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80's Ranger 4x4 for the Trails


That is a factory transmission cross member. 1st gens used that and newer models had a solid mount. Can't get bushings for it so the solid mount is preferable. Not like it flexes much anyway.

You have a Rancho lift. I recognize the radius arms and drop brackets. Not the best thing out there, but it was safe unless you like jumping or rock crawling.

I have a set of the same extended radius arms. Trying to decide if I wanna use them. Apparently they rub the tire when turning? Does yours?

gotcha I’ll source a replacement tranny cross member.
ill check out the tire rub. I don’t think so, but that could also have to do with whatever the offset of these rims are vs OEM rims. Maybe it just clears..
 
Trans crossmember looks factory to me... I wouldn’t worry about it. I recently installed a second gen/Explorer crossmember in mine (adjusting pinion angle). They all hold the trans at different heights so don’t go swapping them Willy-nilly.

The red tubular deal ahead of that is a replacement crossmember to replace what would have originally held the stock radius arms.
 
Trans crossmember looks factory to me... I wouldn’t worry about it. I recently installed a second gen/Explorer crossmember in mine (adjusting pinion angle). They all hold the trans at different heights so don’t go swapping them Willy-nilly.

The red tubular deal ahead of that is a replacement crossmember to replace what would have originally held the stock radius arms.
By not worry, you mean don’t replace the trans cross member at all for now despite the rust rot in gaps at ends? I can tell the structure is still good.
Ok got it regarding the other cross member that’s red.

Question.. do I have any sway bars?

On a side note, i think I might keep the steering stabalizer just replace with new shock. If is helping at all, I’m into it. And it can only make things safer.

And yeah I’m just looking trough rocky trails, not jump ramps or scale walls haha
 
Yes you have sway bars on both ends. The bar ahead of both of your axle is the sway bar.

Your picture doesn’t really show much of the trans crossmember.
 
50602
 
Yeah, look for a crossmember in a jy that looks like yours and get it. You need one.
 
Yeah, look for a crossmember in a jy that looks like yours and get it. You need one.
Trouble is the bushings are needed then too, which are I guess not easy to find ?
 
Trouble is the bushings are needed then too, which are I guess not easy to find ?

Find one with good bushings.

Or... first gen Explorer is only a quarter inch higher. Drill out the rivets for your mounting brackets and the ps will use the same mounting holes, you may need to drill a hole for the DS. Grab the Explorer Trans mount too.

Me comparing my Explorer crossmember to a dog one style like yours.

F32BD904-C2BA-4699-9C64-D76F9DA59B11.jpeg
 
All right I’ll try sourcing an original matchup first.
Here’s something driving me nuts though..
Was changing the fuel filter and all was going well until I went i to put the final connection in place and the old clip must have just slide down past its proper spot so it isn’t really providing its function. Seems easy to solve.. just pull the line off and take the clip back off and try again.. but I can not for the life of me get the line disconnected now. I also can’t push the line on any further. There’s nothing budging in either direction.
So then I was thinking maybe I could disconnect the other end and maybe having the filter dangling down would give me more leverage.
But nope, I can’t get the other line off either. That other clip is the kind that pulls out like a fork. I got the clip out but that line is just not pulling out either.
I’d normally just give up and fire up the engine to what if it leaked, but I don’t want getting a bunch of air into the fuel line.
That input connection seems super barely “in”. It looks like the tip of the filter input shaft is just covered by the line connector.
Anyone ever experienced anything with fuel filters like this? The most disconcerting thing is that even if this works, when I want to change it in the future I don’t know how to get it off.

50624
 
Well I fired it up and it runs. I think probably better, even parked uphill. Previously it faired better parked downhill. Did the belts today too and that seemed also a bit noticeably less clamorous. Things are steadily getting smoother sounding.
I’m not comfortable with the fuel filter connections. But they’re just never coming off. What would be the symptom of a poor connection here? Would it leak fuel out or would the engine suck in bits of air and throw things off all the time?
My fear is of course the latter since I’d never know.
Looking again at the pic of the filter on its box and comparing to this pic of how it’s installed, it seems there might be a good enough amount of shaft in there.
:/
 
Here's a little gem i've held off on investigating so far.
Someone really didn't want the parking brake to be used.

50631
 
Be carful with trying to replace the leafy spring bushings.

last time I did that, I pressed out the old bushing and eye closed up so much I couldn’t get the new one in. Just got buggered up. Ended up buying new springs.
 
Here's a little gem i've held off on investigating so far.
Someone really didn't want the parking brake to be used.

View attachment 50631

My guess is the lift made it so that the OEM cables wouldn't work or work properly. Not unheard of with a suspension or vehicle lift. Above a certain lift level, new cables or extensions are needed for them to work. A lot of people don't think the Parking/Emergency brake isn't important enough to bother with. I don't agree with that line of thinking but it is out there and not uncommon.
 
My guess is the lift made it so that the OEM cables wouldn't work or work properly. Not unheard of with a suspension or vehicle lift. Above a certain lift level, new cables or extensions are needed for them to work. A lot of people don't think the Parking/Emergency brake isn't important enough to bother with. I don't agree with that line of thinking but it is out there and not uncommon.
Gotcha thanks. Makes sense! I’m a believer in parking brakes so will hop on the task.

Anybody have any thoughts about determining if a fuel filter connection is good? It’s not leaking at all but is there any chance air is getting in despite fuel not leaking out?
 
Be carful with trying to replace the leafy spring bushings.

last time I did that, I pressed out the old bushing and eye closed up so much I couldn’t get the new one in. Just got buggered up. Ended up buying new springs.

Even if everything goes right it is a major PITA and for all your effort you still have old springs... but with new bushings.

Gotcha thanks. Makes sense! I’m a believer in parking brakes so will hop on the task.

Anybody have any thoughts about determining if a fuel filter connection is good? It’s not leaking at all but is there any chance air is getting in despite fuel not leaking out?

If anything it will leak out way before it will leak in, fuel is under a fair amount of pressure. Keep an eye on it because you do not what a fuel geyser under your truck.
 

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