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

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, it snowed until about 1 or so around here, then I had to run into town for my parents and after I got back started tinkering with the green Ranger again. Couple odds and ends, then I took a deep breath and cut my factory headlight harness. Snipped the turn signal ends out and installed a Weatherpack connector should I ever have need of going back to factory, then the pigtail for the new turn signals. Got both sides together and tested both sides with the new lights. Have to do a little bit of loom work, then the last of the front clip can go together for good.

Finally turned on the stereo in the Ranger just because I could and man, I miss that… need to get this truck done…

Was about to boldly push forward on getting the front clip together when it suddenly started snowing. Hard. Hurried up and packed it in. Probably got an inch or better laying now. Hopefully that doesn’t continue, I don’t want to have to shovel in the morning.

 

[Bgunner]

I'd love to only get an inch or two out of this storm. They are calling for 12 to 18 inches over tonight and tomorrow.

 

[Curious Hound]

Well, it snowed until about 1 or so around here, then I had to run into town for my parents and after I got back started tinkering with the green Ranger again. Couple odds and ends, then I took a deep breath and cut my factory headlight harness. Snipped the turn signal ends out and installed a Weatherpack connector should I ever have need of going back to factory, then the pigtail for the new turn signals. Got both sides together and tested both sides with the new lights. Have to do a little bit of loom work, then the last of the front clip can go together for good.

Finally turned on the stereo in the Ranger just because I could and man, I miss that… need to get this truck done…

Was about to boldly push forward on getting the front clip together when it suddenly started snowing. Hard. Hurried up and packed it in. Probably got an inch or better laying now. Hopefully that doesn’t continue, I don’t want to have to shovel in the morning.

I did the wiring for my new lights Saturday. Headlights were easy. I found adaptor pigtails to go from my OEM headlight plugs to H7 (I think) bulbs. I used weatherpak for turn signals marker lights and fog lights. I had found pigtails that plug into my new lights (mostly Jeep Wrangler fixtures). So I just needed to adapt those pigtails to the Ranger wiring with the Weatherpak stuff.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I did the wiring for my new lights Saturday. Headlights were easy. I found adaptor pigtails to go from my OEM headlight plugs to H7 (I think) bulbs. I used weatherpak for turn signals marker lights and fog lights. I had found pigtails that plug into my new lights (mostly Jeep Wrangler fixtures). So I just needed to adapt those pigtails to the Ranger wiring with the Weatherpak stuff.

I’m thinking of getting a set of the Deutsch connectors too. Think they run a little cheaper than the Weatherpak but can’t handle the heavier wires or amps. Be fine for lighting and stuff though for the most part and I think I play with enough of it to justify having both systems.

Headlights were fine on mine, gonna try another set of LEDs and the housing took the 9007 bulb. Weatherpack seemed like a slick solution to having to cut into the harness anyway for me for turn signals. If I would ever have to go back for some reason, just put Weatherpacks on the pigtails I cut off and that hardly takes a minute. Wish this stuff would have been widely available years before it was. All the time spent trying to make things as waterproof as you could when you spliced gone.

Glad to hear you got it squared away!

 

[scotts90ranger]

The Deutsch terminals for the DT style connectors can handle about 15 amps or so they say, tap out at 16awg wire mainly TXL (thin insulation)... a few years ago Deutsch lost their patent or something and a few other companies started making them so they got cheaper until the plastic coloring shortages of the last couple years (that's what they're blaming it on anyway...), I think Amphenol (what Delphi connectors changed to who make the Weatherpack line of connectors) might have quit making the DT style connector but there's at least a few options left...

I started off the evening cleaning the water filters for the house, still having a lot of silt after changing the well pump a few months ago but it's down to 2-3 weeks instead of days so there's that... Then I switched my wire feed welder from flux core to solid for the first time since I've had it since I just got a bottle, just so I could make 4 2" welds to extend a puller a couple inches to get the rear output bearing off the M5OD shaft for the Ranger, it worked . Maybe tomorrow I'll work on stripping it and reassembling...

 

[bobbywalter]

yup...i use those weather pak deals........

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

No work on the Ranger today, most likely. Might go find something to whale on with a sledgehammer or ax though. It’s shaping up to be a rough week and my family could use prayers. I don’t want to get into specifics, but we may be saying good bye to a family member among other things.

 

[ElectraRider]

Prays be with you.

 

[superj]

Yup. Praying for you guys

 

[Bgunner]

Had a tree on the property come down and miss my truck by less than 10 feet. Luck was on my side in this storm. So far we have a foot of snow with a few more inches expected.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, I managed to go out and work on the green Ranger a bit this afternoon. Wasn’t sure it was gonna happen. Got the front clip pretty well together, the hood needs adjusted, few bolts need tightened and the headlights have to be put in. Somehow I overlooked getting some LED 194 bulbs for the marker lights. I’ll resolve that tomorrow. Got some other electrical squared away too and some clean up.

If I can get after it tomorrow I want to get the shackles in as well as getting the front end roughly aligned. Really need to get this ABS figured out soon.

 

[North Idaho 5.oh]

I pulled mine in and started to pull intakes and timing cover so I can re seal everything…. Happy happy happy! Being a 302, it’ll be a relatively easy seal job!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Drove it to work in the rain and snow.

Bronco is in the shop because something is screwy with the power brakes so the Ranger is basically my dd until that gets sorted.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, I got to go out and work on the Ranger. First up I got my LED bulbs so I got the headlights together and they look awesome. Got the shackles in and re-set some jackstands because I didn’t like how they looked and started to work on getting the front tires on. Just when I was about to try getting the front set for alignment and the front tires on, it came off the jackstands. I’m not physically hurt. There is damage, but I’m not sure exactly how much yet. I do know the gas tank is f@#ked. At least 4 jackstands are crushed. I skipped dinner, no appetite. Three corners are back up and on tires temporarily. I ran out of light and both flashlights were out of juice at that point. I don’t want to talk anymore about it right now…

 

[Lefty]

Well, I got to go out and work on the Ranger. First up I got my LED bulbs so I got the headlights together and they look awesome. Got the shackles in and re-set some jackstands because I didn’t like how they looked and started to work on getting the front tires on. Just when I was about to try getting the front set for alignment and the front tires on, it came off the jackstands. I’m not physically hurt. There is damage, but I’m not sure exactly how much yet. I do know the gas tank is f@#ked. At least 4 jackstands are crushed. I skipped dinner, no appetite. Three corners are back up and on tires temporarily. I ran out of light and both flashlights were out of juice at that point. I don’t want to talk anymore about it right now…

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Hang in there buddy!