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

[Uncle Gump]

Thank you. The old fart is still just learning all this stuff…

Not to be confused with TTB.

Twin Traction Beam.

 

[Rick W]

Yeah, I know that definition, but I have no idea what that has to do with my green Ranger as it’s a 2000 4x4…

A question I asked 20 texts ago

 

[Rick W]

Not to be confused with TTB.

Twin Traction Beam.

Now you’re rubbing it in…

 

[Roert42]

Drove it to work since it had enough gas to do so and the Bronco doesn't

Was the blinker stalk moved on the column between 96 and 2010? I can't keep my left blinker on for the life of me.. immideately as I start letting up on the clutch my knee hits the stalk and turns the blinker off lol. Don't remember that with my 2010.

Yeah, the older ones it has a dog leg that kicks it down and the newer ones has a dog leg that kicks it up.

I think it’s just the shape of the arm itself that changes not the position.

 

[scotts90ranger]

That's part of why I'm glad I have an extended cab, so I can have the seat back, and I even have short legs... I bet the multifunction switch from a '98ish Explorer is wired different, they are bent up annoyingly behind the spoke of the steering wheel...

 

[Rick W]

Drove it to work since it had enough gas to do so and the Bronco doesn't

Was the blinker stalk moved on the column between 96 and 2010? I can't keep my left blinker on for the life of me.. immideately as I start letting up on the clutch my knee hits the stalk and turns the blinker off lol. Don't remember that with my 2010.

Note to medical file: minus 1” on knee replacement, left

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Note to medical file: minus 1” on knee replacement, left

You'll be walking in circles...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, yesterday I got a couple little things done on the Ranger then got excited because I had help and the little welder was working good and tried to weld the driveshaft after I got it cut down and screwed up the weld so I had to grind it all out. I’ll have to take it up to Paul’s and use my big welder. One step forward, two back. Also I’m now getting worn out and absolutely miserable…

 

[Rick W]

Well, yesterday I got a couple little things done on the Ranger then got excited because I had help and the little welder was working good and tried to weld the driveshaft after I got it cut down and screwed up the weld so I had to grind it all out. I’ll have to take it up to Paul’s and use my big welder. One step forward, two back. Also I’m now getting worn out and absolutely miserable…

You sound like me before the 40th. I’m rooting for you.

I know it’s hard to do when you’re burning the candle at three or four different ends, but keep a warm face cloth close by, and every 30 minutes or so, tilt your head back and wipe your face and think of what you’re going to do in the next 30 minutes. There were a half a dozen things I did on the trailer that I had to redo before I went up to the 40th, and I’m still redoing some stuff right now. I’m sure you could do all the stuff with your eyes closed, you just don’t want it to look that way when you’re done. Take a minute to reflect and hopefully it will save you 10 or 20 or 30.

On the positive side, the guys and the reception were really great, made it all worthwhile. It reminds me of one of the things I always discussed with my teams as I was coming up: have you ever been on a championship team? Anybody who has, has felt that exhaustion, and that hard work, and that worry are you ever going to get it done, are you ever going to make it to the top. On the other side of the hill, nobody ever remembers the hard work and frustration, just the success.

Hope it helps!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

You sound like me before the 40th. I’m rooting for you.

I know it’s hard to do when you’re burning the candle at three or four different ends, but keep a warm face cloth close by, and every 30 minutes or so, tilt your head back and wipe your face and think of what you’re going to do in the next 30 minutes. There were a half a dozen things I did on the trailer that I had to redo before I went up to the 40th, and I’m still redoing some stuff right now. I’m sure you could do all the stuff with your eyes closed, you just don’t want it to look that way when you’re done. Take a minute to reflect and hopefully it will save you 10 or 20 or 30.

On the positive side, the guys and the reception were really great, made it all worthwhile. It reminds me of one of the things I always discussed with my teams as I was coming up: have you ever been on a championship team? Anybody who has, has felt that exhaustion, and that hard work, and that worry are you ever going to get it done, are you ever going to make it to the top. On the other side of the hill, nobody ever remembers the hard work and frustration, just the success.

Hope it helps!

I’ve been throwing out calls for help lately. And I’ve been pulling all the stops. There’s a pile of things that aren’t going to get done because they aren’t important right now, it just needs to be together enough for inspection and exhaust on Tuesday. Much as I’m gonna hate pulling the bed again to fix it, it doesn’t have to be fixed to get inspected or go to Kentucky. I’ll deal with it later, only the important stuff right now. Which reminds me, I need to put some foil tape on the front bumper and squirt it with some generic flex seal so it’ll look ok for inspection, lol.

On the good news, my buddy Paul came out for a bit today to help. He said he can also come Sunday. @sgtsandman said he could come out Sunday and part of Monday, so that’s good. Another buddy Thomas said he has some things he has to do tomorrow but he may be able to come too, which would be a huge help because I know he can weld so I don’t have to do all of the welding that’s left. Not sure if I can scare up any more help, but that might be enough. We’re sure gonna give it a hearty go.

I remember the hard work when it’s over, but I also know how awesome it feels to get through stuff like this. Walking on clouds for weeks. One of the reasons why I love driving my Choptop, it always gets attention and that tells me I did something right and all the hard work was absolutely worth it. Not only do I get to enjoy it, I get to enjoy the fact that other people enjoy it too.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So, today got off to a slow start, I wasn’t doing too great today. But I took the driveshaft up to Paul’s, dug out my big Lincoln MIG, and burned a nice bead on there. Let it cool, knocked down a couple high spots with a grinder and ran it out to the driveline shop. Paul called them before I ran out there and the guy that answered gave him some static and said $150-200 to balance and it wouldn’t be done till Tuesday or Wednesday. I was like, well, it has to go anyway. Ran it out there in the Choptop and ended up waiting because the guy doing the balancing threw it on the machine right away when I explained what’s going on. It’s not perfect, but it’s close enough, really slight vibration. He did a little tweaking with a torch and a couple weights and for $89 I was out the door.

Stopped at Autozone for a couple things, came home, and Paul came out to help a bit so the leaf springs are now apart and I have a new plan for fixing the pinion angle by cutting the mounts and rotating them, it’s the fastest and simplest solution at this point. Couple other things got done and I called it early tonight so I can still get after it tomorrow. Just keep plugging along at it. All I can do and progress is progress. The whole driveshaft bit today felt like a huge win even though there’s a lot to be done.

 

[mikkelstuff]

Changed out the spin-on fuel filter under my 2002 4WD Ranger XLT. How simple. No fuel filter fight. Didn't even have to jack up the truck.

 

[Roert42]

Changed out the spin-on fuel filter under my 2002 4WD Ranger XLT. How simple. No fuel filter fight. Didn't even have to jack up the truck.View attachment 97980

You piece that together yourself or you buy some kind of kit?

 

[Snoranger]

Today I installed the most oversized lights ever.

Yes, those are 7” spot/flood combos with “side shooters”… and I don’t care that they’re way too big.

 

[mikkelstuff]

No kit. WIX 24770 filter mounting base. I fabricated and plumbed the remainder.