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Gen1 project...lookin 4 lots of help!


deathbypsi

06/2012 STOTM Winner
MTOTM Winner
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Dec 14, 2008
Messages
718
City
Mich
Vehicle Year
88
Transmission
Manual
I have a 88 longbed with 42k miles that I picked up years ago to build into an all out drag radial racer and even built a 410w and a 75mm turbo. Well the motor never made it into the truck and now I wana use the truck for daily driving so Im going back to my roots and dropping a nice 2.3t in it.

I have tons of questions I hope to get answers to here and I will lay out my plan here for your gus opinions.

The motor is a fresh stock shortblock, worked over head with custom roller cam,Bobs intakes and header,custom .70/.63 turbo by Evergreen,LA3,35lb injectors {for now},Spec stg3,TC t5 and a NPR front mount. I will upgrade to Stingers PIMP setup at a later date.

I have a drum brake 8.8 out of an Explorer {1994 I was told} and I want to use it with a Aubrun Pro I have with the stock 3.55's. What kind of problems will I find putting this in place of the 7.5?

I have a set of drop beams that came with the truck but was told they may be for a 89+. How do I tell? {pix below} And if they are for a 89+ can I still use them on my 88?I want to have some good brakes on this thing using as many stock parts as possible. What are some of my options there?

I have a set of 90 Lincoln LSC 16" wheels with 225's on them that will be getting some powdercoating done.

Truck will be getting fresh white paint after its running and it already has a glass 2" hood. Truck has zero rust other than where factory paint has flaked off and the bare metal was exposed.Nothing more than surface rust you can wipe off with a finger.I will be replacing all bumpers,trim,grill and seals with new stuff from LMC. Im keeping all the chrome also. Gona be Oxford White with the top of the cowl hood done in sliver with lots of new chrome...I want it to shine like a piece jewelry!

For the interior I really want to do something special. Im changing the factory blue to either grey or black or maybe a combo of both. I have a set of leather SVO seats I would love to use.I already had a 2.3t 87 Ranger with a t5 and bench which made for some really crappy shifter handles...buckets it is this time. I plan to use Speedhuts Revolution GPS speedo and tach in my own dash cluster,Siruis radio and I want to try to swap in a newer Ranger column with tilt and a nicer steeringwheel if possible....is it?

I will be driving this truck over 100 miles aday once its done so a good sound system is a must.Since its a reg. cab and Im 6ft 1in and 260lbs there will be no room behind seats but I still would like to have a small sub. Was thinking since my exhaust will be routed down the passenger side of truck leaving the floor under my side open would that be a good place to actually cut the floor out and make a dropped floor under my seat for a small speaker box? Anyone done this yet? Nothing to big and tucked up well above the bottom of the frame.

On to the "before" pix!
2009_0509ranger0001.jpg

2009_0509ranger0003.jpg

2009_0425dragranger0016.jpg

2009_0425dragranger0009.jpg

2009_0425dragranger0022.jpg
 
Which ones do you think mine are? Because mine have spindles and rotor on them still. What do I check to tell the diff?
 
wow thats a really nice first gen. specially since its in mi.

sounds like a cool build i'll be watching
 
TRuck was from Tenn. until about 10 years ago when it was brought to Mi and stored in a barn. Spent 7 years in buddies barn and 3 years in my driveway. Never seen a Michigan road yet.:headbang:

I should have some good progress made by time the weekend is over along with some new pix of the upgrades.
 
Good news, those beams are 89+, even better news, is you can grab a set of 95-97 spindles, rotors, and calipers to bolt onto those beams...Benefits you ask?? How about a set of stock dual piston calipers...If you want even more brakes, You can adapt a set of sport trac rotors (12") to these spindles. I believe the rotors are bolt on as the bearings are the same size as the spindle IIRC, but you will need to either fab a caliper bracket or try the sport trac bracket. Not sure if the sport trac bracket is bolt on or not, but food for thought. Nice build your planning :icon_thumby:
SVT
 
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Good news, those beams are 89+, even better news, is you can grab a set of 95-97 spindles, rotors, and calipers to bolt onto those beams...Benefits you ask?? How about a set of stock dual piston calipers...If you want even more brakes, You can adapt a set of sport trac rotors (12") to these spindles. I believe the rotors are bolt on as the bearings are the same size as the spindle IIRC, but you will need to either fab a caliper bracket or try the sport trac bracket. Not sure if the sport trac bracket is bolt on or not, but food for thought. Nice build your planning :icon_thumby:
SVT

those aren't 89+, 89+ have the balljoints going up not down.
 
Took the Centerlines off for good today and tried on the new shoes. They are nothing fancy by any means but Im diggin the period correctness of them. Needs drop bad.

1125111716a.jpg

1125111716c.jpg
 
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search around... you'll probably find most all those answers...


and wait!!! the first post and this last post from you.....are not the same truck... right?
 
The temp spray job was done last year in an effort to stop what surface rust was starting on the spots where the factory paint had came off since it had to sit outside in my driveway until I had room in my garage. Trust me it wipes right off with thinner. No harm done but really it doesnt matter since ALL the paint is coming off in the next few weeks.
 

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