Another Ranger 5.0

[shr3dd3r 09]

I tinkered for about an hour between jobs today and I also made a block off plate at work during lunch. It is for the giant hole I cut in the floor for my shifter.



Then I installed it



I took a few pictures but didn't have much time and it started raining again.

Here is the F550 master cylinder, it looks very similar to the ranger version except it has a larger bore and therefore needs the hole it sits in enlarged.

Did that center console assembly come from an explorer with a manual transmission? The reason I ask is because the front panel in the console where your shifter comes through is completely open and doesn't appear to have been cut.

On most Explorers/Mountaineers with the V8 there are either two storage trays or a message center in the front panel (it's not a completely open space). I'll be using a ZF in my '00 Ranger behind my 5.0, so I'm going to attempt to use a similar center console setup so the metal plate covering the cut in the floor is hidden and I can still have cup holders

 

[ascentpro]

No, I just removed the message center, found one of those two pocket things from a junkyard and cut the pockets out leaving the outside frame where the pockets screw into the console. Then I made a shift boot and used the frame to pinch the boot and hold it in place.

 

[ascentpro]

Also I had to make the shifter into an Z to get it to fit under the console and not hit the console. It took a lot of trial and error; I would cut enough of the shifter out so I could bend it in the direction I wanted, fit it in the truck, bend it to desired angle, then weld it up.

 

[ascentpro]

I'm starting to collect parts for a SAS and a D60 swap out back. These are the first of my parts to arrive:

Kartek drop hangers

 

[ascentpro]

I'm really bad at getting pictures while I'm working but yesterday I did a shackle flip and 64" spring swap so that when I find a dana 60 it won't take as long to swap. I used kartec rear hangers, moved my front hangers forward 6 inches, 64" chevy 5" lift leaf springs and beltech shackles. My truck has a good sized rake now since nothing has been done to the front yet.