ForOffRoadDriving's 94 Ranger Build

[ForOffRoadDriving]

i got the trans mount in the mail today, it definately looks stronger than whats in there so hopefully it will tighten the feel of things back up.

i also ordered a new piece of heat shielding to put above the catalytic converter body, and i got another roll of sound deadening / heat barrier to put on the floor pans and trans tunnel.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

impressive as always man!

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

Thanks rsh, i feel like it should be done by now, but theres always something else that comes to mind right after i finish a mod that just seems to spur another mod.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

i know what u mean, i havent completed one when im already gettin a new idea.
i guess we will never finish.

our trucks arent week end projects, they are mostly lifetime projects.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

^this is true!

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

the mount is mounted and i have to say it feels awesome! its hard to describe the feeling to anyone with out a manual trans, but if youve ever changed your shifter bushings and gotten that ultra tight feel afterwards- this is almost equally as big of a difference.

the instructions say that they didnt provide a bolt for the center because that was for manufacturing purposes only, but the crossmember has 3 slots also so i just got another bolt with a flat and lock washer and put it in there, if nothing else atleast it will keep the threads clean.

 

[doorgunner]

LOOKS GOOOOOOOD!


Just remember this rule about modding your vehicle...........................................




IT'S FINISHED !..............temporarily!

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

not much progress on the truck lately, ive been working on getting my toys ready to go up to the dunes and orv trails in a couple of weeks. i had to add a longer tie down bar to the front of the trailer but since my welder is burried at the back of the garage i decided to take it to rays and use his welder instead.

 

[WNY964x4]

well i just got through catching up from page 49 , and i must say it is lookin grate , i am gonna try to make a rear bumper like yours for my 97 , i am doing a complete rebuild much like this one , but it will be a bit bigger since mine is 4x4 haha

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

Right on man, let me know if you need any dimensions or resource links (i got the pivot from www.troutindustries.com) and be sure to post up pics in the show off your bumpers thread.

 

[WNY964x4]

Right on man, let me know if you need any dimensions or resource links (i got the pivot from www.troutindustries.com) and be sure to post up pics in the show off your bumpers thread.

one thing i was wondering is how far out from the frame is the bumper , i am guessing you used channel that fit inside the frame for mounts , but how long are they , my goal right now for this project is to get the whole truck torn down (like you did) and figure out everything i need so i can get a base price figured out

i got into quite the discussion with my mom last night because this project started as a engine swap , but then when i remembered you have to pull the drivetrain any way to pull a 4.0 i said screw it , this is gonna be a total frame off restoration , she doesnt understand why i am sinking so much time and money into it , and i told her that it's hard to explain to a person that refuses to see the point in it , but i know i have the support on here

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

i used angle iron for the frame mounts, it mounts along the outside and on the bottom of the frame rail and its held on by 3 bolts along the bottom of each rail and 1 on each side. the bumper at its widest point is 11" from the end of the frame rail. i used an 8 1/2" wide piece of 3/16 diamond plate for the top and its recessed under the tailgate about an inch and a half or so. i know what you mean about the "discussions", thats why im on here all the time, everyone thats on here has the same addiction so what ive done to my truck is accepted instead of questioned.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

well the day finally came when we had to sell Terras sprot trac, with her not working (dont tell her that taking care of Karson isnt work) and me still making payments on my truck we just couldnt afford to keep it, so we gave it a good shine and put it out to the road.

she managed to get enough money from it to pay it off and still have enough to buy another car, not as nice as the sport trac was, but still a driveable car. she ended up buying her sisters 1997 ford thunder bird with the 3.8l for $200 and was able to drive it to my house so we could check it over for needed repairs. the most noticeable thing it needed was brakes because it had been sitting long enough that the pads rusted to the rotors, which made coming to a stop from 45mph quite a scary experience!

once i started tearing into it and checking it over the list of needed repairs just kept getting longer and longer. so far ive replaced all 4 rotors, pads & hardware, both rear calipers and brackets, front struts and rear shocks, both upper control arms, 1 lower ball joint and 1 sway bar link, an idler pulley and serpentine belt, plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, oil change, drivers side door hinge pins, both outer door handles and both rubber hood bumpers, and i cleaned and charged the battery. so our $200 car has blossomed into an $1100 car and it still needs tires. heres some pics of the progress from yesterday, the previous owners were definately mental midgets so a good chunk of out time was spent un-****ing their repairs.

the interior is where their mechanical prowess shines the brightest!

the arm rest had been turned to mush by some heffers meat fist

they had rigged in a kill switch to shut off power to the starter solenoid, but failed to put things back together after they installed it. luckily they just threw everything in the trunk so we had to clean that out first and then reassemble the interior.

the passenger side door had been tied shut with rope and light duty cleats, why they did this im not quite sure because the door opens from the inside and latches tightly, so ill probably never know what their thought process was.

the back seat sure is comfy!

 

[TheTopher]

Looking good, mate. Those thunderbirds are fun cars.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

i took Karson for his first ride in Thumper yersterday, he liked it so much he just fell asleep, and then he slept for another 2 hours until it was time for a "change".