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

[JoshT]

The diagram you posted confirms what I said, with a variation of 10° to 20° from horizontal. The seat back is at 25°. So the shoulder belt is actually at 95° or more relative to your spine. In your pic of your cage, where are your shoulders going to be? Compared to the horizontal bar... it may be optical illusion, but it looks to me that the bar is significantly below your shoulders, so would mean the belt would be more than 10° to 20° from horizontal (much less than 90 relative to the spine).

I can't answer that question for him, but IIRC he is using racing seats, not Ranger seats. That by itself would put his seating position lower than normal. Then he shows a few posts back that he was lowering the floor pan to get a lower seating position for roof clearance with his helmet.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I can't answer that question for him, but IIRC he is using racing seats, not Ranger seats. That by itself would put his seating position lower than normal. Then he shows a few posts back that he was lowering the floor pan to get a lower seating position for roof clearance with his helmet.

Yes, that all comes into play. I figured he knows what he is doing, his truck shows great attention to detail. I was giving info more for other people looking to do the same.

 

[holyford86]

Rewired all of my speakers, replaced the rca cables to my amps, and power/ground to my amps and power inverter. Went to just replace a broken rca cable and didnt like what I saw with anything else that I had previously done so it all got ripped out.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Rewired all of my speakers, replaced the rca cables to my amps, and power/ground to my amps and power inverter. Went to just replace a broken rca cable and didnt like what I saw with anything else that I had previously done so it all got ripped out.

Been there, done that. Sometimes it’s not even that anything is bad, it‘s just like, well, I have a better way to do that now…

 

[Rick W]

Rewired all of my speakers, replaced the rca cables to my amps, and power/ground to my amps and power inverter. Went to just replace a broken rca cable and didnt like what I saw with anything else that I had previously done so it all got ripped out.

Sounds good. The Missing Linc is an 87. Did you use the original 3-screw speakers in the dash? It sounds like you’ve got some great upgrades. I still have the original 3-hole speakers in the dash, original speakers behind the seat, and the original radio. It all works fine except the speakers sound really tin-y. Does anybody know a source for a quality speaker(s) or should I just go through the work of putting regular aftermarket speakers in it?

And an afterthought, just for information and a smile. I had a giant BMW for a while, and the technology would actually turn the radio volume up as the speed increased, and vice versa when you slow down. It was pretty cool. Most people don’t realize these Rangers have a very similar technology. It’s “suspension volume adjust.”

Think of the speakers clockwise as one, two, three, and four. Before I cleaned everything up, when I rode down the road and hit a bump, maybe two and three stayed on. Then when I hit another bump number one would come on (that’ll scare you because you had the volume up and it was right in your face when it came on). If you went over a speed bump the two that were on would reverse to the two that were off, etc., etc., etc….

I’m almost sorry I fixed it, all but the one speaker. My dog Lincoln loved it when we rode down the road with the windows open, perched on the armrest. He alternated between barking at pedestrians and spinning his head to which speaker popped on!

 

[Curious Hound]

"Suspension volume adjust"

I've had that feature. Didn't really appreciate it.

 

[holyford86]

Been there, done that. Sometimes it’s not even that anything is bad, it‘s just like, well, I have a better way to do that now…

I had a better way to do it then, I was just stupid. (that last part may not have changed) I'll give an example: amp remote wire is 6 feet long and was comprised of 4 pieces of wire, one joint taped, two heat shrunk, and an extra piece of heat shrink just hanging out on the wire and not shrunk, not entirely sure why. I've been going through section by section and revising/updating all of my added wiring as I go, I've been able to simplify and improve quite a few things. Next on the list is everything on the driver side of the engine compartment, then I'll move on to everything in the frame rail at a later date, it never ends.

Sounds good. The Missing Linc is an 87. Did you use the original 3-screw speakers in the dash? It sounds like you’ve got some great upgrades. I still have the original 3-hole speakers in the dash, original speakers behind the seat, and the original radio. It all works fine except the speakers sound really tin-y. Does anybody know a source for a quality speaker(s) or should I just go through the work of putting regular aftermarket speakers in it?

