1st time posting, 3rd time ranger owner

[jayellcowen]

Hey everyone. My name is Justin, I am 23 and just bought my 3rd ranger. I am a sucker for these machines.

1st ranger was my first car. She was a 91 silver xlt reg cab, 2wd, 4 cyl 5 speed. I got it with 190,000 miles for 500 bucks. My aunt bought it brand new in 91 and all 5 of her sons owned it at one point. When it finally came to me it was pretty beat but would not break down. My cousins called it the truck-a-sourous. I called it the Anger Ranger. Only because the R broke off the emblem and it just seemed mad. Our favorite thing to do together was to go to walmart at 3 am and play bumper cars with shopping carts. (I was 17). I beat the crap out of it for a year and sold it for 75 bucks with 215,000 miles. Good memories with her. The durability of that truck got me hooked for life.

2nd ranger was a lemon. She was a 94 green ext cab, 4wd, 4L v6 5 speed with 130k when I bought it for 3800 bucks. Pretty much the opposite of my first truck. Overheated the second day I had it. I should have known to just sell it right there. After a month, my leaf spring brackets, shackles, and leaf springs themselves collapsed. they completely rusted through. 1200 bucks later she was back. about 8 months later the tranny went. I loved the truck, but she was a money pit.

And because of my disasterous experience with my second ranger, I went back to my roots. I just bought a newer version of my first car, down to the color. My new truck is a 2003 silver reg cab, 2wd 4cyl 5 speed with 66k miles. I paid 6k cash. I just got it and already love it. She is nimble, quick enough, cozy, and in almost mint condition. The previous owner claims 27mpg mixed and I believe it. I own a 08 focus and it almost rides as well. I plan to drive this one till the wheels fall off. Which will probably not be for another couple decades. I have some minor plans for the vehicle and I am sure I can use everyones help. I am extremely mechanically inclined, but would love to pick all your brains.

Here are my immediate plans for the truck.

1. Replace the solid back glass with a slider. I already bought the window out of a 2000 ext cab that is wrecked. I paid 30 bucks.

2. She has the xl base steel wheels. I think they would look great painted black. If anyone has pics of these wheels painted, I would love to see them. Any advice would be great too as I have never painted rims.

3. I want to replace the vinyl seats with some nice seats with an armrest out of a newer ranger. If anyone has some for sale, let me know.

4. I would also like to replace the door panels with some ones from an xlt. They are nicer and have the door pockets for storage. If anyone has any for sale, let me know.

5. And finally, I want to tint the windows and get a nice diamond plate tool box. I am a carpenter and need the storage for my tools.

Sorry for the novel I just typed, but I am so excited to be back in a ranger. If there are any tech tips or write ups on the projects I am looking to do, please steer me in the right direction.

I am not sure how to post pics, but I am going to get some up asap
Thanks

 

[jayellcowen]

http://img27.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=anglef.jpg

Here is the link to my image gallery of all my rangers.

Enjoy

 

[Rifleman]

Rule of thumb for Rangers. There is only so much that can break and be fixed so many times before it's all perfect.

With what you had in the other Ranger (nice looking rig too)you should have hung onto it. For the money you had in the shackle/mount repair could have put the long chevy springs and an 8.8" rear in it (doing most work yourself).

The work performed would have paid off in the long run (even if the run was WAY longer due to the stealership level bill of $1200, OUCH)...

Live and learn though, congrats on finding one you're happy with. Nice looking rigs.

I like your idea on the rims of your new one. I would black them out, keep the chrome centercaps, and get the chrome beauty rings like the old camaros (and many other cars) had that set around the outer edge of the rim. Give em an old-skool mag look from the side. Maybe get a VERY small set of spacers on the rears to widen the stance a little.

Oh, and welcome to TRS!

 

[jayellcowen]

I think I figured out how to post pics

To view full size, go to the above link

my new fresh baby







the lemon 94








and old faithful









And the most important parts, the powerplants

the new 2.3l



the beastly 4L




And the little engine that would never die, the old 2.3

 

[jayellcowen]

With what you had in the other Ranger (nice looking rig too)you should have hung onto it. For the money you had in the shackle/mount repair could have put the long chevy springs and an 8.8" rear in it (doing most work yourself).

I would have kept the truck, I did like it. However, I had just gotten married and had a baby girl on the way. So instead of messing with it. I sold it for 1300 bucks and bought this for my pregnant wife and soon to be daughter.




and this for me to beat on to work

 

[Rifleman]

Newness will wear off with the wife and kid before an 8.8 and the long droop on those longer springs woulda

Congrats on the family and the wheels.

 

[ranger_mclaren]

Wow I just met ya and I already feel like I know ya great inro very well done! For me when it comes to rangers 4X4 is the way to go but for you 2wd seems to be working out good for ya. Welcome to the addiction hope to see your ranger with mods floating around here on TRS and congrates on the wife and daughter.