Unicorn Parts

[Brain75]

i wouldnt mind a clockspring out of a 2nd gen with cruise. also if theres a carbon fiber radio bezel, the ultra rare carbon fiber monoleafs, or a blue splash tailgate lol.

I had to come back and re-read and answer a little more direct.... a clockspring out of a 2nd would be as common as grass to me... is it really a unicorn part in your neck of the woods?.... and it you have your generations mixed and really mean a 3rd gen (93-97), then it is as common as grains of sand....
All the 2nd gen bronco ii's in the yard have cruise and a couple of the rangers do. I'd guess 90% of the 3rd gen rangers (and the yard's ranger supply is mostly 3rd gen anyhow) have cruise. Explorer wise I see more of the newer ones, so give them a 'mostly pass' as they have nothing of use to me with a 2nd gen. (The explorers tend to be wrecked more - women drivers.)

I'm in farm country. There is nothing but corn, corn, cows, and more corn from here to KS and NE state lines and beyond. The trucks here are farm trucks, I don't think I have ever seen an STX or a Splash even once in the yards close - so here it would definitely be a unicorn and I will keep an eye out, but don't hold your breath.

I also don't see any raised trucks for what that is worth. Farmers mostly buy F150/250 but rarely they go all out and get a tonner or a ranger. The agronomists (the guys who advise farmers on what fields need pesticides/extra fertilizer/etc) all drive Rangers or Colorado's or such - vehicles just big enough to get a 4 wheeler in the bed.

 

[RobbieD]

.... a clockspring out of a 2nd would be as common as grass to me... is it really a unicorn part in your neck of the woods?.... and it you have your generations mixed and really mean a 3rd gen (93-97), then it is as common as grains of sand....

There's some overlap involved with the interior, which can add confusion on top of confusion.

The "second version" interior came in with the second generation Ranger and Bronco II in the 1989 models (revised front sheet metal, grille and bumper). Then when the body changed substantially to the third generation with the 1993 models (the "rounded aero styling"), the same interior design ("second version") carried over for 1993 and 1994.

When the B2 died in 1990 and the Explorer took its place, it ran this same "second version" dash (and steering wheel) for the 1991 to 1994 Explorer models.

The 1995 models, Ranger and Explorer, introduced the "third version" dash, as air bag were added in that model year (driver only at first). I don't know if much changed exterior-wise (all of mine, past and current, are '94 and earlier), but besides the bag this year (1995) was the change to OBD2 and started GEM control of some functions.

That, is my take on it, and others may not agree, especially on the truck's generations. I've never owned one '95 and newer, so I just don't know much about those trucks. I stopped buying new after '94; I simply like the older ones much mo better.

There are small variations in this "second version" dash over the years it was used, 1989 to 1993. If I remember right from rebuilding a steering column years ago, I think the clockspring contacts and track card may be different between cruise and non-cruise trucks. Otherwise, except for such variations, I have found that pretty much everything with the dash and column is interchangeable within this period

 

[Brain75]

I took my non-tilt steering column back for core value today (was going to town anyhow), and asked about the center section of a front axle - same price as a full axle $115. Got a more detailed printout of the prices than the website list - after I get it scanned in I will change post #1 with the full list. Picked up a pair of seatbelt sockets (the female halves that bolt to the floor) since the swap from bench to bucket left me always groping around on the floor looking for the connector end. And after all that gave the yard a quick skim... the newest addition is a 3rd gen regular cab with a 7' bed.... the first 7' I've seen since I started going to the 'yards.

Did not scour all the vehicles for an axle since I wasn't sure if you got one in the 2nd $80 sale lil_blue or how you felt about the high price...

I consider getting that LSD axle and trading for my open axle, but not sure how much I care about it today (since I just replaced the gasket and gear oil). Plus I think that one is sitting axle on the stands so I would have to drag a hoist over and move the stands to the frame... kinda cold to be laying on the bare ground muckin about.

I completely forgot your sending units apathy, but the one and only 1st gen with dual tanks is still there and not going anywhere soon... It is an 84, so cross your fingers (I took a pic of it's tag last time I was there).

