Street Rod Ranger

[Tominator]

Nice build and that video sounds so sweet!

Your girl friend has good taste....her idea for a paint job looks familiar...

 

[ZMan]

sounds good, you really live out in the sticks don't you? lol.

 

[Josh40601]

digging the build! Subscribed!

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

sounds good, you really live out in the sticks don't you? lol.

Yeah, I guess Saskatchewan is out in the sticks. It's 85% of the size of Texas and has only 1,000,000 people.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

I'm sorry to disappoint, but I didn't even take one good picture this break. All cellphone rubbish.

Got my new front bumper on. After months of trying, ordering, discovering they are on back order, and finally being told discontinued... I gave up on getting the correct M12 bumper bolts. The 1/2in bolts were a close enough press fit that they didn't pucker the area around, that was my main concern.

I installed the gauge sender in the tank.

Doesn't show up much in this picture, but I disassembled and polished the aluminum on the wiper motor before reinstalling it.

The alternator I had on it was an earlier style. It didn't plug into the stock Ranger wiring, so I did some researching and found that the alternator for a 94-95 5.0 Mustang fits the Ranger wiring, and the Crown Vic front accessory mounts I am using. Turns out it was only partially true. The large case 3G alternator was too big to pivot properly, so I had to do some clearancing on the bracket, but a couple hours work and I had it working. Changing alternator is a bitch on this thing. If you look closely, the bottom alternator pivot bolt is very long, and threads into the cylinder head. Now look at the distance to the radiator. Not coming out! I have to pull off a bunch of other junk with it.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

I picked up the box just a few days ago. I wanted to wire the back end of the truck before I installed the box. But before I could plug in and clamp the harness, I needed to know where the main connector plugged in, so I rewired the underhood area to the firewall plug. Hardly picture worthy to see a wiring harness, but I did use all new loom, and clamp it in the factory locations, using the metal insulated clamps from PA.

With the box in place I moved to the interior. The carpet went in easier than I expected. Somewhere in there I wired the under carpet area. That had the courtesy light switches, courtesy light, cargo lamp, and rear speakers in it, I eliminated the seat belt alarm, and power seat circuits.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

Started cleaning up the dash. I removed all the inner structure and ductwork, and got down to just the outer shell.

A few pages back you'll remember mention of dropping the truck's frame on the dash, busting it. I did some reconstructive surgery, and glued a new cap on.

The fit was actually horrible, and I spent about 2hours filing and trimming to get the vents back in right. It's not perfect, but it looks OK.

I dyed it blue, with the same dye I used for the door panels.

Cellphone picture doesn't really do it justice, but it is what it is. That's how she's sitting now.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

I installed the tailgate this weekend using all new hardware from LMC. Latch, hinges, cables, etc. This will all need to be undone, but it was nice to check adjustment of everything.

Also installed a new hood latch. The zinc plating on the old one was nasty. Everything else is new, and it looked nasty in comparison.

Same with the coolant overflow and windshield washer reservoir. I installed a new one because the old one was stained.

The fuel tank is finally home for the last time. I drilled the hole in the floor, and installed the grommets for the gauge sender, and the fuel line.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

New pads on the pedals

Put a few of the new parts on the front just to check the fit. obviously needs to all come back off.

And here's a few better pics of stuff done prior. I finally remembered to take a real camera home, not just my cell.

 

[ZMan]

Its really coming along!

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

Thanks, I'm really excited with the progress. The build is going on 6 years, so I'm really happy to see the end in sight. Still a lot left, but what a change to see the box on.

I don't think I mentioned the suble modifications to the box. Both boxsides are new. The fuel door and stake pocket holes are shaved, and the the F O R D block lettering on the tailgate were replaced with a Ford script from a 1940 Ford tailgate.

 

[-Nathan-]

looks so sharp and clean.

 

[Tominator]

VERY impressive build! Gonna be better than new!

 

[rangergt89]

Nice work Sir!!

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

I finally got to the stage where I could hook up the battery terminals and see what worked. Initially the truck wouldn't crank, but I traced that down to the clutch switch, which is long since gone. I just had to jump two wires together. It cranks, and I have ignition. I kinda have fuel pump, but it occurred to me on the drive home last night that it can't be right. I was all excited that the fuel pump ran for a few seconds when the key was on, and then shut off... just like a stock vehicle. I only fired the truck up for a few seconds to know ignition was working, so I thought everything was good. I retained the ECM hoping that it would operate the fuel pump even without the other sensors. Last night I got thinking that on my set up the pump shouldn't be cutting out. So next time I am home I will have to do something different there. I will likely have to just run key-on power to the fuel pump relay. If anyone has suggestions of the best way to do this, I'm open to suggestions. I know there's a few ways to skin the cat.

Most everything else works. Horn, heater fan, lights, open-door buzzer, washer pump. The only chassis electrical thing I have found that doesn't work is the wiper motor, but the delay box in the interior is clicking. I just ran out of time to track it all down yesterday.

I haven't touched wiring the gauges yet.