RockRangerII refresh

[RockRanger]

I haven't liked my plastic storage box in the bed of my truck. It is large on the outside and small on the inside. Another issue is I didn't have a good space to store my long side spare front shaft. I have alloy shafts but with a dana 44 and 37"s I still have my doubts on the strength. So I decided to build my own box. After some measuring and computer time I cut the shape of the box.

20151106_164458 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

If you look closely on it you can see where I wrote up and down for the direction each bend had to go. My biggest mistake is I should have made the relief cuts longer on the bend lines as I do not have a good way to bend metal. After a few hours with the help of Tracy I was able to get it all bent. A little more time with clamps was able to get it all welded together. I built a lid and used a piano hinge on the back. I still need to finish the lock and add a handle to it.

20151107_182127 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20151107_182133 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20151107_182152 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

 

[RockRanger]

On the passenger side behind the headlight is a nice large open area. This is an area that I originally had my winch solenoid box mounted.

20151108_182121 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

I am not sure if some AC stuff sits there on more optioned trucks or if all trucks have this open area. I decided it would the perfect spot to store spare fluids. A little cardboard cad and measuring I figured I could fit 4 quarts of oil/atf and a quart of gear oil. A little time on the computer and I had this.

oil storage boxv2 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20151108_182428 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20151108_182420 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20151108_182059 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20151108_182103 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

As you can see the gear oil comes out the bottom so that the top is flat to clear the hood. The gear oil is just able to sneak between the radiator shroud and the air intake tube. My rivet gun broke before I could get it assembled so I will have to install it later.

 

[RockRanger]

Got the oil mount painted just before the rain.

20151109_144044 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20151109_144035 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

One side mounts with two 1/4" bolts thru the inner fender well. You can see where the factory air intake remain intact so I stay smog legal.

20151109_145435 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

The other side mounts with two quarter inch bolts to the side of the radiator opening. It has to mount at a slight angle so the lover bolt has an extra nut mounted between the bracket and body. Gives just the angle needed to clear everything.

20151109_145542 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

A view from the top with no bottles in it.

20151109_145525 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

I put 2 quarts of ATF and 2 motor oil as well as one gear oil.

20151109_145627_010 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

Lid on ready to go.

20151109_145908 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

 

[Josh40601]

very nicely done!

 

[SPSully]

it must really suck to have such a nice shop with amazing tools and killer skills. Glad I havent been so burdened

 

[RockRanger]

Not much of a shop. Every thing is stuffed into a 2.5 car garage on a postage stamp size loti in the middle of suburbia . I just make make sure I think through modifications so I don't redo things. Buy quality new and used tools. My welder, plasma table, air compressor, bandsaw were all bought used. I also have a very understanding wife (biggest part of the puzzle). I have owned this truck almost 11 years now.

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[Josh40601]

I just wish either one of my trucks fit in my garage

 

[RockRanger]

Mine clears by 2 inches. It is pretty full with my ranger and my wifes cj7 in the garage.

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[Josh40601]

Wow, so you have all the tools, a CJ and your ranger in there?! That's awesome!

 

[RockRanger]

She has had it 21 years now.

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[Josh40601]

That's awesome. I love everything about the CJ body. Everything else about the CJ i do not like. lol. When I had mine, I wanted to do a modern TJ suspension with rubicon axles, long arms, and coilovers, with the 4.0, rubicon 6 speed, and the rubicon transfer case.

but instead i sold it and bought a ford. lol

 

[RockRanger]

We have a 98tj 4.0 and a nv4500 in it. The dana 300 also has 4to1 gears in it. The 20 year old rancho suspension is in need of replacement. Haven't decided if I want to stay old school leafs or link it. My wife will make the final call either way.

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[RockRanger]

Picked up some second gen explorer seats from a friend and swapped them in. I did have to tap two holes in the base of the seats to fit my sliders. The hole was already in the seat I just had to run a tap through them.

20151129_112138 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

 

[RockRanger]

Started on my new center console. I took measurements from my old wood one and made adjustments to it. Then I drew up the pieces on the computer and cut it on my plasma table.

center by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

The pieces are tabbed with holes on each piece that after bending on the relief lines (because I still do not have a decent brake/press) allow the holes to line up and a pop rivet to be installed. The white spots in the pictures are each rivet.

20151130_175205 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

The lid has both a latch to hold it securely closed when off road and a lock in case I want to lock valuables inside it.

20151130_190256 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

Here it is set in the truck for a test fit. I still have a few adjustments to make then it will be ready for paint. I also am going to add an upholstery top to the lid.

20151130_191115 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

 

[Grunizzle]

Dude that is a badass console I love it. I want one exactly like that, I'm planning to make a new one. Are the square cutouts for rocker switches I'm guessing?