FWIW, the non-cruise/non-tilt steering wheel only has a 2 conductor track card and the tilt/cruise wheel I just put in has a 3 conductor track card (cruise buttons).

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So… things happened. There was two more wheelbarrow sales. I made it to none. Various reasons. It’s unfortunate, there looked to be a set of 06 superduty axles there. Those would have been real nice. There were no new RBVs that came in since I was last there that would have what I need, so I’m still after a TTB D-35 with 4.10 gears. Money is a bit tight at the moment though.

 

[Brain75]

Which reminds me, I need a 4.0 OHV with a manual transmission computer for an early (OBD1) Ranger/Explorer… I’m running an auto trans computer in my Choptop and it’s not exactly happy about that. I have a persistent high idle and a persistent CEL because it doesn’t “see” the transmission (shift and O/D lockup error codes).

One of the few that I touched today was a 91 or 92 ranger (I think it was a '91) with a 4.0, I am only half fairly sure it was manual, but I am sure it had cruise and AC (I know that doesn't help you at all)..... depending on how hard of a unicorn part that is for you I could check that one again for trans option and see if the computer is unmolested.

No need to worry about money, I don't plan on running back tomorrow, I have no cores to return now and nothing dragging me back to town so no need to go back in the cold.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

One of the few that I touched today was a 91 or 92 ranger (I think it was a '91) with a 4.0, I am only half fairly sure it was manual, but I am sure it had cruise and AC (I know that doesn't help you at all)..... depending on how hard of a unicorn part that is for you I could check that one again for trans option and see if the computer is unmolested.

No need to worry about money, I don't plan on running back tomorrow, I have no cores to return now and nothing dragging me back to town so no need to go back in the cold.

So, I forgot about that one, but no, I have not come up with a computer either yet…

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

I really enjoyed reading this thread. I hope it stays alive.

 

[Brain75]

hey lil_blue, I think we have a fan club started.... LOL

 

[Brain75]

I do have to say, this group is a lot more generous with "Likes" than FTE - 900+ posts there and I have 22 likes on 11 posts... you have to have the most insightful, helpful, "ahhhh haa" kinda posts to get a like over there...


~780 posts here and I have ~550 likes.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

551

 

[Brain75]

lol, too funny.

 

[MT_PLS]

What is FTE?

 

[Brain75]

Ford Trucks Enthusiasts... used to be a different url something like fordtruckenthusiasts or something, but the guy who ran it sold it to Internet Brands in 2012 or 13 ish and now it is ford-trucks.com..... .they have a classics (1948-56) that I was pretty active in, and a ranger section which has like 4 people who should just come over here to TRS.

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

I'll speak for myself I don't know about anyone else.
I give a like to content I enjoy reading. I did 20 years in prison so I learn from a lot of what I read. And I enjoy it.
I say keep going guys.

 

[Brain75]

Reviving this thread to put out a call to all for anyone wanting hard to find "Unicorn" stuff... I plan on going back now that the weather is decent again (windy but at least above freezing during daylight hours).

Probably not the last couple days this week, but maybe this weekend or tuesday I am thinking I will head back and look for my own radiator upgrade, axle upgrade, etc.
I'm going to add a maybe useful / maybe useless bit - I took a walking youtube quickie inventory of each row. Problem was I did this the last time I had to go to town and I had time to scope... that was 2/28 so long enough ago that some of this might be totally gone now.

Notes:
Rows 2 & 3 are missing almost all vehicles, they are short rows. When I go next Row 2 & 3 will have all new vehicles but who knows what they will be (they will be Fords/Mercury).
Row 4 could very well be GONE now since this is more than a full month later.

and the worst news - up till now row 2 and 3 had almost all the rangers that I was looking at and picking from all fall/winter so you aren't gonna see a ton of rangers in these vids.

Here's a playlist link to the first 10 rows of Fords and the 2 sideways / permanent add ons - they have a whole 40's truck section way out back with the semi's but most of those are pretty rough lookin as well. All the Mazda's even though the B is a Ranger are in the foreign section so if you are drooling for a mazda part it wont be in the vids.

Junkyard 2025.02.28

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