'85 Ranger Restomod

[Robert_1967]

Yep, the hardest part about removing the rad support is all the spot welds, the fenders are the easiest part to remove.



Robert




posted with a tomato and a comb.

 

[Psychopete]

those splash guards aren't much fun either - rusty phillips head screws.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

those splash guards aren't much fun either - rusty phillips head screws.

That one side went better than I thought it would, I only had to cut one off.

I have new clip nuts and stainless screws to go back together with though.

 

[dangerranger83]

Any screws that have a clip nut that I couldn't get off have always met a drill bit.

In theory next paycheck should buy the ready of the parts I need to start my swap. I see me having one if those "what the hell am I doing" moments working on my truck again.

Sent from my SGH-T499 using Tapatalk 2

 

[dangerranger83]

What temp is your coolant thermostatic switch meant to turn on and off at? I have 195 degree t-stat but not sure if I should get one that turns on at 195 or 185.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

what temp is your coolant thermostatic switch meant to turn on and off at? I have 195 degree t-stat but not sure if i should get one that turns on at 195 or 185.

195

 

[dangerranger83]

Thank you, thats what I need to know.

Sent from my SGH-T499 using Tapatalk 2

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Started checking out the alternator situation, the two alternators have the same connector but the current Ranger alt has two going in where the Explorer has one. Apparently the Ranger was originally a single cable as well and somebody spliced it so both cables were live.

They also extended the heck out of it, used a much smaller wire and questionable connections... I am really glad I decided to switch alternators.

If you think you noticed something funny goin' on...

They have the same connectors between the alternators, one wire is off though.

How the Ranger was set up:

The pigtail from the Explorer:

I also dug out the alternator bolts and painted them and slipped the PS bracket back off to zip that little nub off. It has no point in life, it was only there so the ejector pin had something it could push squarely on to pop the piece out of the mold when it was cast back in the mid 90's.

 

[Psychopete]

Just curious about the bolted eyelet crimps if there was a reason it was done that way. (?) Careful with those crimps and that little bit of wire that's exposed. I love soldering and shrink wrapping, takes a long time, but end up with a good reliable splice.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Just curious about the bolted eyelet crimps if there was a reason it was done that way. (?) Careful with those crimps and that little bit of wire that's exposed. I love soldering and shrink wrapping, takes a long time, but end up with a good reliable splice.

I don't know if it was a bandaid repair on old injury or what the deal was. It seems for whatever reason the wiring must have been about 2' too short, in the third pic of my last post and you can see the other end of the stretch (the wiring is wrapped around the power steering reservoir) The wire colors do not line up at all, and they used something close to a 12ga wire for the primary battery feed instead of an 8 gauge... the whole thing is full of stupid.

I haven't got to cutting the tape to see how they converted one primary to to two primaries for the later alternator, it must have happened farther down the line because it is still one at the bolted connection. This truck has to have a very storied history, a lot of stuff like this doesn't line up... all I can do is try to put it back to right as I find it and hope it doesn't burn up in the mean time.

I cut it all out before the first splice, I just picked up new supplies to start over with crimped and soldered connections.

I did zip that little nub off the power steering bracket, the advance clears it fine now and I have quite a bit of adjustment that way. The PS pump is hooked up, I got a newer lower radiator hose (the original one was fused to the WP) I think the heater hose will clear the alternator bracket ok with a little tweaking. The entire FEAD is bolted on and pretty much waiting for me to put the lower radiator hose on so I can stick the belt on it.

I just might be able to make out the light at the end of the tunnel... or maybe it is stars after bumping around in said tunnel for four months.

 

[allpau2thou]

I picked up an Explorer FEAD, should make working on the thing a little easier. I still need the timing cover, after all the work getting to the Explorer one somebody at some point (it wasn't me, honest) bent and broke a bolt and I couldn't get the stub out which pretty much pinned the cover on. If a used one doesn't happen along it is worth the $100 not to have to dig to china on another Explorer for another attempt on a cover.

Right now to deal with anything aside from the belt the radiator, electric fan, tranny coolers and grille have to come out... that bugs me. The accessories are mounted nice and high with the Explorer setup independant of each other, and is also much closer to the engine.

The power steering pump is supposed to be a lot better, alternator is 130A vs my 65A 2.9 alternator.

Going from this (only running the outer belt)

To this:

I also picked up a stock HO cam, which is will do about as much good as my E6 heads will handle, the '86 HO with pathetic tube headers and HO cam was rated 50hp over the longblock I have now.

I have also been fighting tooth and nail with a ping on the highway, I finally broke down and got out the compression tester. The two I checked (#3 and #4) had 180lbs of compression. I filled it up with premium and have a quart of tranny fluid in the gas and it really helped, I am going to switch to a colder plug and see if it gets any better before my slot opens up again at work when I can pull the heads (which I would really rather not do)

That's a nice looking power steering pump. What did it come from? I had major issues getting mine to fit, and I'm still not happy with it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That's a nice looking power steering pump. What did it come from? I had major issues getting mine to fit, and I'm still not happy with it.

The one in the lower pic was off of a 96-01 Explorer. I don't know what all is entailed to put it on a different FEAD but so far without running it the pump itself hooked up pretty easily. I had to adjust the '92 4.0 Ranger pressure line a little with a bench vice and after that it actually hooked up easier than the CV/Ranger pump did.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The lack of that nub, I could take off more (I probably should have) behind the idler. We will see how it goes I guess.

I did some trimming on the 91-94 Explorer fan shroud so it would clear the idler pulley, tensioner pulley and the fan.

The belt fits

The fan clears

Looks pretty official all buttoned up.

I tried the Explorer hose again... just not really happy with how it fits.

 

[shane96ranger]

That hose is going to give you a run for your money, isn't it? You're going to have to get creative with some pipe.

Sent while I should be doing something else

 

[Twister]

So is the 5.0 explorer FEAD, the most favorable?