I replaced them with a decent quality set of 4 inch and blew them in about a week, then I crammed some also decent quality 5.25 speakers in there and haven't blown them yet, it's been about 10 years. Just stuffed them under the lip of the dash and caught one screw, they don't vibrate or anything, they're pinched enough to prevent that, not ideal but not completely terrible I suppose. I have a 4 channel component amp pushing 50w RMS to the speakers too.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Sounds good. The Missing Linc is an 87. Did you use the original 3-screw speakers in the dash? It sounds like you’ve got some great upgrades. I still have the original 3-hole speakers in the dash, original speakers behind the seat, and the original radio. It all works fine except the speakers sound really tin-y. Does anybody know a source for a quality speaker(s) or should I just go through the work of putting regular aftermarket speakers in it?

And an afterthought, just for information and a smile. I had a giant BMW for a while, and the technology would actually turn the radio volume up as the speed increased, and vice versa when you slow down. It was pretty cool. Most people don’t realize these Rangers have a very similar technology. It’s “suspension volume adjust.”

Think of the speakers clockwise as one, two, three, and four. Before I cleaned everything up, when I rode down the road and hit a bump, maybe two and three stayed on. Then when I hit another bump number one would come on (that’ll scare you because you had the volume up and it was right in your face when it came on). If you went over a speed bump the two that were on would reverse to the two that were off, etc., etc., etc….

I’m almost sorry I fixed it, all but the one speaker. My dog Lincoln loved it when we rode down the road with the windows open, perched on the armrest. He alternated between barking at pedestrians and spinning his head to which speaker popped on!

View attachment 91481

Someone is making adapters for the speakers in the dash, think @Peter Griffin just did it in his Bronco II. I usually shoot for Pioneer, Alpine, or Rockford Fosgate for speakers.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I had a better way to do it then, I was just stupid. (that last part may not have changed) I'll give an example: amp remote wire is 6 feet long and was comprised of 4 pieces of wire, one joint taped, two heat shrunk, and an extra piece of heat shrink just hanging out on the wire and not shrunk, not entirely sure why. I've been going through section by section and revising/updating all of my added wiring as I go, I've been able to simplify and improve quite a few things. Next on the list is everything on the driver side of the engine compartment, then I'll move on to everything in the frame rail at a later date, it never ends.



I replaced them with a decent quality set of 4 inch and blew them in about a week, then I crammed some also decent quality 5.25 speakers in there and haven't blown them yet, it's been about 10 years. Just stuffed them under the lip of the dash and caught one screw, they don't vibrate or anything, they're pinched enough to prevent that, not ideal but not completely terrible I suppose. I have a 4 channel component amp pushing 50w RMS to the speakers too.

Can’t say I haven’t been in the same boat, lol.

 

[Rick W]

I checked the air in 23 tires today, & that’s only half the fleet! Some were high and some were low. I’m so cheap I was trying to think of how to transfer them, but I had a quarter burning a hole in my pocket so I just bled the high ones and put a little air in the low ones.

I had the little portable compressor out because I sold that trailer and one tire was low. I bought it for 100 bucks, stole the axle, put a harbor freight axle and springs underneath it, threw in about $30 of paint and pressure treated strips, and a $10 toolbox. I got $550. That’s why I was so crazy with just bleeding the air out..

Then Lincoln and I hopped in The Missing Linc and drove to Kennesaw/Northwest Atlanta to get a lease signed, and then got the owner to sign it.

I have a better picture of the master on his throne with his chauffeur.

Then we drove over to my sweet pea’s and she made a fantastic salad. (And if I don’t get out of his blog she’s never gonna talk to me again!)

 

[Peter Griffin]

Someone is making adapters for the speakers in the dash, think @Peter Griffin just did it in his Bronco II. I usually shoot for Pioneer, Alpine, or Rockford Fosgate for speakers.

Yes Sir, hear about them here and ordered them off Etsy and they work perfectly!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1342708358/ford-rangerbronco-ii-dash-speaker?ref=yr_purchases

 

[Rick W]

Just stuffed them under the lip of the dash and caught one screw, they don't vibrate or anything, they're pinched enough to prevent that, not ideal but not completely terrible I suppose.

