Project Life Support.

[4.0B2]

i do it all the time at home! lol....

 

[koda6966]

Hmmm... why is the skid steer at my house instead instead of the quarry? Hmm...

Oh, THATS why. Muahaha.

Barely fit on the truck, we definitely need to get a trailer of our own lol.

Now I've got Stitch in the spot where that truck was, and I can start getting some work done to it. Little by little I hope to get it restored back to drivable condition.

 

[koda6966]

Got the Ranger parked on the lawn and started the tear-down.

Removed the front fender to start adding flares.

This is why I opted for a full replacement instead of bolting on the flare..

And with the "new" fender on! Color is just a tiny bit off.

I'm hoping the reason it's off is the new fender is clean and waxed, and the rest of the truck isn't. Either way, it's not noticeable to the point where it's going to drive me nuts.

I had hoped I would be able to get the other bedside off the parts bed, but I decided I didn't want to mess with cutting and grafting bedsides. This is why I wanted the bedside..

Eventually I'll probably either throw on a new bed or replace the fenders.

Now I'm working on yanking the bed to replace the filler neck, tank straps, and crossmembers. While I'm in there I'm also going to put on the sweet tank skid plate I got off my parts truck, and add this..

It's a 28 spline 8.8 axle with the L/S 3.73 gearing. Should be a nice upgrade from my 7.5 and hopefully I'll get better MPG's and some more "power."

If I come across a 4.56 geared 8.8 I'll go that route instead and either part out or sell this one.

All it needs to be in top shape is brake lines, studs, shoes, and drums. I'm going to replace the wheel cylinders while I'm in there. Hopefully I can just hook my cables to it, otherwise I'll have to replace those too. I already have the wheel cylinders and the studs. I'm also going to use the 4x4 blocks I have laying around, should lift my Ranger 3.5" if I am correct.

I'll be going to the local u-pull-it monday to pick up some parts. Nothing special, just some steel wheels to replace those deer hoofs, and maybe a tail light if I can get it cheap enough. Might pick up some stuff for the S10 too.

 

[ranger_mclaren]

You've got some nice progress going on, the L/S 8.8 is sweet.

 

[koda6966]

I've got the bed all ready to pull off. I had to grind the heads of some of the bolts into hexes, the damn torx crap was pissing me off.

I've become a pro at making 13/16th bolts.

 

[4.0B2]

that's cheating...... lol

 

[koda6966]

Works great though.

I started picking at my paint that was peeling. Ended up uncovering a rust hole behind my vinyl stripe the size of a shoe. I want a new bed.. lol.

 

[ranger_mclaren]

When I swaped out my bed I used a 4" angle grinder and cut the bolts off at the frame. I got tired of destroying hex sockets. Then I just bought new grade 8 bolts to replace them.

 

[koda6966]

I kept the old gas tank from the other truck just in-case I had a crack in the one on this truck. I guess it's a good thing I did but, it's not cracked.. it's melted.

I'm not sure how it happened, but whatever. Just one more thing to have to replace. Pics to come!

I'm also drilling out some holes about 2" in front of the rear spring hangars to mount the center crossmember from the other truck in. The rear-most crossmember in mine is gone and I'm yet to see one around here that isn't rusted out. I also ground out the tank crossmember, since it was rusted in half anyway. I'm going to mount that back cross member in and then take out the center, and the rear axle. That should give me more than enough room to play around with that tank.

I'm also going to disconnect (cut) the halfass exhaust I have on it so I can reach up in there easier to mount the fuel tank skid plate. Should be fun!

Last night I splurged and ordered a differential cover and tank straps for my ranger, and some audio stuff for my other truck. I had a hefty amazon gift card to waste.

The cover is nothing special, just one of those crappy chrome dealies. I'm not going to be taking this truck offroad anytime soon, since it's only 2wd right now. Eventually I plan on doing a full width SAS but when I do that I'll lose the 8.8 anyway and swap in a full width rear.

 

[koda6966]

I might have found my front end conversion parts! Somebody junked a nice red 2002 or so Ranger, stepside xcab. I'm going back up after friday to see if the fenders and hood are still there and maybe the bumper. Somebody already nailed the grill but there's another one on a truck nearby that's missing all the other pieces haha.

If I can I'd like to get a bed for it too, to match the year. I originally just wanted the cap (stepside) for my S10 but I figured it would be too much of a hassle to get it out of there, and I don't really have the money for it right now.

 

[koda6966]

It's a good thing I decided to replace the rear end, the drivers side brake drum was full of axle fluid.

 

[koda6966]

I'm about 99% sure that I just broke my driveshaft.

The little rubber boot thing before it goes through a crossmember just twists, when I push it together it feels like it snapped right there. I'm not a happy camper.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

i got one for and 8.8 if ya need it. its out of an explorer

 

[koda6966]

I'll keep it in mind, I'm looking for something close by.

I emailed a couple people about some explorer leafs. Mine are okay but a little saggy, so I'm gonna go the explorer swap route and net a little bit of lift. I might make my old 7.5 axle into a trailer, using the old leafs as well.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

I'll keep it in mind, I'm looking for something close by.

I emailed a couple people about some explorer leafs. Mine are okay but a little saggy, so I'm gonna go the explorer swap route and net a little bit of lift. I might make my old 7.5 axle into a trailer, using the old leafs as well.

no prob. i have a whole 8.8 rear out of a 94 explorer. its 3.27 geared. one day ill put it under my truck. but the 7.5 is holding just fine.

if ya need the shaft just pm me. ill make ya a good deal on it. as its just scrap to me