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

[Dantheman1540]

Sounds a bit more like what you did In/With your Ranger.

Guilty as charged! There’s too many of these threads and my illiteracy grows stronger by the day.

 

[Dantheman1540]

Things I do TO my ranger today, finished installed greasable bushings in the rear of my leafs and shackles. Then forced it to climb my local mall parking lot stump. Also added pieces of mass loaded vinyl under where my toolbox sits on the bed rails, not sure if that or the bushings were the squeak I’ve been chasing. It’s possible it’s neither

 

[Rick W]

Things I do TO my ranger today, finished installed greasable bushings in the rear of my leafs and shackles. Then forced it to climb my local mall parking lot stump. Also added pieces of mass loaded vinyl under where my toolbox sits on the bed rails, not sure if that or the bushings were the squeak I’ve been chasing. It’s possible it’s neither

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You may have put too much grease in those bushings, it’s riding pretty high in the back

 

[Dantheman1540]

You may have put too much grease in those bushings, it’s riding pretty high in the back

Should have used a lower spring rate grease

 

[ben_2_go]

My area is going through some intense flooding. I went out to check some areas I will be going to with the Strangler. I almost got stuck between two areas that flooded out, at about the same time, after I got in there. A couple of lifted full size rigs came through I watched them go through one area and it came up to their doors which would have been about halfway up the Strangler's doors. I turned around and followed them around to the other side of the farms and they made it through a foot deep trough so I followed them out with no problems. A lot of places weren't very deep but the water was rushing over the road with some force, plus I could see any washed out places in the roads. Ahh life, living at the end of a bunch of old dirt roads.

 

[bobbywalter]

Things I do TO my ranger today, finished installed greasable bushings in the rear of my leafs and shackles. Then forced it to climb my local mall parking lot stump. Also added pieces of mass loaded vinyl under where my toolbox sits on the bed rails, not sure if that or the bushings were the squeak I’ve been chasing. It’s possible it’s neither

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oh....i was working on MY junk ass ranger too...

but that probe is incomplete due to this snafu........well...just glad i was home to help. they wanted 1800 dollars to diagnose and tune Zoies rig....which is not acceptable though understandable....i had a free diagnosic scan (i maintain some of the shop trucks there) done, which led to me driving it around for a 1/4 tank logging it with my hp tuners and forscan.... unfortunately i was not able to see the o2 voltage for reasons i passed acceptable time to figure out....so i had to go off of trims....and i am heading out to work tomorrow.....so i had to concentrate more on one then the other.....i fear my ranger will remain in the grey....i have about 150 into getting Zoies all dialed in and running like it should...not accounting for time. at 100 per hour, that alone was 1100....so 1800 was actually a fair write by those guys. i Feel bad for people these days...when it comes to keeping a vehicle going.

but the ol ranger.... it is one step closer for bob if he has to daily it......because the backlash in the bronco is horrendous.... so i might just order a new 9 inch chunk, because that center section that is in there has a repaired hole in it anyway.......from past shenanigans... i would hop in my ranger and drive it to alaska right now....but young bob isnt quite there yet to be able to deal with this type of crap on the fly....and he has been towed home several times now on shit that took me ten seconds to fix....and i do not want my rig on the side of the road because it aired off and nipple head isnt able to work through that....the ranger has a hard start issue that i suspect if due to starting it with low batteries and it damaged the powermaster starter....doh....that will suck if true. 300 plus bux there...lil bob drowned the hell out of it last summer as well so that didnt help either....

outside of that... need to put some metal into the cab and do a hard repair on the front frame rail where i broke it extracting a herd of jeeps. then...still looking at 15-16 mpg in the drive cycle it needs to do with straight diesel in winter for lil bob to use it. it runs on a mix of wmo generally which brings costs below reg unleaded.


so needless to say....with the bronco which is bobs secondary in good weather... i hate to spend that kind of loot on just one part for a 16-18 mpg backup vehicle we abuse off road, when maybe we should look for a gas squeezer focus or something.....i put tires on it for winter street duty so i am sort of forced to fix it at this point...

because the other thing that identifies as a ranger out there which is his primary ride...., is equally as thirsty....not to mention has tire wear issues for some reason on the back of it....

its a tough time....because i have to weigh all this crap....

and my ranger... a truck i have been driving for 30 plus years....might just get scrapped... in favor of a modern ranger platform...this due to the cost in michigan to keep multiple vehicles street legal. so ohio is looking pretty good right now...

problem with modern ranger platform and ensuing investment which will minimally be 50k to 60k........... to build a new for ME ranger out of a copart.

it will end up just like this one.

captain cave pig diesel for reliability. though incorporating a hybrid electric sub system will be likely....

and one ton axles....for reliability.




but seating for 4.


me and mine..... and not getting any younger.

10 years ago i figured my daily right now would be a cummins powered E350....

so ya never know.


the other plus of building a modern platform....wearing out the initial ecoboost will be huge fun....

so there is that....and hell that could take ten years...

