2003 FX4? To be or not to be?

[Awesom-O]

Ok, as recommended by MaicoDoug, I’m starting a thread on this mystery truck which probably won’t be a mystery for too long with all the experts on this site. Fellow member North Idaho 5.oh posted a thread about saving an FX4, and then Jim posted about how they were some of the best Rangers as Ford started taking them seriously as off road trucks. Then I dove in to the tech article about the FX4s on this site and realized that I had an 02 Ranger in my yard that came to me because it wasn’t running. Being busy with my first gen build I didn’t pay too much attention to this truck but did marvel that it had cool twin shifters (manual TC) as I thought Ford had done away with those by this generation. After that I didn’t give it much thought until the thread mentioned above.
Now this truck has the stainless tow hooks, skid plates, has the chrome twin shifters, has the red inset seats for that year, a box liner, but is definitely missing the alcoa wheels and FX4 stickers on the box. The shocks aren’t Bilsteins but some other aftermarket brand? Back ones are so rust covered they may be original and maybe even Bilsteins? Let me know your thoughts fellas. I will dive into this truck this summer and try to diagnose why it won’t run or start, and I’m sure I will have lots of questions when I do. Cheers!

Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road and Level II - By The Years - The Ranger Station

The Ford Ranger FX4 was introduced in 2002. Here is a year-by-year description of the FX4's offered from 2002 to 2009.

www.therangerstation.com

 

[gw33gp]

If that is a FX4 it is a 03 and it would be a Level II. The 02 did not cone with red insert seats. They had what I call cracked ice inserts. The 02 FX4 also had a black instrument cluster background not white. The 03 had white.

It looks like the manufacturing release date is 10/02 but that would still most likely be a 03 model. My 02 FX4 has a 11/01 date. Everything indicates it is a 03 FX4 Level II with the decal missing. Probably a repaint.

 

[Awesom-O]

If that is a FX4 it is a 03 and it would be a Level II. The 02 did not cone with red insert seats. They had what I call cracked ice inserts. The 02 FX4 also had a black instrument cluster background not white. The 03 had white.

It looks like the manufacturing release date is 10/02 but that would still most likely be a 03 model. My 02 FX4 has a 11/01 date. Everything indicates it is a 03 FX4 Level II with the decal missing. Probably a repaint.

Yeah that manufacture date makes sense as an 03. Thanks for your insight on this truck! I’ll get the papers and see what it’s registered as.

 

[MaicoDoug]

Look for the 31 spline larger axle housing as well, that's the clincher. I'll measure around the circumference: Which on the R7 axle code / 31 spline housing is 13 inches around. Decoding VIN numbers, not being a Steve "Magnante" (great guy) the VIN won't show everything. But those are Level II seats. Measure that Torsen! Another clincher are the stainless tow hooks up front. Factory skid plates, sheesh Merry Christmas man!

TRS Level II drippings

 

[Awesom-O]

Well registration papers do indeed say it’s an 03.
I’ll measure those parts MaicoDoug.

 

[Awesom-O]

13” circumference it is!

 

[MaicoDoug]

Dang, another one in the neighborhood......the 13" circumference says it has the larger 8.8 housing with the 31 spline axles. Only the "R7" axle code on the door decal will indicate the Torsen LS Differential.

This is interesting, (my VIN decoding skills are terrible with a lifelong expertise of crunching everything else) apparently this is a typical local type of trim, as Ford does. I saw the word "XL trim", also "fleet" in the VIN description. Ford attempts to produce a better package with OEM optional trim to match the local conditions. The OEM block heater as a prime example, the truck being made in Minnesota. My original 1983 was constructed in Louisville.

 

[scotts90ranger]

13” circumference it is! View attachment 127193

Where did you measure that? On the outside of the spring perches or by the pumpkin? The 28 spline axles neck down in the center of the tube between the pumpkin and leaf springs where the 31 spline have a slight taper right at the backing plate

 

[Awesom-O]

I measured at the pumpkin where the tube enters. Where is the exact spot to measure for the 13”? I was wondering that when I was crawling under there and the first spot I checked was there and 13 so I figured it had to be the spot. lol.
MaicoDoug, the door code has R7 on it posted above.

 

[PNW Paul]

If you build this one up like your first generation efforts, it will pretty awesome . . . Will be great to follow that build.

Abstain from all the vultures that will recommend “helping” you by purchasing all the cool stuff - - but that said, if you’re selling the twin sticks, I’m a buyer . . . Dammit, there I go countering my own advice, LOL

Good luck, looking forward to the process…

 

[scotts90ranger]

I measured at the pumpkin where the tube enters. Where is the exact spot to measure for the 13”? I was wondering that when I was crawling under there and the first spot I checked was there and 13 so I figured it had to be the spot. lol.
MaicoDoug, the door code has R7 on it posted above.

Go to this post and scroll down to post 10 (I don't remember quick how to link to that post specifically) and the second picture has a cleaned up axle and shows a 28 spline 8.8 with the neck in the center of the tube, a 31 spline tube would be different...

 

[MaicoDoug]

Measured about 10 inches in from the brake backing plate. Supposedly the R7 axle code, 31 spline has a larger axle housing. This is becoming interesting.

 

[SenorNoob]

IIRC the 31 spline has a neck down too just different. Also a different brake backing plate pattern.