86 Ranger Mod list suggestions..

[BRONCMAN]

Hello to TRS. Im Bill. I live up in Bonners Ferry, ID. Ive been reading a lot on here lately & really like the site but now finally joined. I recently purchased a 1986 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 regular cab 5 speed with the 2.9 V6. The truck has 94K miles on it. I bought it from a friend of mine just NW of Boise, ID (about 550 miles away). I'll be flying down next wednesday to start working on it & another buddy of mine is going to paint it while im down there. The truck has sat now for over a year & has only been driving about 3000 miles total in the past 3 years before that, so everything is getting flushed, plus some other extras before I head back here with it.
Here is what the plan is so far. Im going with a baja style to it so I have some Fiberworx 3" front fenders on the way & 2" Skyjacker coil springs & a set of shocks. A friend of mine is going to "pop" the bed panels as well. Motor wise, its just getting a full tuneup, valve cover gaskets replaced (yes its leaking), new thermostat, & I plan to remove the AIR pump & block the EGR if it wont cause any other problems (I have a thread about it in the 2.9 section). The exhaust is in need of replacement, so the cat is disappearing & from there back a 2.5" single exhaust is going in. A 2.5" flowmaster will probably go in, but also open to other suggestions. After I get back up here I will consider an electric fan setup as well. As for tires it will have with 31x10.50s. Im thinking BFG AT KOs. Paint wise I think im gonna go with a Ford Blue color. Possibly the Sonic Blue off of the 03 SVT Cobra Mustangs. The truck had a dented front bumper so I took it off the last time I was down there. I still havent decided on a replacement, so hopefully I can get some ideas from you guys. The truck is basically going to be used as a daily driver with occasional off roading. Thanks in advance for any suggestions...

 

[doorgunner]

I'm a "2-wheeler"................Have you checked out the 4x4/offroad/construction forums?

THANKS FOR SAVING A RELIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Surrey]

Hello to TRS. Im Bill. I live up in Bonners Ferry, ID. Ive been reading a lot on here lately & really like the site but now finally joined. I recently purchased a 1986 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 regular cab 5 speed with the 2.9 V6. The truck has 94K miles on it. I bought it from a friend of mine just NW of Boise, ID (about 550 miles away). I'll be flying down next wednesday to start working on it & another buddy of mine is going to paint it while im down there. The truck has sat now for over a year & has only been driving about 3000 miles total in the past 3 years before that, so everything is getting flushed, plus some other extras before I head back here with it.
Here is what the plan is so far. Im going with a baja style to it so I have some Fiberworx 3" front fenders on the way & 2" Skyjacker coil springs & a set of shocks. A friend of mine is going to "pop" the bed panels as well. Motor wise, its just getting a full tuneup, valve cover gaskets replaced (yes its leaking), new thermostat, & I plan to remove the AIR pump & block the EGR if it wont cause any other problems (I have a thread about it in the 2.9 section). The exhaust is in need of replacement, so the cat is disappearing & from there back a 2.5" single exhaust is going in. A 2.5" flowmaster will probably go in, but also open to other suggestions. After I get back up here I will consider an electric fan setup as well. As for tires it will have with 31x10.50s. Im thinking BFG AT KOs. Paint wise I think im gonna go with a Ford Blue color. Possibly the Sonic Blue off of the 03 SVT Cobra Mustangs. The truck had a dented front bumper so I took it off the last time I was down there. I still havent decided on a replacement, so hopefully I can get some ideas from you guys. The truck is basically going to be used as a daily driver with occasional off roading. Thanks in advance for any suggestions...

Ripping out the cat will probably screw up your back pressure. Electric fans are pretty common, Taurus fans are quite well liked for such an application...
Do you have access to a Welder? If so, make your own bumper. If you look in the Fabrication forum, there is tonnes of examples of home-made bumpers.
For a daily driver, that BFG ATs are pretty good, but I dont think many people are fans of them in any sort of off-road situation. (I, for one, feel they clog up and become a pair of slicks in sloppy conditions)
For 31.10.50s you might wanna check out http://www.treadwright.com
You may also want to look into an explorer leaf spring swap, as the old Ranger leafs are usually saggy and lame by now, and you can get ones for like $20 a pop at a wrecker.

 

[mhughes165]

back pressure is such joke, removing the cat will not hurt the truck, itll run fine, removing the egr will result in u needing a 88 or newer computer as there non egr

 

[strvger]

how about gears and a rear locker? just a thought.
and Welcome to TRS!

 

[BRONCMAN]

Thanks for the replies. As far as gears & lockers go, i'll probably wait until I swap in a D35 & an 8.8 out of newer ranger or explorer. I dont even know yet what gears it currently has, but im sure when I cruise back up this way with it ill know how much of a priority that will be after going over a few mountain passes. I dont want to go to low though with gearing since I dont want to destroy fuel mpg. As far as the bumper goes, yes I do have a welder & will probably be building my own unless I find one for an offer I cant refuse. The EGR will be left intact for now, as I do not want to buy another ecu. I might possibly do that at a later time. After I get the truck finished I will post some pics. Also, thanks a lot on the tip to go with explorer leaf springs. Would you happen to know what ones work best? I would assume the 1st gen explorer (91-94) or will the second gen ones work as well?

 

[BRONCMAN]

wow I just got done typing what all ive done to the truck for the second time (took me about 20 minutes each) and hit post quick reply & it says I have to refresh & login even though im logged in to post. To make it short lots have been done to the truck & Im tired & ready to crash out & will try to post everything again later.

 

[The Jester Race]

SAS

-Jester

 

[lethal-threat-b288]

I'm trying to get this dudes 86 ranger reg cab 4x4 swb and fix it up for show and tell lol. More like I'll show you what it can do and you can tell all your jeep friends!

 

[--weezl--]

leave the egr on... it doesn't do any harm if it's working properly... it should be closed fully when you're on the throttle, and only open at an idle, when the engine is warm... and it actually will improve fuel economy...

as for the removal of other emissions things, i will say it before someone with authority says it, it's not something that is generally approved of on this forum, nor talked about, i believe it's to do with legalities, though i do wonder what the case would be, if one was in a situation like i am, where there are absolutely no laws about exhaust emissions...

 

[lethal-threat-b288]

leave the egr on... it doesn't do any harm if it's working properly... it should be closed fully when you're on the throttle, and only open at an idle, when the engine is warm... and it actually will improve fuel economy...

as for the removal of other emissions things, i will say it before someone with authority says it, it's not something that is generally approved of on this forum, nor talked about, i believe it's to do with legalities, though i do wonder what the case would be, if one was in a situation like i am, where there are absolutely no laws about exhaust emissions...

None of my vehicles have catverters and my f150 has straight pipe exhaust my ranger and b2 have a flowmaster. Good ole florida

 

[--weezl--]

None of my vehicles have catverters and my f150 has straight pipe exhaust my ranger and b2 have a flowmaster. Good ole florida

what?

 

[lethal-threat-b288]

What do you mean what? The last sentence you typed was
About exhaust laws there and how there aret any like florida

 

[superds]

Here's the deal: In the US, at least, emissions related components, such as the catalytic converter are governed on a federal level, not state level. Just because your state doesn't do emissions testing or have any of its own emissions laws doesn't mean that you aren't violating federal law by removing emissions related components. I'm not up on Canadian emissions laws so I can't comment on their laws. The likelyhood of being caught for removing a catalytic converter in a non-emissions testing state is not very high, but that doesn't make it any more legal.

 

[--weezl--]

lethal, the muffler that your vehicle has, (or lack there of) is completely irrelevant to the emissions standards/readings that your vehicle puts out