 

[Rick W]

oh....i was working on MY junk ass ranger too...

but that probe is incomplete due to this snafu........well...just glad i was home to help. they wanted 1800 dollars to diagnose and tune Zoies rig....which is not acceptable though understandable....i had a free diagnosic scan (i maintain some of the shop trucks there) done, which led to me driving it around for a 1/4 tank logging it with my hp tuners and forscan.... unfortunately i was not able to see the o2 voltage for reasons i passed acceptable time to figure out....so i had to go off of trims....and i am heading out to work tomorrow.....so i had to concentrate more on one then the other.....i fear my ranger will remain in the grey....i have about 150 into getting Zoies all dialed in and running like it should...not accounting for time. at 100 per hour, that alone was 1100....so 1800 was actually a fair write by those guys. i Feel bad for people these days...when it comes to keeping a vehicle going.

but the ol ranger.... it is one step closer for bob if he has to daily it......because the backlash in the bronco is horrendous.... so i might just order a new 9 inch chunk, because that center section that is in there has a repaired hole in it anyway.......from past shenanigans... i would hop in my ranger and drive it to alaska right now....but young bob isnt quite there yet to be able to deal with this type of crap on the fly....and he has been towed home several times now on shit that took me ten seconds to fix....and i do not want my rig on the side of the road because it aired off and nipple head isnt able to work through that....the ranger has a hard start issue that i suspect if due to starting it with low batteries and it damaged the powermaster starter....doh....that will suck if true. 300 plus bux there...lil bob drowned the hell out of it last summer as well so that didnt help either....

outside of that... need to put some metal into the cab and do a hard repair on the front frame rail where i broke it extracting a herd of jeeps. then...still looking at 15-16 mpg in the drive cycle it needs to do with straight diesel in winter for lil bob to use it. it runs on a mix of wmo generally which brings costs below reg unleaded.


so needless to say....with the bronco which is bobs secondary in good weather... i hate to spend that kind of loot on just one part for a 16-18 mpg backup vehicle we abuse off road, when maybe we should look for a gas squeezer focus or something.....i put tires on it for winter street duty so i am sort of forced to fix it at this point...

because the other thing that identifies as a ranger out there which is his primary ride...., is equally as thirsty....not to mention has tire wear issues for some reason on the back of it....

its a tough time....because i have to weigh all this crap....

and my ranger... a truck i have been driving for 30 plus years....might just get scrapped... in favor of a modern ranger platform...this due to the cost in michigan to keep multiple vehicles street legal. so ohio is looking pretty good right now...

problem with modern ranger platform and ensuing investment which will minimally be 50k to 60k........... to build a new for ME ranger out of a copart.

it will end up just like this one.

captain cave pig diesel for reliability. though incorporating a hybrid electric sub system will be likely....

and one ton axles....for reliability.




but seating for 4.


me and mine..... and not getting any younger.

10 years ago i figured my daily right now would be a cummins powered E350....

so ya never know.


the other plus of building a modern platform....wearing out the initial ecoboost will be huge fun....

so there is that....and hell that could take ten years...

I believe it’s actually called a gaggle of jeeps. And always remember that you can find straight, completely rust free trucks down here, pretty easily for a little money, maybe just move all your stuff over.

 

[bobbywalter]

yeah.....but its not the same.....i worked hard getting that roof just right...

and the floors......

time will tell.

 

[Rick W]

yeah.....but its not the same.....i worked hard getting that roof just right...






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and the floors......






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View attachment 104289





time will tell.

I get your point on the roof, a very personalized item, I’m sure a very spiritual personal experience with those you love.

I was trying to understand what you were talking about on the floor, but all I could see was the dirt under the truck. What’s up with that?

 

[bobbywalter]

i am to the needs new metal again phase.....

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

i am to the needs new metal again phase.....

Yup, my F-150 is about at that phase. I don’t know if it was the wisest choice but I bought a cab and frame for it.

 

[tw205]

My new old Ranger started missing. Its been abused, abandoned and abused some more so I know maintenance was not being done. This is the first trouble I’ve had in the month or two I’ve been driving it. Got some new plugs, wires will be here tomorrow. I’m thinking these plugs been in there a while. One wire broke and one boot disintegrated when I tried to take it off.

This is my first 4.0 so I’m new to it. I’ve changed harder plugs to get at but that EGR tube was in my way. Who’s idea was that?

 

[Uncle Gump]

My new old Ranger started missing. Its been abused, abandoned and abused some more so I know maintenance was not being done. This is the first trouble I’ve had in the month or two I’ve been driving it. Got some new plugs, wires will be here tomorrow. I’m thinking these plugs been in there a while. One wire broke and one boot disintegrated when I tried to take it off. View attachment 104339

This is my first 4.0 so I’m new to it. I’ve changed harder plugs to get at but that EGR tube was in my way. Who’s idea was that?

Wasn't my idea...

Those top two plugs appear to have some heavy deposits on them. Maybe they've been in there forever.

 

[G8orFord]

I don't know if it's different on some trucks, but mine can only go one way for the little pawl to push the adjuster down to tighten it. If it's installed the other way, the paw doesn't touch the notched wheel.

Just in case you aren't aware, the adjusters are different for each side. One is right-hand threads, the other is left-hand threads. If you swap sides the adjustment will loosen instead of tighten. At least that's the way the drums I've done in the past where.

 

[ben_2_go]

Just in case you aren't aware, the adjusters are different for each side. One is right-hand threads, the other is left-hand threads. If you swap sides the adjustment will loosen instead of tighten. At least that's the way the drums I've done in the past where.

Very aware