Street Rod Ranger

[JoshT]

You just got me to thinking about one issue which has bugged me about my build from the start... Indicators! I'm doing the Explorer V8 swap keeping most of the Explorer's wiring and electronics, but I'm keeping the 86's dash. I am also planning to replace the speedometer with something that reads in excess of 100 MPH. That leaves me needing a solution to put almost all of the Explorer's indicators in the ranger dash and relocate the high beam indicator. I didn't realize what all Dakota offered, I though they were mostly retrofits. Upon looking at their site they have a full aftermarket gauge set that I may be able to mount in the original locations behind the instrument panel, and they include almost all of the indicators I would need. So thanks for the idea!

Missed it previously but it looks like you retained the manual pedal assembly and removed the clutch pedal? Was it a fairly simple process? My truck was a manual but when I removed the assembly I just threw it in a box and didn't pay it any more attention. Was going to trade it with a guy that had auto and needed manual, but I think that deal fell through so I gotta make what I have work. Sucks cause I have two first gen assemblies available and both are manual. Thinking I might rig up a way to make the clutch pedal 2 piece so the lower piece bolts on cause I want to swap back to a stick someday and don't want to tear apart the dash to reinstall a clutch pedal.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

After much looking, I finally found a new old stock lexan body. These bodies haven't been made in a very long time. He had 2 of them, so I bought both. I can't wait to build an R/C replica of this truck.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

You just got me to thinking about one issue which has bugged me about my build from the start... Indicators! I'm doing the Explorer V8 swap keeping most of the Explorer's wiring and electronics, but I'm keeping the 86's dash. I am also planning to replace the speedometer with something that reads in excess of 100 MPH. That leaves me needing a solution to put almost all of the Explorer's indicators in the ranger dash and relocate the high beam indicator. I didn't realize what all Dakota offered, I though they were mostly retrofits. Upon looking at their site they have a full aftermarket gauge set that I may be able to mount in the original locations behind the instrument panel, and they include almost all of the indicators I would need. So thanks for the idea!

Missed it previously but it looks like you retained the manual pedal assembly and removed the clutch pedal? Was it a fairly simple process? My truck was a manual but when I removed the assembly I just threw it in a box and didn't pay it any more attention. Was going to trade it with a guy that had auto and needed manual, but I think that deal fell through so I gotta make what I have work. Sucks cause I have two first gen assemblies available and both are manual. Thinking I might rig up a way to make the clutch pedal 2 piece so the lower piece bolts on cause I want to swap back to a stick someday and don't want to tear apart the dash to reinstall a clutch pedal.

Gauges and indicators are a definite pain in the ass. I have way more work in making that cluster and wiring it than I did in swapping the engine in!


It's been a couple years since I did the pedal assembly, and am having trouble remembering. As I recall... I thought I was able to just undo an E-clip and pull that pedal off, and then reassemble. If I remember right, the brake pedal is welded onto a sleeve that fits the shaft, and then the clutch pedal has a bigger diameter and fits right over that sleeve.

I have a picture of it finished. You can probably just compare with what you have and see if what I am saying makes sense. I recall planning to cut the clutch pedal off, and then finding out I didn't need to.

Then I found this picture, and now I have no clue what I did. It looks like it is part of the pin. I mustt have just cut it off, and then shaped it on the bench grinder.

Actually... I am sure that's what I did. I found this picture:

Looks like I cut the pedal off, then shaped it round on the bench grinder, and when I assembled it, I actually put the "pin" (previously clutch pedal) in from the other direction.

Sometimes I can't believe how much I have forgotten about on this truck.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

I ordered new wheels yesterday.

15x4.5 front and 15x8 rear Torq Thrust D's. Also ordered a set of Mickey Thompson 28x11.4-15 E.T. Street, and 26x4.8-15 Mickey Thompson front runners. Can't wait to get them.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

I put my new wheels on. Looking groovy! The lettering really gives it a 70's street freak vibe. I'm digging it, man!

I also finished up the windshield washer hose, and the rear axle vent. All that's left is exhaust.

Edit: adding in what was done to the truck to get to this point.

I started building the motor back in 2006. It's a 89 5.0L roller cam block bored 0.030 over. KB pistons, 11:1 compression, 0.563 lift cam, TFS heads, RPM Air Gap intake, 670 Holley Street Avenger, MSD ignition, Crown Vic front accessory brackets, Advance Adapters headers, mounts and radiator. Transmission is a C4, manual valvebody, 3500 stall JW converter. 31-spline 8.8 with Moser axles, C-clip eliminators and Detroit Truetrac diff.

Interior has bench seat in metalflake vinyl, tall Lokar shifter, Autometer gauges, and a Dakota Digital gear/turn/high beam indicator.

Chassis wise it is mostly stock. I converted to manual steering up front and added 90/10 Competition Engineering drag shocks, and in the rear I have Competition Engineering Slide-a-link traction bars.

Body mods include shaved drip rails, shaved fuel doors, shave stake pockets, a few of the cab seams shaves, and F100 Ranger emblems and mirrors. Spun aluminum fuel tank in the front of the box. The tailgate also has the Ford script from a 40's tailgate replacing the block FORD letters it originally had.

 

[Robert_1967]

Looking good

the speed'o your using, is it a electric one or cable???

if it's electric, how does it hook up???



Robert




Sent with a Dell 5 days ago.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

It's an electric speedo. I'm using the stock 92 Ranger VSS, with the cable removed, and the Autometer sender epoxied into the end. I think I might have been able to just tap into the original VSS wiring, but decided to use the sender it came with just in case it had a different output type. That sender outputs the two signal wires for the speedo. And of course, the speedo also has a keyed-on power and ground. I liked the idea of a programmable electric speedo since I intend to run several different sizes of tires.

 

[FrankBoss]

Those wheels rock on that truck... hands down they look great.

FrankBoss

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

Thanks. I'm pretty happy with how they look. I can't wait to roll it outside to get some better shots of it, but there is just no way those tires would climb back up the icy slope. These pictures don't capture how good those tiny skinnies look up front. I actually think the little skinnies up front look cooler than the big meats in the back.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

There is still snow on the ground here, so I bought a new 8.5x20 trailer to I trailer it to the Draggins Rod & Custom show last weekend. It's the largest indoor car show in Saskatchewan.

I got 1st Place in the Small Block Street Machine class, against a bunch of 60's muscle cars.

This was my buddy from cold lake, Alberta's truck. 605 BBC with a blower.

 

[chazzone]

Congrats...

 

[Robert_1967]

I'll second that ^^^, Congratulations.

first show and first place, good job.



Robert




posted with a new paper clip and a set of headphones.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]