I appreciate your response and I appreciate your enthusiasm. i’ll consider it. But I have to be careful what I do so I don’t compromise the rust oleum exterior and the scrap toolbox light bar….

 

[Rick W]

Grand slam today!

I got the alert from the pull a part that they had an 88 Signature Town Car (like Ole Blue). Mine is pristine, but they have not made a fuel sending unit for the electronic dash models since the mid 90s. I was just about to install a universal with a gauge under the dash (which I hate). Soooo, I gathered my tools and Lincoln, and we hopped in The Missing Linc and went with our hopes up, but managing expectations (there is a guy up north who rebuilds them, but it is an eight month backlog). For the last few years, I put a sticky note on the windshield next to my sticky note for oil changes, writing down the mileage so I could fill up every 150 or 200 miles (It’s always been hard to keep that sticky note calibrated). I don’t want to say that these things are rare, but you have to travel down 100 mile road paved with hens teeth to find one! You can’t even begin to imagine my elation when I pulled this out:

First home run! I can’t wait to try it, but it’s the cleanest one I’ve ever seen. My luck, the gas tank is full, so I have to burn off 100 miles before I can try.

Second home run: I’m a real estate broker, so you know I talk out of both sides of my mouth. While I claimed my town cars are pristine, they’re probably more like 95%, but that’s after 27 years (both owners passed, and both the TCs we’re in climate controlled garages for over 20 years in the middle). The 88 had a ding in the back trim, and a tiny crack in the long lens, from a helpful elderly lady at Kroger with a shopping cart. I covered the ding with a red line/blue line flag. I had a spare that was perfect but it was from the wrong year, and I just haven’t gotten around to swapping it. Today, my target had this:

A little elbow grease and polish (I giggle in anticipation).

I pulled out a few other trinkets. There was a brand new Michelin tire as a spare. When I checked the date code, it had to be the original spare with the car from 1988. I passed.

Then a good day turned into a magical day. You can rent golf carts at our pull a parts, which I actually need. After I get what I went after, I cruise around looking for what they had for Ranger pick up trucks and other eye candy. This was the selection:

Absolutely rust free Bronco II. The interior was the same color as my 87, but I just didn’t need anything.

Again rust free, I really had my eyes on the perfect back bumper to match the 87. The one I have has a lot of surface rust.

Also rust free:

Third home run: I didn’t realize till a short while ago that the 87 had a later model bumper on it. And then I ran across this: an absolutely pristine straight as an arrow 93 bumper that matches the current 87 truck bumper.

Grand slam: When I put the Lincoln grille into the 87 Ranger grille, my 87 grille was in pretty poor condition, which is another reason I didn’t mind cutting it up. I don’t know if I’ll ever redo it, but I found this for $30:

(You’re all supposed to cheer now, maybe do the wave)

I also got enough nuts bolts screws clips to fill a big pickle jar. It takes constant vigilance to establish and maintain a shed of miracles.

And, finally, the last shall be first

This was in the trunk of the Lincoln. It’s the second Bible I found, and I have also retrieved several flags over the years. Whenever I spot one or the other, I take it for reuse, re-distribution, or proper disposal. This one is in great shape, and I’m going to put it next to my bedside instead of watching whatever on the tube* as I doze off. (*ask your granddaddies).

He was obviously watching over me with with my silly hobbies today. All His blessings. & the day is only half gone!!!

 

[scotts90ranger]

Got the '90 washed off and in front of the shop awaiting the Amazon man with my battery terminals, will change those then back it in the shop to weld up the muffler...

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Did an oil change late yesterday afternoon, keeping a sample, and today sent off to Blackstone for an oil analysis kit. We'll see how the 4.0 is holding up at just under 124,000 miles, the last 18,000 of them on synthetic oil. The Ranger is (knock on wood) running smoothly and quietly.

Anyone here interested in the oil analysis results? If any of you are, I'll post them in a separate thread.