'85 Ranger Restomod

[85_Ranger4x4]

the bronco looks the same height as the ranger.

They are actually pretty similar in height and length. Bronco is wider which I won't complain about.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

New dumb idea for a slow Thursday afternoon.

The ol 5.0 has a bit of an oil drinking problem. I am pretty sure it needs valve guides.

A guy does guides might as well do the seats and probably valves too... a Lotta $$ for E7 heads.

Could go pull Gt40's but I won't know if they are any better than what I have until after I pull them. This day in age I kinda doubt it.

Well I have two sets of E6 heads in the barn. One set are original to my engine and seemed to run fine and the other set is off a reman engine.

I liked them when I ran them, seemed to have pretty good low end. If I had to do the swap again I probably wouldn't.

I have intake gaskets, for the pice of headgaskets and header gaskets I figure I might as well give it a try.

 

[Blmpkn]

2.3 EB swap it.. Can't be letting the wife have a faster ford than you

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

2.3 EB swap it.. Can't be letting the wife have a faster ford than you

Eh, I have to put the Skamper in the back before we are close for weight so I can cheat that way.

We are close on torque, I will give up a little hp to not have to listen to a 4 banger.

We even get about the same mileage.

 

[Blmpkn]

Eh, I have to put the Skamper in the back before we are close for weight so I can cheat that way.

We are close on torque, I will give up a little hp to not have to listen to a 4 banger.

We even get about the same mileage.

What have you been getting for mpgs with rocko so far? You can probably expect it to go up 1 or 2 as it breaks in I'd imagine.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

What have you been getting for mpgs with rocko so far? You can probably expect it to go up 1 or 2 as it breaks in I'd imagine.

It was just over 18 last I saw.

Ranger gets 17 loaded for bear on roundup runs.

 

[Blmpkn]

It was just over 18 last I saw.

Ranger gets 17 loaded for bear on roundup runs.

Neither of those figures are awful, considering.

Do you guys get winter blend fuel out there? That crap usually sucks a few mpgs away too.. I got 20ish in my truck all summer, only getting 17 or so now.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Neither of those figures are awful, considering.

Do you guys get winter blend fuel out there? That crap usually sucks a few mpgs away too.. I got 20ish in my truck all summer, only getting 17 or so now.

Yeah.

That was the night after we got it. Now with remote start season mileage is kind of fictitious too.

 

[Lefty]

I'm doing the things this forum has already recommended. Mine is a 2WD 3.0 Vulcan with a reg cab and extra wide 255-70-R15 tires. I have a high volume K&N filter, a custom cold air intake surrounding it, dual exhausts, and a chip. My winter mileage is 20.5.

I do have a tonneau cover. Some say it makes no difference. I don't know. Feel free to argue below.

I'm feeling pretty good about that number. My little Fiat 500 gets only 1 MPG better. Future plans include an all synthetic motor oil change, an electric radiator fan, and a new rear end. I'm hoping to do better when the weather warms.

 

[Curious Hound]

I'm doing the things this forum has already recommended. Mine is a 2WD 3.0 Vulcan with a reg cab and extra wide 255-70-R15 tires. I have a high volume K&N filter, a custom cold air intake surrounding it, dual exhausts, and a chip. My winter mileage is 20.5.

I do have a tonneau cover. Some say it makes no difference. I don't know. Feel free to argue below.

I'm feeling pretty good about that number. My little Fiat 500 gets only 1 MPG better. Future plans include an all synthetic motor oil change, an electric radiator fan, and a new rear end. I'm hoping to do better when the weather warms.

Sounds cool. You should start your own build thread to show it off and let us see what you're doing with it.

 

[Lefty]

Sounds cool. You should start your own build thread to show it off and let us see what you're doing with it.

Thanks. I never saw it that way. It started with just a practical way to get around. So I didn't take many pictures when I bought it last year. But that Ranger started slowly growing on me. I had it painted. It's responded well to improvements. Now I'm growing more proactive.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'm doing the things this forum has already recommended. Mine is a 2WD 3.0 Vulcan with a reg cab and extra wide 255-70-R15 tires. I have a high volume K&N filter, a custom cold air intake surrounding it, dual exhausts, and a chip. My winter mileage is 20.5.

I do have a tonneau cover. Some say it makes no difference. I don't know. Feel free to argue below.

I'm feeling pretty good about that number. My little Fiat 500 gets only 1 MPG better. Future plans include an all synthetic motor oil change, an electric radiator fan, and a new rear end. I'm hoping to do better when the weather warms.

Reg cab - check.
Tonneau cover - topper
Duals - check (headers back)
Cold air intake - based off a big block with mustang inspirations that was the best performing air filter setup of its era
Extra wide tires - check
Electric fan - I gots twins
Chip - I always have a flat screwdriver looking around somewhere.

Makes me feel pretty good about my lifted V8 powered brick getting what it gets.

 

[Lefty]

That 3.0 Vulcan engine is certainly not a world beater. I drove a 3.1 liter Buick Fireball Six (essentially a chev 350 with 2 cylinders cut off the block). It drove like an 8 and weighed 500 lbs more than the Ranger. I got about 25-28 city and slightly better highway. Your v8 might easily get more MPG.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Fuel injection, steeper overdrive/higher gear and street tires would help.

 

[racsan]

17 with your setup seems very good, thats about what my ‘93 ranger got with a 4.0/manual/3.73/235-15’s.
the 94 2wd I have now gets 21 at best, 2.3 lima/manual/4.10’s/235-15’s.