New project or parts truck?

[eaglescout94]

I brought home a 94 extended cab with a 4.0 and auto. I’m up in the air what I’ll do with it currently, atleast till I figure out the problem. The transmission kinda works, it goes into reverse just fine but to go forward it has to be warmed up some. Fluid level looks good but didn’t smell very strong like atf. Should I start with a fluid and filter change or is there something else worth looking at in addition? I figure worse case I’ll use the truck for parts for my main ranger and maybe repower it eventually with something else

 

[SenorNoob]

Manual swap?

 

[eaglescout94]

Definitely an option. I need to do some research but opinions are welcome. I have a 95 with rusty body, engine I haven’t heard run and a manual transmission/ transfer case that I put all that on a 01 frame. I went off half cocked and did the title work on it even though it doesn’t even run. Is the newer frame and axles that much better than the old? Or am I gonna be better off just doing a trans and case swap?

 

[SenorNoob]

I feel like there aren't enough details to make much of a suggestion. The 94 looks pretty good to me from that 1 pic. I'd probably try to save it since it runs. When you did the 01 frame for the 95, what did you use for the front suspension? What are you looking to end up with?

 

[eaglescout94]

The 94 is pretty clean, rust wise atleast. Frame has surface rust, underside of the cab looks clean, I haven’t gotten the carpet up yet to see under it. The 95 body/drivetrain is sitting on the 01 chassis and axles. It has break lines but no fuel lines. The cab, fenders and bed are all rusty and I’ve not heard the engine run yet alone drive the truck. Other than money spent so far on the 95/01 it does seem to make better sense to just do a manual swap on the 94 and maybe build the other 4.0 as a backup. Overall plan with the truck is daily drive but be able to use for hunting, hauling firewood in the woods and just be a fun little truck. Might get a little lift but the 31s on it would be possibly the largest, for sure no more than 33s

 

[scotts90ranger]

For me I like the TTB front suspension much better than the SLA from '98 and up (I mean it works just fine, I've put 50k miles on that suspension in my '00 Explorer with very few complaints) that and I like the '89-94 dash better than the '95-11 dash... a '94 4x4 4.0L manual trans extended cab sounds like a pretty decent setup to me if you can swing it...

 

[eaglescout94]

The more I think on it the more building the 94 seems like my best overall option. Install a new clutch kit with the swap and go through whatever needs fixed up or updated in the process. I could atleast have a ranger back on the road with less work vs building the other truck to a solid build. Probably have a build thread before long to document the work done

 

[sgtsandman]

The TTB is a more robust front end and better for off road than the SLA. While the SLA will work for off road, it is more limited and is really a better design for on road driving but it will do the job.

The downside of the TTB is that fewer and fewer shops know how to align them and parts are getting harder to find. So, if you go TTB, it might be a good idea to stash some spare parts for it. Some of the guys here do that and are on a steady look out for things like manual hubs as replacements and rebuilds to keep the truck on the road without long waits trying to find availabe replacements.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Try adjusting the bands on the auto transmission, they’re supposed to be adjusted regularly but they’re probably still in the same position it left the factory in…

Also, I’d do a shift kit and valve body work if you change fluid and filter…