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

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I am too, but I always seem to have plenty of time and money to restore these little trucks. I've found that parts are common and cheap.So I go to the junkyard and look around for upgrades and replacement parts. Slowly but surely, my old Ranger is beginning to look new again.

I know how that goes. I mentally justify it because even though it takes years, I’m spending a fraction of the amount it would be to buy a new truck.

 

[Lefty]

I know how that goes. I mentally justify it because even though it takes years, I’m spending a fraction of the amount it would be to buy a new truck.

They say that if you buy used all of your life, you will save about a 1/4 of a million on payments and interest.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

does your 2011 have roll stability control? RSC does not play well with limited slip axles which may explain why you can't find any.

Not as far as I know. The truck is an XLT, but it isn't loaded with a lot of bells and whistles compared with some I've seen. I'm not spending a lot of time and effort to find a limited-slip rear either. Probably a safe bet that few 2010–2011 Rangers had one.

 

[Ranger850]

Thanks. I must say that the advice given here has been impeccable. I have learned a lot, but as long as I am questing for other parts, I will continue to search for a LS. A new old Ranger arrived at the U-View attachment 75536Pull today. I'm driving out there in a few hours. I'm going with another Ranger owner. The quest is part of the fun.

What grill is that in the Single Cab Ranger?
Looks ... different

 

[rubydist]

My understanding is that all the 10 and 11 Ranger trucks had RSC which is why they eliminated the FX4 and the limited slip rear axles from those years.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

They say that if you buy used all of your life, you will save about a 1/4 of a million on payments and interest.

That’s probably true now with buying just two new vehicles compared to a life time of buying and fixing used vehicles. The interest on a new vehicle is freckin stupid! I try to save up and buy everything out right instead of financing. Yeah it takes a little longer to get whatever it is, but we save tons in interest payments.

For example, the ranger that I’m building right now. I have invested something like $5000 maybe $6000 into including a new trans and 5 tires with rims. A new or even slightly used ranger is $35,000 or more. My ranger is going to be superior in ride quality and durability but won’t have that nice “new feelin” just yet. Not until I replace all the interior stuff at least. But the new ones are way faster.

 

[97RangerXLT]

All I did to the Ranger, was turn it around in the driveway, in preparation for the next round of front suspension tuning.

But, as part of my garage cleaning effort, I used up some extra materials. My little roll-around seat had broken a month ago. I built a much more robust replacement. Then I added a shelf under a work table I built a couple years ago.

The cheap, broken thing.
View attachment 75460

My replacement.
View attachment 75461

That will give you wafflebutt...

AJ

 

[ekrampitzjr]

My understanding is that all the 10 and 11 Ranger trucks had RSC which is why they eliminated the FX4 and the limited slip rear axles from those years.

I'll check this. But the 2011 brochure still listed a limited-slip rear as an option, and the owner's manual also mentions it in the maintenance pages (type of fluid, etc.). Now we have a mystery...

 

[Angry Possum]

I just installed the new rear Taillights. Easy peasy.
They look nice. I may get the 3157 LED Switchback Light Bulbs.

Just bought a pair of 3157 LED Switchback bulbs on eBay. The seller is in NY. Good price too.

 

[sgtsandman]

Certain LSDs are listed as compatible with

does your 2011 have roll stability control? RSC does not play well with limited slip axles which may explain why you can't find any.

Some limited slips claim to be compatible with that. Whether they really are might be a different story.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Haven’t got to working on one of my Rangers yet. Everyone else’s vehicles keep getting in the way. Mom’s vehicle is running better, though I’m still kind of inclined to at least clean the solenoids for the VVT. Dad’s Ranger is making a clicking/clunking noise. I’m suspecting sway bar related, but I’ll have to do some checking. Think the one transmission line might be starting to leak too. And I still have to do something about replacing the steering box in my F-150.

Then last night I got a call from the GF, her car won’t start. She said it was fine going to work and when she came out it wouldn’t turn over. Some guy there looked at it but didn’t know what to suggest. Of course I had doctor appointment and therapy today and even without that would need a ride to get out there to look at it, so yeah. Not really sure what to tell her, she can’t afford to tow it to a garage and have them fix it after having a heater core put in (requires the dash to be pulled and only the GM one fit properly so that was like $800), front calipers seized, tie rod went bad and a couple other issues this year plus she was out of work for two months with a broken foot. I’d see if I could find an fix the problem if I could get out there but it’s a little beyond where I’m currently capable of driving to and still be functional.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Found the ever elusive 4wd manual shifter boot and bezel for a m5od at the junkyard outside of town. They’re filthy but are in good shape. Probably gonna build a little metal bezel to securely mount the shifter boots to the plastic bezel though.

 

[Lefty]

What grill is that in the Single Cab Ranger?
Looks ... different

The inspiration came from those early T birds. I epoxied a couple Ford Explorer grills together to create a vintage egg crate style. Two schools of thought seem to dominate automotive design. One is creases. The other is curves. The rear half of the step side Edge seems to be all about curves, so I decided to be consistent and swapped the old creased Ford Edge bonnet and installed a standard Ranger hood with a simple "power bulge." I blacked out the headlights too, going from rectangular to round.

 

[Bill]

I drove it up to Placerville. It was running fine until the trip back when I noticed the idle wasn't decreasing like it should between shifts, sometimes increasing. I'm sure it has something to do with cleaning the throttle body yesterday. I did the basic checks and cleaned the IAC valve while I was checking things. I still have the problem. I've read a few posts on various forums stating throttle body cleaner messes up the throttle position sensor. I think I'm going to order a bluetooth OBD2 scanner so I can see what the sensors are doing.

 

[racsan]

I drove it up to Placerville. It was running fine until the trip back when I noticed the idle wasn't decreasing like it should between shifts, sometimes increasing. I'm sure it has something to do with cleaning the throttle body yesterday. I did the basic checks and cleaned the IAC valve while I was checking things. I still have the problem. I've read a few posts on various forums stating throttle body cleaner messes up the throttle position sensor. I think I'm going to order a bluetooth OBD2 scanner so I can see what the sensors are doing.

Check for a vacuum leak, I don’t remember details of your truck but I had a 93 4.0 that did that, ended up being the fuel rail gasket. It had pulled in at the front & rear. I had pictures but they are on photobucket and its been so ling since I quit using them Im not sure they exist or how to access them now. I probably discussed it all here but its been many years ago (10-ish?)