howlinghuskies "frankenranger" build

[howlinghuskie]

i wasnt planning on using add a leafs i was planning on using progressive rate helper springs that mount as a separate pack above the spring pack mainly to help with heavier loads while giving a decent ride when its empty

 

[howlinghuskie]

not much of an update but i made the side marker lights disappear lol

off

on

 

[howlinghuskie]

not much to update still no axle waiting on the junkyard to get the parts for the forklift thats been broken for like 3 weeks. but on the plus side might be going to look at a 87 stx parts truck with only a bad starter or so ive been told for $400

 

[howlinghuskie]

also plan on getting 4 lt235/75r15c Hercules trail digger m/t once these tires wear out.

 

[howlinghuskie]

well not much of an update but got the axle finally brakes were beyond shot but drums are good lol good thing i was already planning on all new brakes only other problem is the stupid composite dif cover but thats being replaced with a new replacment stamped steel cover oh yeah and the ABS sensor is now an overpriced unused plug not bad for $75 and it has limited slip now to just find a driveshaft and yes i know the passenger side shock mount is twisted hopefully ill be able to straighten it out

On the plus side i had a lil uh fun with the truck last week driving down in the ditch and driving out with ceder limbs over the top of the cab and pulling big logs out lol

lol

 

[87DangerRanger]

Hey that reminds me of some work/fun i had with my ranger.

I like your truck, sometimes I wish mine was an extended cab.

 

[howlinghuskie]

it may not be the prettiest truck out there but hey it gets the job done plus its easy to find in a packed parking lot

 

[howlinghuskie]

well not much to update i did get aux back up lights on and wired and i gotta say they sure do light up whats behind me lol i can now see stuff clearly 30+ feet behind me at night

Went to the pick and pull near me and got a rear drive shaft for $27 and while i was there i found this

Its a 1984 ranger with the explorer package. might be going back to get a drivers side fender for my truck.

 

[brinker88]

i wasnt planning on using add a leafs i was planning on using progressive rate helper springs that mount as a separate pack above the spring pack mainly to help with heavier loads while giving a decent ride when its empty

There's no such thing as Progressive rate leaf springs....


Lookin nice. That axle you aquired is a L/S which require an addative in the gear oil ( Im assuming your putting new in when you swap it in).

 

[howlinghuskie]

actually yes there is such a thing as progressive rate leaf springs. They are used on some semis. However what i was planning on getting were progressive rate helper springs so that it doesnt squat as much when loaded and it still rides good empty. I knew the axle was limited slip that is why i got the one i did. Hell who can complain for $75. Im planning on using amsoil synthetic oil so ill try that first and if it acts up any then ill add the additive.

 

[howlinghuskie]

well got the brakes done on the axle and got it painted doesnt look bad

After getting the sway bar off i noticed it was a little messed up lol i think its a little broken

 

[howlinghuskie]

so after doing the brakes i decided i was going to replace both wheel seals. I probably would have had it all done in about an hour if i didnt have to go back to the store for diffrent seals. Turns out the ones autozone lists for a 8.8 must be for the 31 spline 8.8 so instead i got seals for a 7.5 and they fit perfectly. this weekend if everything goes right we should be putting the axle in

 

[howlinghuskie]

after all the set backs its finally in. Now has the rear half of a 92 stx from the carrier back and the front half for a manual 86. The rear tires now sit out farther close to the same amount as the fronts after the wider rims were added. also added a hitch on to so i can tow safer. now to figure out what to do next.

 

[howlinghuskie]

so long story short the tranny lost 5th a while back so i got a new one from the yard that one made noise in 1 2 and noise in 5 to the point you couldnt keep it in 5th so pulled that one out the yard didnt have any more so got my money back and got that one as a core so i had a classmate that had a rolled 86 5 speed so from the description i was given of the tranny figured it was a tk5 turned out it wasnt it was another fm145 but put it in anyway drove it maybe a week and a half and wouldnt shift into second one day on my way home it started grinding really loud and the engine just kept reving and wouldnt go anywhere tried shifting out of gear and wouldnt the truck wouldnt go anywhere luckily i was a half mile from home called dad pulled it home dropped the pan and the first countershaft gear was junk most of the teeth were snapped and the countershaft could be moved about a good 1/4 inch up and down turns out the reason it wouldnt shift was because the gear hit the shift rail and took a chuck out of it so pulled the core apart 5th gear was missing 2 teeth and the first gear on the countershaft was starting to flake so ordered the parts to rebuild it so now about $250 later im ready to rebuild the fm145 and have a new 5th gear set, a rebuild kit with syncros, 5th gear nettle bearing, and the cluster gear

 

[howlinghuskie]

so i rebuilt the tranny thought people might like to see the carnage lol but anyway here it is

previous pictures we from the supposedly good tranny that only lasted like 300 miles

broken 5th gear from other tranny

switch panel for fog lights and aux back up made good use of the touch drive console

light tabs i made that bolt to top bumper bolts to get lights past grill guard

and fog lights all together i have $5 for a switch my dad had the lights and wiring