Trucks

[Iron Ranger]

If I'm not mistaken, all we have to do is swap the header and grille and remove the fender badges to make it a ranger.... (Other than the bedsides....) that's the only real difference. there may be a certain Mazda sponsored entity that comes into play, so we may have our cake and eat it too by leaving the Mazda badges on it. More on that later... other than that, the cab is identical, so any swap tips or parts we used will work on everybody's ranger as well. Our truck is a 2001 B2500, and we've actually thought about doing the swap to make it a ranger, but that's still undecided. I'm not sure it matters, other than the fact that some folks don't know that the two trucks are virtually the same, and we could do the swap and show that they're the same. There's so much cool tech to show that Im not sure it's as important to make it a Ranger and sacrifice something else... we don't have much time to "tell the story" so to speak.

Im glad you guys are interested in this..... The whole inspiration of this is the SVT 5.4 Supercharged ranger in 2002....(which seems to have disappeared into thin air) then of course, the email from Paul T (Iron Ranger) didn't hurt either.

We'll let you know when the first show airs.... it's a good one! There will be lots of explanation on the project goal, and the truck.

More soon!

KT.

KT>

Thanks again, it was my pleasure. I'm sure the guys here would've done the same thing 100x over, I just got lucky that I found your contact info(the website is a little tricky).

As I said, Jim and the members here deserved the request for a ranger build. Jim was grateful that I took the time to e-mail you guys, I figured it was the least I could do.

A V8 ranger is no easy feat, but when it's finished, it's well worth the late nights, bloody knuckles, Summit Racing orders, and eBay hunts!!

 

[chvlfrk]

If I'm not mistaken, all we have to do is swap the header and grille and remove the fender badges to make it a ranger.... (Other than the bedsides....) that's the only real difference. there may be a certain Mazda sponsored entity that comes into play, so we may have our cake and eat it too by leaving the Mazda badges on it. More on that later... other than that, the cab is identical, so any swap tips or parts we used will work on everybody's ranger as well. Our truck is a 2001 B2500, and we've actually thought about doing the swap to make it a ranger, but that's still undecided. I'm not sure it matters, other than the fact that some folks don't know that the two trucks are virtually the same, and we could do the swap and show that they're the same. There's so much cool tech to show that Im not sure it's as important to make it a Ranger and sacrifice something else... we don't have much time to "tell the story" so to speak.
Im glad you guys are interested in this..... The whole inspiration of this is the SVT 5.4 Supercharged ranger in 2002....(which seems to have disappeared into thin air) then of course, the email from Paul T (Iron Ranger) didn't hurt either.
We'll let you know when the first show airs.... it's a good one! There will be lots of explanation on the project goal, and the truck.
More soon!
KT.

===================================
PM sent with some ideas!

 

[Jim Oaks]

If I'm not mistaken, all we have to do is swap the header and grille and remove the fender badges to make it a ranger.... (Other than the bedsides....) that's the only real difference. there may be a certain Mazda sponsored entity that comes into play, so we may have our cake and eat it too by leaving the Mazda badges on it.

To me, the Ranger is more plentiful to enthusiasts out there that may be inspired by your story to do their own build than the Mazda is. But really, as long as you guys have emphasized that everything you're doing to the Mazda will work on a Ranger, it doesn't make a difference.

The whole inspiration of this is the SVT 5.4 Supercharged ranger in 2002

The Lightning Bolt:

I can't resist the temptation though. I really have to know.........





Does the Mazda go Zoom Zoom with the 4.6???




Just kidding.

 

[bcost882]

haha jim you deserve a homo point for that

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

The one weekend I miss watching Trucks and this happens...............I miss all the cool stuff!

 

[RangerRock]

I have to admit I have been a fan of Trucks! since the days of Stacey David was the hosting the show; Also being a member of TRS for about as long through the various server issues etc. Trucks has inspired several projects of mine that I have seemed to start and never finish, ususally lack of money sheer frustration, or sold. But seeing that Kevin and Ryan decided to start a RBV and intergrateing a modern modular motor, gives me a bit of hope i might actually be able to finally finish my own project, and help me with my decision of what direction I want to go.

