What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[Blmpkn]

Looks great

Thanks! Can't wait to do some mud season exploring up in the mountains now. Only a few weeks away.

 

[Dirtman]

I threw a bird feeder at the 2000 and walked away... sometimes "free" isn't worth the cost.

 

[Blmpkn]

yeah but now what are the birds gonna eat out of you jerk?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

The never ending issue I have is it require gas every three or four weeks. I did almost open the hood and check fluids today but it might rain

 

[Dirtman]

yeah but now what are the birds gonna eat out of you jerk?

The bird seed on the hood? To be honest no birds ever ate out of it anyway. Just squirrels. Normal birds are afraid of my guinea hens. Them is some jerks.

 

[Snoranger]

Normal birds are afraid of my guinea hens. Them is some jerks.

Can you blame them??? You’re putting out food to try to attract other birds.
If you were out trying to pick up another woman, your girlfriend/wife/whatever would be mad at you.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My red Ranger got put to work a bit, shuttled between my property and my parents a couple times to cut some burn barrels and then put them back in storage, then I loaded up the now empty oxygen cylinder plus a bunch of scrap. The one local scrap yard also has an attached welding supply shop, so figured I’d make it a two-fer in the morning. Truck looks like Sanford & Son right now

 

[Rick W]

Oh wise ones...

1987 2.9 5sp manual 4WD short short. 7.5/345 open rear. OEM hubs

Question: What is the wheel center bore? It’s my understanding the 4WD require a larger center bore on the wheels. Same front and back? Some sources places say 70.5, some 71, and some 83.

HELP! & thanks!

 

[Uncle Gump]

According to the Tech Article they are 70.3 - 70.5 depending on manufacture.

Ford Ranger Wheel Fitment Guide – The Ranger Station

The ProComp wheels I bought for my truck have a 83mm bore.... they certainly work... but are lug centric and take a bit to ensure they get lined up properly on the wheel studs.

 

[Rick W]

@Uncle Gump THANK YOU!!!!

I found a dozen references that said it had to be larger, but it doesn’t seem like any of those references actually tell you the measurement. My measurements came up with 83, but I learned a long time ago not to experiment when there are experts available who know the answer.

I have a set of Lincoln turbine wheels from my 1978 Mark V with good big tires, but they are 5 x 5 wheels so I would need a wheel adapter. I’m still playing with all this in my head, and I have said before, I’m trying to do it on the cheap. A set of wheel adapters is the same cost as swapping the tires over on a different rim, and that’ll also set the tires out just a hair which I think I would like. I’ve used wheel adapters before with good luck, and I’m not going to be climbing mountains or doing anything real stressful with this mud bug.

Thanks again!

 

[Rick W]

Ok, I sanded the 87 4wd after 2 coats, for the last time I hope, and I taped off the split to paint the black.

I tried to eyeball the tape. Yeah, between my failing eyesight and shaky hands, it wasn’t pretty! So I made this cheater. On one side I can run it on the inside of the wheel well with a sharpie through the hole, and then I sanded out an angle on the other side to fit in the notch that runs along the bottom of the truck to stitch the low line. Sweet success!

After that, running the tape was easier. I used PVC electrical tape for the wheel wells, and some decent cheap chinese auto tape for the long runs,

Considering the level of sophistication on this paint job, I didn’t want to just use a tack rag. Instead I used this dustpan broom that has real horse hair, that I made out of a broken pushbroom about 45 years ago. I had to replace the handle once, which is why it has that modern zip tie. My brother still has the one I made from the other half of the broom.

On the red vs black on the cab, the votes were for the red, but I forgot to mention that the redhead has 51% of the votes, so the vertical surfaces went black, and I’m doing something custom on the roof before I put the running lights and beacon on it.

I got all the black on it, and I touched up the red a little bit. It was too dark to take a picture. I won’t pull the tape off ‘til I’m sure there are no bare spots, probably tomorrow afternoon. I’ve been working on the lights and wiring a little bit too. That’s for the next chapter.

EDIT: yes, I still have the broom handle too. And, I’m sorry about the vote, but you should see the Redhead’s “ LIKE,” whew!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So I ran up to the combo scrap yard/weld shop this morning to find it was now just a weld shop.

So I went up to another scrap yard and then had to come back to the weld shop to get the oxygen filled. Came home, put the oxygen away and that was the end of the adventure with the Red Ranger today. Starting to think of calling it “lil Red”

 

[MikeG]

Hauled a log splitter to deal with the aftermath of the Great Texas Ice Age.

Need I mention that a log splitter powered by a gas motor beats the !#@$@#$%$#%@#%@$% out of swinging a maul.... even got a little work out of my son.....

 

[2drxploder]

@Rick W "lookin good lusceee!"

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Hauled a log splitter to deal with the aftermath of the Great Texas Ice Age.

Need I mention that a log splitter powered by a gas motor beats the !#@$@#$%$#%@#%@$% out of swinging a maul.... even got a little work out of my son.....

Yeah, I split a lot of cords of wood with a 4 lb sledge and a couple splitting wedges. Was always fun when the wedge would bounce out because the wood was too wet or when you buried three or so in a round and it still wasn’t budging. Gas powered beats it hands down. Dad got a 22 ton rated and it’s impressive what even that can do.