My '99 4x4 RegCab Steppie Build

[Baba ganush]

In the middle of a weekend project, thought I would start a thread. I found this 1999 Ranger 4x4 in a small town in Texas and decided to give it a new lease on life. 3.0, auto, base model 4x4, 190k on the clock. It was in rough shape!

 

[Baba ganush]

So my first job was to bring the shine back to this paint job, and wash the 10 years of dirt out of the interior.

 

[Baba ganush]

Next, I found an explorer donor and tore its' heart out!

I then tore the 3.slow and transmission out of the ranger.

 

[Baba ganush]

Before I scrapped the donor Explorer, I ripped the 3L73 rear end off and threw the 7.5 from the ranger underneath it.

I then re-geared it for 4.10 to match my front diff, flipped the spring pads and welded up some shock mounts. It went right under the ranger, and it looks mean! Now I have an 8.8 31 spline limited slip, disc brake rear end! I also transferred the parking break cable from the donor for the now rear disc brakes.

 

[Baba ganush]

While I was doing that, my short-block and GT40p heads were being re-born at the machine shop.

And here is the assembled long block.

 

[Baba ganush]

I decided to clean up the old upper intake, it was pretty nasty.

 

[Baba ganush]

I had to do some wiring modifications. This is the plug for the battery/charging harness. I used the 5.0 harness and swapped the plug from the Ranger harness.

 

[Baba ganush]

I wanted a darker interior, so I found a complete interior out of a 2004 Edge and swapped it in. I had to do some major cleaning of the seats, as well as some patching on the driver's side, but nothing too bad.

Here are the seats, before and after a "green machine" treatment.

 

[Baba ganush]

Dropped in the 5.0 the other day and that's where I'm at.

The project has paid for itself to this point, so from here on out it's an expense. I plan to bolt up my 4r70w now and work out the bugs before I completely re-build it and change the output shaft/tail housing to bolt up to my BW1354 Transfer Case. So it will be 2wd for a moment, but I plan to complete the extensive modifications after the first of the year.

This weekend I plan to install the transmission and start it up. I'm on a few other forums but I will be spending a lot more time here, and gladly so. Wish me luck!

 

[adsm08]

All I have to say, gnarly man. That is just awesome.

 

[Baba ganush]

Appreciate it

I don't have any good pictures of it now. I plan on converting the front end to '06+ as well. Oh, and the purpl-ish rear window tint is history lol, along with those seats!

 

[RangerSVT]

Looks good, and you will like the new potential of the new heart. What all did the machine shop do and how much did it run you? Where you located?

SVT

 

[Baba ganush]

Looks good, and you will like the new potential of the new heart. What all did the machine shop do and how much did it run you? Where you located?

SVT

I am ready to drive this thing! Although I haven't even cranked it up yet.

I'm near Dallas TX, and I had a small shop in Garland punch out my 306, new pistons and bearings, re-used the crank and rods. Freshened up the heads and sold me just about every part to get it back in the truck for $700.

 

[RangerSVT]

Not a bad price, but rather punch it out to 306 you would have been better having them put larger valves in the heads, if any funds were left over a port and polish. Paint looks great on the intake

SVT

 

[Baba ganush]

Not a bad price, but rather punch it out to 306 you would have been better having them put larger valves in the heads, if any funds were left over a port and polish. Paint looks great on the intake

SVT

I could've gone a few different ways with the motor, but I was sticking to a strict budget. I also wanted to do a ton of different things and I didn't want to be too invested in one area, before I had a working combination. Bolt-ons would probably suffice if I thought it needed more. I have zero experience tuning this setup, but I am intamately familiar with the mustang 5.0 of old.

I plan to add at least some headers, those factory manifolds are hideous.