I discovered something.... interesting about Ranger frames....

[adsm08]

He probably gets fuel at his dealership's price. That can be as much as a $1 a gallon off depending on where you are.

 

[mn_smokeater]

or hes got a well drilled into the underground tanks at the gas depot

 

[mzqc0b]

4x4 conversion

Ok if the frames are modular then a 4x4 conversion should be way easier.

Here is the front part of a 4x4 frame for sale http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78986
That is not near the forward leaf spring mount. Did he just cut the frame?

Anyway, does anyone know if 2nd gen exploders are modular as well. They are pretty common at Pull & Save. 4th gen Rangers are not.
Would be easier than a whole frame swap.

What do you think?

 

[AllanD]

My question for you Allan, is the cost of fuel that much cheaper to you locally that it necessitates the carrying of an extra 75gallons weight worth of fuel? Just throwin it out there..... I wouldn't mind haulin more fuel, but I'm thinking along the lines of a BII tank and a smaller inner frame tank to make room for the doubler setup.

It makes perfect sense... if you are using "second hand gasoline"

I buy my gasoline from the enormous surplus generated by certain obscure EPA regulations... dealing with operation of automotive salvage yards.

You see they MUST by law drain ALL the fluids from all their incomming vehicles to prevent leakage and subsequent groundwater contamination.

so they drain all the fluids and sell the Anti-Freeze to a recycler
(ethylene Glycol is easily purified) the transmission fluid they blend wiht diesel fuel and burn it in their heavy equipment, the motor oil goes ina BIG tank and they burn as much as possible heating their buildings...
but they never seem to burn enough drained lube oil...

what lube oil is left they PAY ~$1 a gallon to have it hauled away

Now, gasoline isn't only "toxic waste" it "hazardous" toxic waste
so if they have more then they can use in their gasoline powered
vehicles they either have to PAY almost $3 a gallon to have it
hauled away or they can sell it to customers of the junkyard
(who as a rule tend to be a bunch of tightwad bastards, and
I know "because I are one"

I just got back from filling my truck, of course I drained both "main" tanks
dry before going up there so I got ~45gallons for my $53.

That's $25 per tankful plus sales tax.

Now to you see the economic sense?

And on another note I just looked under a 1999 2wd shortbox and the rails appear to be one piece, I'm hoping that a longbox is different
but if not the joinery isn't going to prevent me from doing it
(making a 7foot supercab) anyway.

AD

 

[wahlstrom1]

Lol, when my buddy's brother was still running his towing/wrecking yard I got the same deal. He'd give me the fuel for a lil less then half the going street price.

 

[AllanD]

Hey, with my current tank setup I've made it back from a friend's place in South Bend Indiana to my place while TOWING another ranger on a dolly on the two "main" tanks.

While doing that tow with my 4.0 5sp 4.10 geared 4x4 supercab I managed just a tick over 15mpg, so if you see me in a topic about fuel economy being less than sympathetic to someone who can't manage 14mpg...

Yes, that was one 4.0 and TWO Rangers and getting 15mpg. and I maintained a steady 65-70mph all the way across on I-80

Theoretically I could have made the round trip unrefueled, but I decided I wanted that full 40gallon tank in the bed as ballast for the return trip....

the ranger I was towing got to swaying pretty bad at times, and frankly I couldn't even feel it from my drivers seat until it got to the point where it was blocking the headlights of my friend who was following me in another truck...
(all I had to do to kill the swaying was manually apply the electric brakes on
the dolly Yeah, my dolly has electric brakes

Funny thing was I could EASILY out accelerate him in his 3.45 geared 2.3 powered shortbox 2wd.


AD

 

[chvlfrk]

>>>>>

Not sure if you guys seen the post on this truck?

Police Special

 

[OilPatch197]

or they can sell it to customers of the junkyard (who as a rule tend to be a bunch of tightwad bastards, and I know "because I are one" I just got back from filling my truck, of course I drained both "main" tanks dry before going up there so I got ~45gallons for my $53. That's $25 per tankful plus sales tax. Now to you see the economic sense?

OMG, that is crazy, I assume they have some good filtration/water separation before they use that gas?

IMO, I got some "1992" gas that may come your way soon!

With "Junkyard Gas" I would seriously be worried about tarnish and the freshness of the fuel, but that is a GREAT way to recycle, it isn't for me.

 

[holyford86]

And on another note I just looked under a 1999 2wd shortbox and the rails appear to be one piece, I'm hoping that a longbox is different
but if not the joinery isn't going to prevent me from doing it
(making a 7foot supercab) anyway.

AD

the 98 2wd shortboxes are modular framed, just checked the other day

 

[twoll86]

I Want a 4x4 extended cab long bed im so gunna do this now prolly on a 97 though with a 4" lift

 

[TheTopher]

Funny thing was I could EASILY out accelerate him in his 3.45 geared 2.3 powered shortbox 2wd.


AD

I have one of those. Somebody jogging on a treadmill can out accelerate me, without even stepping off the tread mill.

 

[chvlfrk]

Ummmm..............

I Want a 4x4 extended cab long bed im so gunna do this now prolly on a 97 though with a 4" lift

==========================================
A 97 isn't a 2 piece frame.......

 

[twoll86]

==========================================
A 97 isn't a 2 piece frame.......

my bad i misread the 1st post

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

I want to see pictures of the build. It sound way cool.

 

[twoll86]

are the frames close enough to cut the back 1/2 off a 83-97 and slip the rear of a 98+ on it?