OK, thanks, kind of a bummer about the cruise buttons being different but I'd spring for them one way or the other.
Thanks for info in the hubs, and shift kit. So far the shifts seem ok, maybe not quite as smooth as the '99.
If my stock hubs are pretty good then maybe I don't change them. I'll have to learn a little more about it. I do kind of like the idea of having manual hubs and just leave them on if you think there is even a chance you'll be using the 4x4 and just take the milage hit as long as it's not mucking up something else. If it's not a big deal I do kind of like the graphic on the front hubs.
Not a lot of "don't like" on it. I miss the rear doors, but dog can still get in, and there's a bit more room without the jack holder sticking out in the rear. I don't really like the tilt-out windows because you hardly use them plus I've heard they can leak plus the grommets that hold the glass are to me cosmetically not good. Minor things. Lack of rear doors not so minor, however, with the cargo box, that's really pretty big, you could fit stuff t
Power mirrors/windows/locks, big improvement. Center console big improvement as it's huge. I think I could still stick a regular console on the hump under the dash like my '99 has besides.
Didn't find much cool stuff in it, one bungee and one tie down. And a couple of Weathertech wind guard things for the front windows, not sure if they were stock or added at some point then taken off. I personally don't think they look that good. Looks like they had a stick-on attachment. And 4 CD's, but not anything I like. That version truck had cool stuff I didn't even look for like delay-off for the courtesy lights and if you have it locked and jiggle the door handle that turns on the interior light so that must be part of anti-theft.
I have 2 skid plates
one small over the trans (I assume) and one long one over the fuel tank. bet it was standard w/ 4x4 or maybe on all of them. You don't see anything in the '97 brochure about skid plates while in later brochures, for example '03, they do.
I kind of think it was garage kept because I don't see any of the usual shrinkage of rubber seals etc which is good they are pain to do.
Questions
The end of the bed on the sides there are rubber sealers so when you close the tailgate you don't have a gap there. They are held on by a few panel retainers. It's like a thick inner tube material but it's curved so when the gate closes it seals up against it. One is missing. Where in the world do you think I could get that, junkyard, or possibly OEM-type? I know not all Rangers have those. It was clearly factory, not something somebody drilled holes and kluged up.
Graphics. I see only one pic in the '97 brochure where there's a 4x4 sticker on the rear fender and I suspect it's an STX or Splash. I don't think they were put on every 4x4 like today. I'm pretty sure mine would -not- have had it, does that make sense? Hubs say 4x4 Automatic on them maybe that's enough graphics, anyone who cares can see that and know. If I were going to put a sticker on the fender I think I'd go w/ what Ford used in '97 if I could find it or find the pattern as I have a cutter and could make them. I'm kind of thinking leave well enough alone.
Tires. I have Cooper Discover RTX raised white letters 235/75R15. That would have been the stock tire. They have 4 to 5mm tread (over 1/8" but less than 1/4"). New they would have 1/2". So that's pretty worn, I'm ok legally (for a year anyway) but I'm wondering should I go with the same thing when I do replace them. They're pricy and believe me that came up several times in the haggling.
How do I know if I have ABS? It was an option.
What's the best way to clean the engine? I mean, I've done it before on other cars, usually I'd cover the distributor or any electronics and use that Gunk and then gently spray it down. Any tips on that I'd appreciate.
It's not horrible grungy just mainly dust/dirt from what I see so far.
Is there any easy way absent the door jamb sticker to tell final drive ratio and springs? That's not stopping me from anything, just would like to know. I am chasing getting the sticker through the dealer.
I cannot find Pioneer CDX-FM563 user manual or any decent youtube about it so if anyone has this changer let me know. That's one of the first things I'm looking at to fix because having that working would be a big upgrade especially since when I bought it I didn't know it had it in there.
There is sticker inside left rear shackle on the axle it says 359F. Does that tell me anything?
Springs (rear) say F27A XB then under that EW7 134C. Same question, is it decodable?
I have side rails and rubber mat on the bed floor, these look stock, but I don't like the mat arrangement because water gets under it around the edges and I see the beginnings of rust especially you have seams. Can't I put in a Ford bedliner if I can find one? Is that hard to do?
The floor of the bed appears to be a separate sheet of formed metal that is held to the truck with large hex bolts. It looks like, if your bed gets f'ed up you can simply unbolt it and put in a new bed floor. Am I nuts or is that true?
These have no tow hooks, and I guess the answer to that is "you don't need them because you don't get stuck in it". I noticed there are two spaced holes in the front crossmember that runs under the radiator and it looks like it's fairly integral to the frame, so I'm wondering, is there any possibility these holes were intended for tow hooks? I know one person put some in not sure if he used those holes.
If I want to raise the height just a bit like say 1" or 1-1/2" is that recommended, is it hard to do? I know it raises the c/g so I don't want it to drive a whole lot different. It doesn't look like there's a whole lot of clearance at the front and rear diff's. On the other hand, when you go over things you are trying to keep your wheel on the high part generally speaking, right? So I'm thinking for mild to semi-serious off-roading Ford probably tried to find the balance between it being decent off road and still drive decent on the highway.
Thanks again for all the help. I have to think with the 4.0L and the 4x4 the truck is really a beast compared to my 2wd '99. The 4.0L does have significantly more go than the 3.0L even with the added weight of the front drive train. My other half says it's louder. I don't think I have any exhaust leaks... maybe it's just louder. All the exhaust looks stock.
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) Fact is I'm rather lost to describe this very well myself atm, because if your front axle is completely off the ground and on stands, you can turn the front drive axle forward of the transfer case, turn it in either direction, having pushed no buttons or anything, and FWD begins locking in
