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

[racsan]

I like your helper springs

Me too, the stock single-leaf fiberglass springs aint much so those coils really are helpful.

 

[Roert42]

Me too, the stock single-leaf fiberglass springs aint much so those coils really are helpful.

Do they stiffen up the ride or only when you have a load?

 

[racsan]

They do make the ride a bit more stiff when empty, on a 4x4 they dont quite touch the frame (because of the 2” rear lift blocks) but this is a 2wd so theres a bit of chassis weight on the coils even with the bed empty. Having the fiberglass cap on helps but theres times the cap is in the way, the past 3 years Ive had it off in the summer and only have it on for winter. I swear it gets heavier every time I remove or install it. I need a 2nd ranger, leave the cap on one and open bed on the other. lol

 

[sgtsandman]

I'm fortunate to have a convenience store with gas station within 2 miles of my place that has a decent price for 93–octane. The fuel brand is Pure, which returned to the area several years ago, and I've never had a problem with gasoline from those pumps. Right now at that place, regular 87–octane is $3.299/US gallon and premium is $3.899/gallon. Many stations are above $4.00/gallon for premium.

My lawn tractor and push mower get this same premium. It has 10% ethanol, but these are 4–stroke engines designed to accept that. I no longer use 2–stroke equipment.

At an extra $0.60/gallon, for a near-fill of 15 gallons that's an extra $9.00. For a few times per month while driving the Ranger mainly on weekends, I don't find that extra cost a big deal since we're talking $60+ for the transaction anyway. I look at 93–octane as cheap protection for this engine since it runs so well (KOW). If the truck had the smaller 4–cylinder, it would probably get regular instead.

On the way home, I refueled for the week. 87 was $3.699 and 89 was $4.149 I didn't pay attention to the other two. 91 was another $0.30 jump last time I checked and It think the next step was another $0.20 step for 93 octane, if I'm remember correctly. PA does have one of the highest gas taxes in the country. Ohio is significantly cheaper than PA for fuel. My girlfriend is often close enough to take advantage of that. I rarely am.

 

[Snoranger]

On the way home, I refueled for the week. 87 was $3.699 and 89 was $4.149 I didn't pay attention to the other two. 91 was another $0.30 jump last time I checked and It think the next step was another $0.20 step for 93 octane, if I'm remember correctly. PA does have one of the highest gas taxes in the country. Ohio is significantly cheaper than PA for fuel. My girlfriend is often close enough to take advantage of that. I rarely am.

Have you ever been to a gas station that didn’t even have a dial for price?

 

[sgtsandman]

Have you ever been to a gas station that didn’t even have a dial for price?

View attachment 93108

Not in a very long time but when I did, all the octane grade prices were posted on the store sign. Of course, at that time, there weren't all the options we have now either.

 

[racsan]

Dug my stainless bed rail bars from the garage rafters & put them on the ranger, went to my daughters house twice today to let the dogs out. Long drive with no cruise control but a nice day to drive with the windows down. Got gas on the way back, was 3.70 at the station I stopped at.

 

[pjtoledo]

my son's nice clean Ram stood proud and valiantly guarded the driveway while my Ranger did all the work.

28 concrete blocks & 8 wet heavy posts.

 

[Uncle Gump]

She was loaded!

 

[ekrampitzjr]

She was loaded!

She was. PJToledo might have been pushing things a little.

 

[racsan]

Off to mow at my daughters while they are on vacation, not a very big yard so Im taking the lawn deere instead of the ztr

 

[ben_2_go]

Off to mow at my daughters while they are on vacation, not a very big yard so Im taking the lawn deere instead of the ztr
View attachment 93157

I had those same wheel covers on my 1973 Ford Ranger.

 

[Rick W]

When I scored that great Craigslist load of long pressure-treated, I used the F250. But then when I got to work on my stairs and on my shed, there were a few particular pieces I still needed, so I used The Missing Linc to go down to the Home Depot and get them. Nothing like @pjtoledo.

I was ambitious, so I was doing the stairs and the redo of the shed at the same time because it was all the same tools. So Murphy’s Law, in the middle of it, my tablesaw crapped out. I hate it when you buy a tool, you just use it for 40 years, and then all of a sudden it dies. Where has the quality gone?

So it was $99 when I got it, and I went straight to Harbor freight because it’s one of the tools I can’t live without, and they had a 25% Memorial Day coupon, and actually a better quality saw for $149. So I walked out the door for $122 tax at all.

Around 90 or 91, when the saw was already probably 15-20 years old, I built it into a “Murphy bed” table that folds up to the side of my garage. This new saw was 2 inches longer but 2 inches less in width, so I had to re-cut the hole in the table and redo the mounting. I did it quick because I needed it, and I plan on replacing the piece of plywood so it fits snug like the old one. Project for another day .

Then I finished up the stairs, but too late to paint. I laughed to myself that I got all that lumber for $60, and the one gallon of oil base paint was $64. I fetched with The Missing Linc too.

And perhaps a little late, but honors to all those who serve, and prayers for all those passed, sweet pea and I pray every day for those who serve, that they stay focused on the mission, and that they stay safe. I am humbled by those who serve, and I am dwarfed by those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. All His Blessings, now and always.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Took the jet boat out for the first run of the year to a local smaller river (Santiam for any locals) and it was a good time, the '00 Explorer I towed it with on the other hand... that thing needs some love, valve cover gaskets are FRIED, several exhaust leaks at the manifolds, pretty sure the pre cat oxygen sensors are done for as it was acting like it was running rich (showed by the 10.3mpg average...). I think it's time to pull the engine to fix all that, the timing cover plus make it so it will hold a passenger side motor mount and put in the headers I've had for like 5 years... The boating went well, found some rocks, the carburetor had the normal issues I expected for running it for the first time in like 8 months...

While working on things this weekend I came to the realization the rear main seal on the '98 Explorer is one of the main leaks, I thought it was valve stem seals as it never really left a mark when parked before but apparently it's everywhere (valve covers, rear main and valve stem seals)

 

[Rick W]

Took the jet boat out for the first run of the year to a local smaller river (Santiam for any locals) and it was a good time, the '00 Explorer I towed it with on the other hand... that thing needs some love, valve cover gaskets are FRIED, several exhaust leaks at the manifolds, pretty sure the pre cat oxygen sensors are done for as it was acting like it was running rich (showed by the 10.3mpg average...). I think it's time to pull the engine to fix all that, the timing cover plus make it so it will hold a passenger side motor mount and put in the headers I've had for like 5 years... The boating went well, found some rocks, the carburetor had the normal issues I expected for running it for the first time in like 8 months...

While working on things this weekend I came to the realization the rear main seal on the '98 Explorer is one of the main leaks, I thought it was valve stem seals as it never really left a mark when parked before but apparently it's everywhere (valve covers, rear main and valve stem seals)

Your driveway will always be clean if all the oil leaks out before you get home