholders again!

enough info, time for pictures!
Pics of when I got it

Changing the beyond pooched front u-joints

the cut down rollbar from Beef

the rollbar with the Baja's lights

Front view

The final wave goodbye to the 1354E, lol

Loosing the cupholders is a sad affair

The creek I got stuck in and later blew up the motor in

in the middle of the motor swap

her first taste of tree rash

To better see the dents that magically appeared...

lightly "modified" taillight

Not the last body damage she'll see but it'll be a while before I go play that hard again, maybe.

 

[Beef52751]

nice build, hopefully we'll get to take them out this summer. I still need a D35 if you see one locally for sale

 

[Funnyman141]

Thanks Beef, I hope that we can take them out too lol, I'm going to start at a new job on Tuesday, 12 hour days 5-6 days a week at 12.54 an hour.

Well I got the new motor in and started, BUT it doesn't want to go into gear while running, it seems to be fully bled, and the pedal is firm. Well I watched the videos on how to bleed these clutch systems and figured "Well, it looks easy enough." I was wrong, I fought with the plastic collar to release the fitting, when it finally came apart it bled all of the fluid out of the system while I was trying to find a bucket for it to drain into. at least the new slave cylinder didn't leak out too. tomorrow I'll be buying about 5 big bottles of DOT 3 brake fluid, along with a new hydraulic clutch line (tired of playing with whats left of the old plastic collar) and maybe a new master cylinder too, for S&G.

 

[Funnyman141]

well, cleaned the quick disconnect on the line and the slave cylinder and put them back together since it'll take about a week to get the hydraulic line, and 4-5 days for the master cylinder. I filled up the system letting the bubbles work their way up, unbolted the master cylinder and tilted it up, filled it again, bled it several different ways (tightening, and loosening the bleeder screw while pumping the pedal, finger on the open bleeder screw while pumping, leaving the top open while tilting the master and tapping the line to loosen stuck bubbles) and it still has almost no feeling in the pedal, what are the odds of getting a defective slave cylinder?

 

[Beef52751]

when i bought that truck originally i bought it with s new clutch in it but the guy couldnt bleed it, i fought it for like 2 hours and couldnt get it either. I called my brother and he had it ready to drive in less than 10 minutes. weird isnt it

 

[statley chubs]

when i bought that truck originally i bought it with s new clutch in it but the guy couldnt bleed it, i fought it for like 2 hours and couldnt get it either. I called my brother and he had it ready to drive in less than 10 minutes. weird isnt it

Ha got to love it.

 

[Funnyman141]

well it seems like I'm going to use the slave that came with the spare M5OD a Perfection Clutch slave cylinder, lets hope it works.

 

[Beef52751]

what was wrong with the old m5od?

 

[Funnyman141]

the front bearing was out on it due to the nose of the input shaft not sitting in the pilot bearing, and it was growling pretty loud in most gears. I plan on rebuilding it, possibly making it a H.D trans if possible.

should be fun rebuilding my first trans, when i get to it, lol

 

[Funnyman141]

Welp, I HAD the clutch fully bled and working, until i broke the master cylinder push rod right at the clutch pedal, why is that partially plastic anyway? I guess I had a use for that master cylinder i bought a couple days ago, so I tried to remove the old pushrod, that didn't happen, I removed the older master cylinder, installed the new M.C. onto the line, filled it with fluid, shook it and the line, stretching the line to help feed the bubbles upward, watched the bubbles and filled ect. lather, rinse, repeat. until it wasn't bubbling, and finished installing it. Now i just need somebody to run the pedal while i open and close the bleeder, any volunteers?

 

[Beef52751]

i'll pump the pedal on lizzy if you come cut out my rear frame crossmember I destoyed it today pulling bushes out at the new house. But the truck got a good work out though so it was pretty fun. I'm finally getting parts off of the parts truck so i will let you know what all is good off your list.

 

[Funnyman141]

sweet, sucks about the rear cross member though, Well after bleeding the system alot, I finally drove Liz for the first time in a long time, with no clutch its acting like it still has some air in the line, if you put it in gear while the engines off, press the clutch in while it rolls you can hear the clutch slightly rubbing the pressure plate, its enough to not be able to shift it into 1st gear while running, while rolling down the road you can force it into other gears. a friend that stopped by said that it could be that the clutch is thicker then O.E. or that the slaves are shorter then O.E. and another buddy said that it could be the syncros in the trans causing it to not want to shift into gears, I'm halfway temped to pull this "new" trans out and put in the old growling M5OD back in to drive it....

 

[Beef52751]

is the pedal stiff the entire way? i would guess that there is still air in the line.

 

[Funnyman141]

alrighty I pulled the master cylinder plunger out and waited till fluid started pouring out then slammed the plunger back in, that took care of a majority of the problem, now i can drive it! I just have to shift gingerly until the 3rd, thats when its going to get properly fully bled at a shop by a buddy for the price of helping him out earlier this year.
Can't wait to drive her again.
Man, i need to clean the interior, gravel dust and kitty litter dust is everywhere in her.

 

[Funnyman141]

I've been driving Liz for the past couple days and took her off road for the first time on saturday, and again today, I've found a couple quirks that she seems to have.
First off is when trying to start her up hot she doesn't want to run, kinda sounds like I'm loosing spark, so tomorrow I'll be looking for the ICM in it.

Secondly she doesn't want to cool down, she has coolant,a new water pump, the fan is spinning, the shroud and hood is on but she'll still heat up unless I'm driving on the highway, So i guess I'm going to look for a taurus e-fan to install.

Thirdly is when the clutch is pushed in she'll rev up then it seems to cut spark until a certain rpm then it'll kick back on, but i think that also has to do with the ICM.

fourth is I need better tires, or a winch for playing in the soupy stuff, I got my truck stuck a stones throw away from the river, and trying to get to me was a 77 F-150, 460, 4" lift with 35's she sunk about halfway out to me, a lifted 2000 f-150 with balding 33's didn't make it to the 77, and a 90's chevy that didn't even want to try getting out to me (long chains really helped me out today, lol) the chevy yanked me sideways out of the hole i created then a 4x4 kubota came to our rescue, lol. When I get the pictures I'll post them up (i gotta remember to get a camera cellphone pics suck.)



:EDIT: Also going to look at 3 F series trucks on the second, an early 70's a 91, and a mystery truck in between the two trucks, thats all the info I got about them, sadly.