Mylesofsmyles' Shop Truck...'85 2.3L Short Bed

[Mylesofsmyles]

Cool new STANCE!

Billet Aluminum wheel adapters arrived. 1.75" wide...they are 5x4.5" on both sides, with a very large diameter bore, to clear the FORD hub.

They came with new 1/2"-20 lug nuts, to secure them to the truck...I bought nice new acorn lugs for the wheels.

I figured, it's about time to chase the threads with my dye...did the same on the new adapters, just to be thorough.

Looks good...just need's a head to run, lol.

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

Much, MUCH cleaner!!!

After a week and two days, the head is DONE! Wasn't in a hurry, and glad the machine shop kept at it. Lifters were rusty and stuck in the head. He finally extracted them and was able to continue the rebuild on the head. Lifters were replaced with new ones, springs were to spec and the one broken valve had been replaced. Repainted and milled 30 thousandths of an inch!

Reassembly went smooth, considering all my prep work had been done. I followed proper head torquing procedure and am confident in my work. I really like how this motor goes together and comes apart. Some differences from a Redblock...some I like and others I don't.

Head gasket kit only supplied 4 fuel injector "o" rings, so I grabbed 4 more, when I went out for my replacement ECT sensor...I broke the original when I tried removing it, before hot tanking it. WOW, was there a buildup of oil on the manifold...glad it sparkles like new now!

Final step is to install timing belt, however, the timing marks are on the rear timing cover, which I broke during disassembly...my replacement should arrive tomorrow...no biggie...I've done enough work for one day.

STOKED it's coming back together!

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

Out for SMOG...

The timing belt inner cover arrived Saturday. Brand new, Made in USA!

The truck snapped back together, seemed a bit rough, so I checked timing and it was way down. I couldn't find the SPOUT Connector. I thought I had it at 10* BTDC.

Got it on the SMOG Dyno, and they found the connector, and checked timing...it was at 2* BTDC. It failed for high NO. Ran back to the shop, now knowing where the SPOUT connector is, and properly advanced timing to 11* BTDC...PASSED!!!!

With a PASS, I was able to push the paperwork at DMV and get Title transfered, current registration and a fresh pair of plates!!!

IT's MINE and it runs soooooooo good!

Clean too!

On the hunt for my Manual Transmission swap parts...the automatic is the only thing I don't like.

 

[SolidSnake84]

I like your ranger very much. We have the same body stle. Is it the same year? Mine is a 1988. I also paid the same price for mine as you did yours. Check out my thread. I will have lots more pictures of what I am doing over the weekend. That's a really nice truck. I like the wear and tear look on it. Do you plan on painting it or doing any body work??

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

I like your ranger very much. We have the same body stle. Is it the same year? Mine is a 1988. I also paid the same price for mine as you did yours. Check out my thread. I will have lots more pictures of what I am doing over the weekend. That's a really nice truck. I like the wear and tear look on it. Do you plan on painting it or doing any body work??

Thanks..

Mine is an '85, so a bit older. It was a great find, and I wouldn't trade it for any other truck.

Body work? No! I've got a 1-gallon can of Herculiner bed liner, that I'll coat the bed with, but that's it.

I LOVE the weathered look....call it patina. I've got a beautiful, original paint, '79 Volvo 242 in Mustard Yellow, that is my crown jewel. I'm about to disassemble my '85 Volvo 245 Turbo, to have repainted and look perfect again. This truck is all about function and that Rat Rod cool!

The most that'll happen is I'll continue to wash, and eventually wax it...that's it.

I'll be sure to check out your build thread. Thanks for looking!

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

This Ford Truck needs good pics!

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

Just ordered Bilstein 4600 HD series shocks for the front & rear!!!

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

Gotta stay off Smokey's Radar!

They had some time for my other car, at the exhaust shop, today...

Went with aluminized steel tubing..
2.5" diameter from exhaust manifold, back
V6 Mustang muffler with 2.5" inlet & outlet
Clean side exit, just in front of rear wheel...

As usual, he did a super clean, quality job
And it's nice and quiet, but still makes good tone

For those that didn't know, there was no muffler on this truck, when I bought it...
Since it's been running, it's been a straight pipe, which is SUPER loud on a n/a vehicle

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

Amazing what you'll find when you dig hard enough...

46mm Monotube Shock Absorber

Internal Design: Monotube
Collapsed Length: 10.04 in / 255 mm
Extended Length: 14.49 in / 368 mm
Boot Included: Blue Bellows
Mounting Kit: B4-KT1-Z097A00
Spring Seat: No
Finish: Yellow Paint
Supercedes: F4-B46-1719-H0
Part #: 24-184816


Bilstein HD's for '92 Ford E150

There is no direct application for a 1st gen Ranger, from Bilstein...spoke with the guys on the phone, and this is the best we can come up with. Stock Ranger shock is about 14.5" extended and 10" collapsed.

Good news is there IS a direct fit rear pair, so I'll get these E150 fronts to compliment Ranger rears.

Ride is kinda bouncy, so I'm sure it's time for new shocks.

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

Been so busy building my new Turbo wagon, and driving this truck....it's finally time for some maintenance...

Got some brand new tires, the other week... The ride is so much smoother, and my fuel economy has gone up appreciably, so that's good...

But now I'm noticing how worn my front hub bearings are...so today, I ordered brand new Brembo rotor/hub assemblies, SKF bearings and some PowerStop ceramic pads...

As I was working under the hood, this weekend, I discovered my exhaust manifold was cracked clear across the collector...more than a little exhaust leak...so a Hedman header is on the way.

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

I can't believe just how fast my header got here....

Summit Racing shipped it from Sparks, Nevada....Mind you, I ordered it late, Monday Night...

It arrived before 2pm, today!

Install was fairly straight forward....there was some interference by starter/bell-housing, so I heated up the runner and dented it to clear.

Welded in a bung at collector, for o2 sensor....

Found out the hard way, that you must use the Hedman supplied gasket....the Fel-Pro, I installed in December, had holes for a pulse air type system....which caused a healthy leak, so I had to switch it out for the Hedman, and problem solved.

Feels stronger at the low/mid end and sounds great! I'm happy!

Didn't realize a manifold could crack so badly...

Photo doesn't serve it justice...it had two large holes and was cracked all the way around.

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

Big Smiles Here!

Replaced my front wheel bearings, rotors and pads, this morning...

Brembo Rotors, SKF Bearings & PowerStop Ceramic Pads...

Installation was very straight forward, and rather rewarding...feels like a whole new truck! My annoying front end rattle is gone...well, there's still, at least, one left there, and the brakes feel much better!

I'll be moving on to ball joints, tie rod ends and bushings next, before replacing my shocks.

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

I've just ordered new Bilstein front & rear shocks...

Hopefully that'll cure the last of my front end rattles...ball joints, bushings and tie rod ends all looked okay, so I'm guessing blown shocks must be the problem.

One way or the other, I'm sure they're blown, given how the truck bobs & bounces...I'll just have to give this a try. It needed to be done, regardless.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Your truck is coming along, keep up the good work.

Richard

 

[XLTsplash]

Your Ranger is looking much better, I like the color and your new wheels. I see your in CA. Is the header smog legal in CA ?