New here but not a noob.

[Thanks47]

I'm a retired old man from SC who likes 3rd gen rangers. I have an 03 2wd XL 7 foot bed with the 4.0L. I rebuilt my open 8.8 and went from 3.55 gears to Ford 4.10 and added a trac-lok. Also switched the rear drums to 2003 mustang cobra discs and went to 255/70/16 tires on oem 4x4 aluminum wheels. To my surprise fuel mileage got a little better after lowering the final drive. I guess it's because 90% of my driving is around town. Anyway it accelerates much better and has good traction. I fill the tank with regular every time and run it until the fuel light comes on. It goes 320-370 miles and takes 16-17 gallons to refill. 2003 didn't have EGR so it probably gets a little better economy from that.
Aside from wrenching I'm into welding (mig and tig) fabricating, machining, CAD design, 3d printing, electronics and building lithium battery packs.
Here's a pic of a air/hydraulic metal break I built about 10 years ago from mostly scraps I got from my local metal supplier. It will bend 50" wide 11ga steel and cost me about $300 total. I used to build a lot of tanks.

Spray arc mig welds on it.

Spider nut I machined to go on my lathe for barrel work.

70ah 29v li-ion battery pack for my grandkids 4 wheeler.

and deez nuts I machined from brass and tinned for a large battery.

I have many more hobbies but I should probably just stick to rangers here.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Oh no you dont! I want to know everything before I die...
Cough up your knowledge!

 

[pjtoledo]

50 inch 11 gauge!!!


holy crap, can we be friends?

 

[pjtoledo]

one more thing, retired old man needs a bit of clarification.

I'm 72 and been retired for 10 years.

guessin'ya got about 6 years on me.

 

[Curious Hound]

Cool photos. But where is the truck?

And where are you in the upstate? I live in Wellford - between Greer and Spartanburg.

 

[Thanks47]

one more thing, retired old man needs a bit of clarification.

I'm 72 and been retired for 10 years.

guessin'ya got about 6 years on me.

I'm only 60. I retired 7 years ago managing a concrete plant. Men in my family seem to go relatively young so I want to live a little while I can.

 

[pjtoledo]

concrete dust is a definite life-shortening issue. good move.
having had a heart attack at 52 I also decided to live the good life for a while, I hope.

don't be afraid to show some projects, we need inspiration.