Always wondered just how long it would be till a Ranger showed up on Trucks!.

Thanks again Kevin and Ryan, for showing RBVs some well deserved attention, and giveing their owners hope of makeing their simple compact pickups something to be admired and repected.

Too bad project S10k became HaulinS10 , would have been neat to see a battle of Streettrucks between Project S10K and Project ? (V8RBV)

 

[Jim Oaks]

haha jim you deserve a homo point for that

Sorry. I'm easily entertained.

 

[daniel3507]

God i love the Lightning Bolt. My favorite part of that truck (other than the Lightning motor of course) has always been those fat rear tires. I cant wait to watch the build

 

[RangerSkate28]

This is awesome! Jim should send tons of banners and shirts just to see what happens

 

[bcost882]

haha you see them rocking shirts and have decals all over the walls........ that would make me laugh, i bet all the chevy people would complain

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

who cares for chevy people

 

[Gotta_gofast]

A B4600 eh?

Kevin, I've got a quick question (I don't think your producers will mind)... When you finish a vehicle like this, do you show it off at any shows or meets? There's quite a few ranger enthusiasts who frequent car shows and cruises. It would be something special to meet up and line a strip or section with high performance rangers.

 

[Iron Ranger]

who cares for chevy people

I do.


How would it be a competition without an opponent?

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

I have to admit I have been a fan of Trucks! since the days of Stacey David was the hosting the show...

Shoot! I remember when it was Stacey and Mel, another guy!! Back before they had "block hosts".....shoot, back before they had a name for the block of automotive shows! Back in the TNN days! Back when they did a '99/00 brand new yellow dakota and did it up old school mopar style! I think Mel only lasted through the 1st season, then it was all Stacey from there on out. And I also think HairyHauler was first started in season 1 as well? Horsepower also had a seemingly constant Chevy vs. Ford battle between it's first hosts Joe(still host, ford guy) and Chuck(bigger guy, chevy guy, hasn't been there since the 'powerblock' name was applied to the shows)


Alot of folks seem to not know much about the Gen3 prerunner style truck that was built in the first couple seasons of Trucks!...I wanna say it was '03ish? Anyway, red gen3 2wd w/ Fabtech 5.5" and 33's and full fiberglass fenders. Was never completed on-air...only got like 3 episodes. I also keep thinking they did a yellow splash, but I may be thinking of the above mentioned Dakota or that S10k project. This ain't the first Ranger that's been done on TV....Xtreme did an AWESOME off roader in their first season too(with that hottttttttty Jessie). I wanna say it was called "Ranger Resurection"?

Too bad project S10k became HaulinS10 , would have been neat to see a battle of Streettrucks between Project S10K and Project ? (V8RBV)

Project: MazMarauder
Project: B4600 (custom machined aluminum emblems that mimic stock B2500 emblems, custom machined valve covers......I can see it now... )
Project: Rangerauder (sounds a little odd. lol)


But this comment from Kevin about "there may be a certain Mazda sponsored entity that comes into play", really has me thinking............that I honestly don't know of a specific mazda(non-rotory) aftermarket performance company other than "mazdaspeed"(in-house maz speedshop). Of course, I havn't looked either. Hmmmmm....


All in all, I really look forward to this build...no matter how it turns out or how aweful the paint scheme's gonna be in the end(lol). Even though some projects done by the "tv shops" I'm not 100% a fan of, I still enjoy always watching the shows and learn things and different ways to do things. Shoot, I now smear silocone with my finger on diff covers+housings or tcase halves because of Trucks! lol.


OH! And it BETTER not have ANYTHING to do with a damn Miata! Other than that circular emblem!

 

[organic]

I have to admit I have been a fan of Trucks! since the days of Stacey David was the hosting the show

And Danica was the host of Powerblock.