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


This morning I started stripping the clearcoat off the new to me wheels for the '97 Ranger, that aircraft stripper stuff is stinky but it does work! First coat I was just painting it on thin just so the surface was wet, then I realized it was thick so just get it on there so I did it again all gloopy and it actually worked. Got to the point about 90% of the clearcoat on the raw aluminum areas is gone. That is some stinky stuff! I was doing it outdoors with a breeze but still... I'll get them stripped the rest of the way tomorrow, don't know how the painted areas fared, I was trying to leave them alone but we'll see...
 
If you need a patch welded till you can get a replacement, let me know, I’ll hook you up. Wouldn’t be the first exhaust I patched to get another year out of.

That’s why God gave us soup cans and hose clamps.

(I would’ve thought @sgtsandman would know about soup can remedies)
 
Uh oh…

F82DB8E4-C438-4CD7-8117-0273B4FAB285.jpeg


When I put the grab handles in the Missing Linc, mostly for Sweet Pea, I ran out of the bigger screws. The ones on her side are all tight. When I was getting out today, I grabbed my handle. I had forgotten that I didn’t have the right screws in it, I just wanted to get it up to get the holes in the right place while I was doing it.

Lesson learned, bigger screws in it now…
 
I have used coffee cans in the past as a stop gap measure but this only works well on a single pipe area.

Muffler puddy would be a better stop gap measure on a multi pipe area. the last large tube I purchased was about $25 but I'm sure the price has gone up by now.
 
Uh oh…

View attachment 92030

When I put the grab handles in the Missing Linc, mostly for Sweet Pea, I ran out of the bigger screws. The ones on her side are all tight. When I was getting out today, I grabbed my handle. I had forgotten that I didn’t have the right screws in it, I just wanted to get it up to get the holes in the right place while I was doing it.

Lesson learned, bigger screws in it now…
Did you scream Oh S**T when it let go? You know what those handles are referred to right?
 
Did you scream Oh S**T when it let go? You know what those handles are referred to right?

Yep, JC bars. I’m old and feeble, and I was standing still, and when I started to go, and then it started to go, I still said it! Scared the dog..
 
I have used coffee cans in the past as a stop gap measure but this only works well on a single pipe area.

Muffler puddy would be a better stop gap measure on a multi pipe area. the last large tube I purchased was about $25 but I'm sure the price has gone up by now.

You amateurs, of course I meant soup can AND muffler putty!
 
Yep, JC bars. I’m old and feeble, and I was standing still, and when I started to go, and then it started to go, I still said it! Scared the dog..

The last time I grabbed one was 2 winters ago when the GF came to get me in a snow storm and she had the rear kick out, slid into on coming traffic then shot back across the road. All I said was was "we're going in" as we went off the road. Needless to say I haven't ridden with her in another snow storm since.

Just an FYI, the auto selection on 4x4's is useless as it doesn't kick you into 4WD till you are already in trouble. I told her that when the roads here are bad just put it in 4WD and to stop using the Auto feature.
 
That’s why God gave us soup cans and hose clamps.

(I would’ve thought @sgtsandman would know about soup can remedies)

The thought crossed my mind but when I say it’s right at the flange, I mean it’s right at the flange. Nothing to clamp the can to on one side and the putty would break at first start up.
 
just fill her in with a bunch of 6011 and give her another 100k.
Walker exhaust parts are junk. Way too thin. I’ve had welds rust off in months.
 
just fill her in with a bunch of 6011 and give her another 100k.
Walker exhaust parts are junk. Way too thin. I’ve had welds rust off in months.

Lil_BlueFord offered just that. I have to get with him yet on the attempt. Ford wants about $700 for a replacement and I got 5 years out this Walker for about $200. The original OEM one took a dump after only about 7 years for some reason. So, even though Walker isn’t the best, at that price, it wasn’t a waste of money to me. The remaining $500 can go a long way in fluid changes and other things to keep the fleet on the road.
 
Took a little trip yesterday and returned on a rural road as it was getting dark last night. The Auxito LED headlamp and driving lamp bulbs make a difference. So far I'm impressed.

The stock bulbs are 9007 halogen. Supposedly the 9007 is approved for use only in North America and not, say, in Europe. I think I see why. Or actually I had difficulty seeing, which was the problem. :LOL:
 
This morning I started stripping the clearcoat off the new to me wheels for the '97 Ranger, that aircraft stripper stuff is stinky but it does work! First coat I was just painting it on thin just so the surface was wet, then I realized it was thick so just get it on there so I did it again all gloopy and it actually worked. Got to the point about 90% of the clearcoat on the raw aluminum areas is gone. That is some stinky stuff! I was doing it outdoors with a breeze but still... I'll get them stripped the rest of the way tomorrow, don't know how the painted areas fared, I was trying to leave them alone but we'll see...

I bought some old Cragar rims from a guy on here. They are 1974 Mag Masters. They were a barn find on a clapped out 1974 Chevelle. They were pretty tatty when I got them. Yeah, clear coat, and it was ugly. I opted to do it the hard way. Sanded them with 180, 240, 320 and 400 emery cloth. Then hit them with course red scotchbrite. Finished them up with fine green scotchbrite. Lot's of elbow grease. But they turned out nice. Just put some chrome knock off spinners on them yesterday. Also changed the hood scoop from a Roush Mustang scoop to a Boss 429 style scoop.

First pic is the old. Second is the new.

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Went to rural king for 14 bags of much and some sheeting plastic. Will be busy the rest of the day. Feel like I need a shower already just thinking about it.
2C4BAA74-2986-4C8E-AC4E-142D6B07E85B.jpeg
 
I bought some old Cragar rims from a guy on here. They are 1974 Mag Masters. They were a barn find on a clapped out 1974 Chevelle. They were pretty tatty when I got them. Yeah, clear coat, and it was ugly. I opted to do it the hard way. Sanded them with 180, 240, 320 and 400 emery cloth. Then hit them with course red scotchbrite. Finished them up with fine green scotchbrite. Lot's of elbow grease. But they turned out nice. Just put some chrome knock off spinners on them yesterday. Also changed the hood scoop from a Roush Mustang scoop to a Boss 429 style scoop.

First pic is the old. Second is the new.

View attachment 92041View attachment 92042View attachment 92043

Love it! What’s under the hood?

do the exhausts go out both sides?
 

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