Tasteful mods / updates

[99 XLT]

Hello, all.

Just bought my second ranger. A 99 XLT 4x4 4.0 5speed. It's immaculate. The nicest truck I've ever owned.

I've been through the gauntlet of tuners and muscle cars. DSM, Fbodies, etc. I'm all down for mods, but at my age right now I need a solid commuter with tasteful accessories. So no lifts, no huge light bars, no painting the interior.

I like the relative stock look on trucks, but mods can be tasteful. I've been really considering the hurst shifter. That seems proper. I am gonna order some 235-75-15 tires. I got husky floor mats and wind / rain guards.

Any other recommendations?

 

[DILLARD000]

Guessing your not into replacing DomeLight with a Chandelier? If so I'm all out of ideas.

PS:
Welcome to the forum.
Lots of friendly knowledgable folk here.

 

[rumblecloud]

Those tires will fit nicely in the wells. What wheels?
Electronics would be a tasteful/useful add. Cameras maybe,
Clean up (remove) all the nameplate ID tags.

 

[Bronco648]

I'm an old fart and will soon acquire my sixth Ranger (an '85 RCLB). This will be a commuter as well as a 'light' work truck (gardening, landscaping, etc.). I'm not much on sound systems, interior lighting, mega cubic inches or custom paint (but, I do appreciate the workmanship). That said, I'm going to do a suspension drop and make the truck handle as well as it can (F & R sway bars, rear disc conversion). It'll be powered by a stock 2.8L with a carb and a slushbox. At this point, nothing's more fun, to me, than a vehicle that handles like it's on rails.

 

[bobbywalter]

 

[Eddo Rogue]

The older I get, the more I like to leave well enough alone, and prefer bone stock. Get a leveling kit, some good shocks and tires, and maybe upgrade the lighting a little bit. Maybe a K&N filter if you are willing to clean/oil it.

 

[superj]

i feel the same way as @Bronco648

i like handling more than light to light speed. make it go through the turns faster and you will have a lot more fun

 

[Curious Hound]

Place a towel or piece of plastic on the passenger seat to catch crumbs from donuts, fries, burgers, chicken, etc. And drips from ribs and wings while you are eating and driving. It makes cleanup much faster and easier. Best vehicle mod ever.

 

[DILLARD000]

Place a towel or piece of plastic on the passenger seat to catch crumbs from donuts, fries, burgers, chicken, etc. And drips from ribs and wings while you are eating and driving. It makes cleanup much faster and easier. Best vehicle mod ever.

Theres a marketing opportunity somewhere in that suggestion.

 

[09fx4guy]

I take the same approach as you (for the most part). You can "modify" the truck to refine it, not to beat on it. Take your time to research what you want to do while you get to know the truck, and get used to it. Figure out what it needs to be more comfortable / usable for you. I did get a little crazy with a light bar on the bed, but it is removable and is not often used.

The best thing would be to get a list of what it will need as far as maintenance items. What is worn and in need of replacement, and can be modified / changed while you are doing it.

Chances are the torsion bars have never been replaced, and if you plan to keep the truck, its not a bad idea. If you want to level out the truck, look up the pre-key mod. You should already have the proper keys, just order a set of #1 torsion bars from Tasca. A new set of shocks would help as well, decide what brand would best suit you. I like the Rancho shocks, Bilsteins are good as well.

I installed a Torsen L/S in the front axle, it already had one in the rear. It helps quite a bit in bad weather conditions.

Also, for the heck of it, make sure the radiator core support is still solid, they usually tend to rust out there.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I bought my 06 as a low mileage blank canvas. She was bone stock other then a radio upgrade. I never intended to lift it or alter the factory powertrain. The first thing I do with my trucks is to add gauges... always have. The A-pillar pod is from glowshift on amazon. I also used there gauges on this one. Some thing else I always do... is add a steering wheel cover and lace it on with paracord.

My new to me Bronco II is getting a set of Jegs electric gauges in a three gauge pod from Glowsift. There are many ways to get gauges in your truck...

I would check the door sticker and see what the factory size tire was and the gear ratio it has... I honestly think that would be the best set up for overall driveability. I think that truck probably had 16 inch wheels from the factory.

 

[Curious Hound]

Theres a marketing opportunity somewhere in that suggestion.

And.... a few minutes ago, I saw some guy on Facebook do a review on this. I'm always late with the great ideas.

 

[Bronco648]

The first thing I do with my trucks is to add gauges... always have.

I'm with you (and managed to forget to mention it in my post). Anything is better than the stupid idiot lights or idiot lights that masquerade as gauges. The more 'real' information the better. A-pillar pods seem to be few & far between for the 1st Gens. though. Maybe I'll whip up something to go in place of the ash tray or use the ash tray slot as a base for a gauge support.

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome to the site.

Fuzzy dice, Truck ballz, some people find them tasty....

Seriously though, CB, FRS, or HAM radio is a nice mod.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’ve gone a number of different ways with my trucks.

My F-150 is stock-ish. A lot has been upgraded/modded. Aside from the front bumper I’ve been building and that it sits higher than most of the others it’s age, it appears stock. Did a few little things to the motor, transmission came from a F-250 (ZF-5 swap), copper/nickel brake lines, upgraded brakes, aftermarket stereo… and the most important, heavier suspension. Built the leaf packs from a F-250 and put one ton rated coils in the front with helper shocks. Stock suspension was rather tired (and one leaf pack had a couple broken leaves). Heavy suspension makes it sit almost like it’s lifted. I needed the suspension, it was my work rig. Just kinda combined what I knew I’d need and what I wanted and mashed it together.

My Choptop (1989 Bronco II) I went a little more wild. Chopped top, roll cage, custom suspension lift (3” axle pivot drops and 3” coils, F-150 spring perches, custom extended control arms, custom leaf pack and F-150 drop shackles), simpler radio, pinned doors, 4.0 swap with headers, etc. Looks more like a Jeep than a Bronco II in the summer when I’ve run around with the doors off.

88 Bronco II is getting a resto-mod. Lots of stuff is getting modified, but the idea is to make everything appear like it’s been there since it rolled off the assembly line. Including extended radius arms.

My 00 green Ranger is getting a straight custom sleeper build. Some mods to a 302 EFI, valve body work on the auto transmission, custom lighting, custom interior, etc. Make it look nice and a but custom but stop short of having a blower poking through the hood basically.

One thing they all have, is window vents. I don’t care if they look tacky or whatever, I like being able to crack the windows in the rain without having it come in. I like having a CB as well.