'85 Ranger Restomod

[85_Ranger4x4]

I saw your truck out in the parking lot at moore! I'm back at the truck if you wanna come over! Booth #217

Currently enjoying a brisket sandwich. Just finished inside, going to start on the outside next.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

@mc_raptor_820 we stopped by, they said you were walking around.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

We did catch up with both @Terrys87 and @mc_raptor_820. It's always fun to meet new Ranger people.

 

[mc_raptor_820]

We did catch up with both @Terrys87 and @mc_raptor_820. It's always fun to meet new Ranger people.

Was awesome to get to meet others from the ranger station page glad you guys enjoyed the midwest discovery route!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

After action report

Summary: Truck did great

Aside from needing a 6th gear on the interstate so we are not spinning 3k at 70 not really much to complain about. It did the thing with no complaints. Ran quite a bit of interstate/four lane to the start of the Discovery Route and then pretty much the whole way back. Never locked in the hubs, nothing super technical. It did get quite a few complements which was fun. I didn't walk the whole lot but it sure felt like I had the oldest rig in the parking lot lol.

 

[Terrys87]

I enjoyed meeting you. I will be at SMORR next year. Really wanted to bring my truck but the clutch foot said noway. It is getting better. I really wanted to go to the fairgrounds and see what they had. But that is a large place. I can tell you have some time and effort involved in your truck. I always like seeing one with some history to it. Thanks for taking the time to explain some of the things you have done to it. Cool that your wife and kid are involved in your hobby as well. They were great.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I enjoyed meeting you. I will be at SMORR next year. Really wanted to bring my truck but the clutch foot said noway. It is getting better. I really wanted to go to the fairgrounds and see what they had. But that is a large place. I can tell you have some time and effort involved in your truck. I always like seeing one with some history to it. Thanks for taking the time to explain some of the things you have done to it. Cool that your wife and kid are involved in your hobby as well. They were great.

It was a very nice to meeting you, I look forward to meeting your truck next year!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I will title this post "But carbs are simple right?"

In case I manage to get this thing into the mountains this summer and I seem to keep doing the opposite of winning the lottery to afford EFI... I need to figure out how to keep this carb happy at altitude.

So I consult the manual and find:

High Altitude Altitude has a direct effect on the operation of most carburetors. As the altitude increases, the air becomes less dense so a carburetor, originally calibrated at low altitude, delivers too much fuel and the engine runs richer. If the preceding tuning procedure is performed on an Edelbrock Performer Series carburetor, a proper high altitude calibration will result. If the vehicle was calibrated at lower altitude, however, and is to be driven at high altitude temporarily, it is not necessary to repeat the complete calibration procedure. Instead, use the rule of: “2% leaner per 1500 feet” and the Calibration Reference Chart for your model carburetor. For example, with a #1405 at baseline calibration (location #1 on the chart) and intended operation at 6000 ft. altitude, you would want 6000 divided by 1500 x 2% = 8% leaner calibration. That would be location #24 on the chart which would require only a rod and jet change.

Ok, 2% leaner per 1500 feet.

So then I then popped a rod out of my carb and consulted the card that came with my tune kit to cross the number stamped on the rod to the number on the chart.



Then crossed that with the chart in the manual.

From that I deduced that with the jets that are not in my box (so they must be in the carb)... looks like I am currently set at #6.

So then I put together a spreadsheet to lay things out and try to keep things straight. I am at roughly 1000' above sea level so I have that set up as the baseline since my carb is happily set right here right now.

 

[Terrys87]

I could swap a carb but never the best at getting them to where they needed to be. My dad could do them blind folded. Made it look simple. Some of these young mechanics now adays look at carbs the way we look at the new technology. You are way ahead then most when it comes to carbs.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I got to thinking I really need to find more junk to hang off the back of my truck... so I jumped on the chance to bring home a four bike bike carrier.





At least without bikes on it I can get my swingout open 90*





I mainly wanted it for the Bronco and for the Ranger with the camper in the back (so the swingout wouldn't matter anyway)

 

[Terrys87]

There is always more to add. lol. I could see that coming in handy and useful. What brand is your camper top cover? I eventually want to see if I can find a shell for mine. Just have not really started looking yet.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

There is always more to add. lol. I could see that coming in handy and useful. What brand is your camper top cover? I eventually want to see if I can find a shell for mine. Just have not really started looking yet.

The black topper is a "20th Century", think they changed to "Century" after the 21st century got here. It was a $40 Craigslist find. I can still haul a couple bikes back there easily.

But the real reason I like the bike rack is for when I have my Skamper in the truck.

1984 Skamper 072S

This is going to be kind of a build thread, trip thread and then build thread... About two months ago @Uncle Gump asked me if I would be interested in his 1984 Skamper because it was literally made for my truck's standard cab longbed configuration. To the point they actually show that model in...

www.therangerstation.com

Skamper Kamper Trips 2022

Hoping to take it out a couple times this year so I will just put all the trips in one thread. Anywho, we took it out for the first time for the year (and the second time overall this past weekend. Loaded up and ready to roll. Kinda sorta cheated on leveling the thing... We picked our...

www.therangerstation.com

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Truck has been starting/running great... can we do something about that?



I've never noticed it around here but in Kentucky I did notice the carb kind of bumbling a bit on long stretches of washboarded roads. I read the "offroad" needles are more aimed for rough roads like that, so I snagged a set last fall. The old Carter AFB the Edelbrock carb is based on actually had them from the factory.

Ready to operate:



Basically just have spring loaded inserts so the floats can move a little without the needle moving.



Float height is set right on the money at 7/16", float drop is set right at 1"



While I was looking at it I compared another throttle cable my FIL snagged for me last fall when the main one broke. I initially discounted it, because it is way long and the firewall bushing is a different style. But it has almost another inch of travel.



So I am thinking I could just shorten this cable and run it in the original 2.8 housing I hung onto to get a shorter better fitting cable that can throw more coal on the fire. That will be for another day.

Threw the airhorn back on and took it for a spin... truck runs just as good as it did before.

 

[Terrys87]

I had a slide in for a full size truck at one time. Your Scamper would be a great find for these trucks as I am going get back into camping again soon. Thanks for the info and I will look into it.

I have seen carbs set up correctly and can fire off fast and run great. My dad gave me a box that has three different settings for doing carbs. I will see if I can find it and post pics of it later this weekend. Maybe you know what it is.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Stuck $20 of special Ford Performance valve cover gromets on it tonight.

Thinking about moving on to factory valve covers. Its irritating because these Ford Racing ones were not cheap but they are rather annoying. These stupid special grommets that no parts store can get are one thing. They are not cheap and only last a couple years. Then with the grommet in pace for the oil fill, the bottom of the grommet touches the baffle at the top (towards the carb), there is only like 1/4" gap at the bottom to trickle oil into the engine. And the baffles are pretty small too, I am not sure how effective they really are.