ForOffRoadDriving's 94 Ranger Build

[ForOffRoadDriving]

I got the axle set up tonight, finally! My final numbers were 22 in/lbs preload on the pinion bearings and .008, .010, and. 012 backlash (i checked it in 3 spots and got a different readingin each spot). I prepped the locker parts and covered them up until i can get ahold of a pair of 10" backing plates to install.

 

[-Nathan-]

looking good man, get it under there! and now for you to build a font axle....

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

Someday........

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

last night i decided to use the remaining daylight (i get off work at 7 so i currently have 2 hours before sun down) to trim my fender flares, vaccum my interior out, and wash out the vinyl floor with simple green and hot water. i know most of you dont like the flares but i think after trimming them they look better. if it werent for the fact that they do keep the truck cleaner and they cost me $100 i would just take them off and shelf them.

 

[railman]

I really like the way you trimmed them

form doesn't always follow function.....but I think they look alot better now though than before....

l8r, John

 

[02RangerXLT]

I agree... they look better than before... but I need a view almost straight from the front to completely decide...

 

[TheTopher]

Still not entirely diggin' 'em. But they do look much better now.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

I agree... they look better than before... but I need a view almost straight from the front to completely decide...

ask and you shall recieve..... eventually haha!

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

last night i decided to "tighten up" my shifter so i installed some new shifter bushings that i bought from the ford dealer. once i got it apart i found the reason for the slop, the PO had ignored that fact that his original bushings were GONE and just kept driving. which led to the grooves seen at the bottom of the top plate housing bore. its tighter now than it was before, but its still not "like new". i think ill either have to get another top plate or posibly just another shifter shaft with less wear on it.

i also executed another mod that was on my list of mods to do; my tool box now has a lid that will stay open without needing to use my tire lug wrench as a prop rod! the gas struts i used were off from the diamond plate box that was previously in my truck (when i took the roll bar out for a couple weeks) but they were too weak to hold the aluminum lid up. i ended up replacing them with some hood struts from a jeep liberty and kept the weak ones for future use (i finally found that use). it took me a few tries to get the strut positioned properly, but the lid now stays up on its own and stays closed when its pushed down.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

Tonight was the night and things felt just right so when i got home from work i exectued the axle swapand installed the lockrite. I didnt take many pictures because i was using my droid for music while i was working but when i finished bolting things up and wanted to take some pics the battery was dead.

Unfortunately i didnt take any pics of the lockrite install but it was very straight forward to install. I can tell already that its going to take some practice to be able to drive smoothly again.

 

[-Nathan-]

good job man. yeah youll get used to the slop and oversteer

 

[Robert_1967]

can you e-mail me your old diff cover?!?!



Robert

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

this mornings drive to work in the rain was interesting, with the roads flooding and the locker grabbing hard in the turn arounds. i feel like Thumper has finally earned the name i gave him, other than not having a front axle i think he just became twice as capable!

 

[TheTopher]

this mornings drive to work in the rain was interesting, with the roads flooding and the locker grabbing hard in the turn arounds. i feel like Thumper has finally earned the name i gave him, other than not having a front axle i think he just became twice as capable!

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

using the calculator in the tech library i figured out my speedo gear correction and ill need to get a red 21 tooth gear, currently i have a 19 tooth. so tomorrow when i get in to work ill call the ford dealer and see if i cant get one coming for tuesday. i also have another mod for the tool box planned, but youll have to stay tuned for upcoming progress and updates...