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

[pjtoledo]

Oh wise ones….

Shock absorbers, please and thanks

1987 2.9 4WD short cab short bed, the Missing Linc. 235/75/15 “trail, terrain” tires, well balanced, good condition, on Ford OEM steelie wheels.

The truck has a 2-1/2 or 3 inch lift. I am not sure if it is factory or if it was done by someone who owned it before me. Shock sellers talk about a “high lift” option. I don’t know what that is or if I have that. Please explain that or tell me what to look for.

I want to replace the front and rear shocks with the absolute cheapest thing I can get ahold of that is still new. Rock Auto has several for under $10 each, but I’m not sure if I have the “high lift” option. I don’t want or need coil overs or adjustable or anything like that. Basic.

And, remember, I am a highly educated and capable engineer, and I have worked with my hands and tools on mechanical things for more than 60 years. If I precisely measure the depth of the rust on the current shocks, is there a way I can calculate how many more minutes they will be serviceable?

Rust free southern truck. I rarely go off road, and I never do the trail riding or rock climbing like some of you guys. If I go off road, I’m on a construction site at 5mph or something like that.

I do drive 80MPH down the interstate and highways on a regular basis. That’s when I realized I probably knew new shocks. The tires are balanced very well, but I will get a rumble on roads that I know are actually pretty good.

As always, any and all comments are welcome, and all assistance is graciously appreciated. Thanks in advance!

unbolt the bottom, pull then measure, push and repeat.

to save a step or two on the future shock swap leave them unbolted.

 

[Rick W]

unbolt the bottom, pull then measure, push and repeat.

to save a step or two on the future shock swap leave them unbolted.

Thanks, great advice. I can do that.

Rock auto has four brand new Monroe delivered with tax for $77. Good name brand, and they have a warranty. I’ll measure tomorrow, and place the order one way or the other.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Thanks, great advice. I can do that.

Rock auto has four brand new Monroe delivered with tax for $77. Good name brand, and they have a warranty. I’ll measure tomorrow, and place the order one way or the other.

I dunno about good but it is a name brand

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Today... I started it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Today... I started it.

I drove my Choptop to a couple stores then to my buddy Paul’s place today. Trying to finish up the bathroom remodel there.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It left the garage and entered the garage under its own power.

Dragged its sorry self out with the winch and backed back in with the engine.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So, it appears the Choptop has finally improved with fuel economy. Apparently even though a MAP sensor plugs in to the 90/91 4.0 harness, it’s not what a 4.0 uses. The 4.0 uses a Barometric pressure sensor.

 

[SenorNoob]

I thought they were the same sensor just without the vacuum line hooked up. Glad I got a 92 PCM now.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I thought they were the same sensor just without the vacuum line hooked up. Glad I got a 92 PCM now.

I didn’t realize they were barometric and not MAP for the 4.0 and they are indeed a different part number even though they look the same. Apparently I was not very knowledgeable when I originally put this together, it’s a wonder it worked at all…

 

[RangerSVO54]

power steering leak is fixed i think? time will tell but it used to leak FAST, seems good now. just grabbed a return and high pressure line from oreillys.
also put new v belts on!
back then i used power steering fluid , not knowing it takes ATF. so i need to perform a flush, cause the fluid looks like a strawberry shake now. power steering pump is 10x quieter now. used to whine like a hellcat.

Did the pressure hose have an oring on both ends? My new one has one at the pump connection, but not the steering gear.

 

[ISX_15]

Did the pressure hose have an oring on both ends? My new one has one at the pump connection, but not the steering gear.

Sounds about right. Your steering gearbox connections just use a flare end fitting, which is metal to metal seal. The oring should be on pump side but its also a flared fitting, mine still had tiny bit of play and rotates, but doesnt leak.
On the high pressure line, at the pump, inside theres a spring and some sort of valve, check those o rings inside also.

 

[Rick W]

Still hurting from when the elite gal slammed into the Road Ranger, but slowly getting back on my feet. I’ve got tons to do at the desk for work and for the accident and for other things, but I get brain fog if I don’t get outside and do something with my hands, even though the right hand is still kind of limited. Getting old sucks!

I figured I’d tackle the dent in the door of the Missing Linc, unrelated. That’s coupled with fixing the passenger door panel, where the vinyl was curling up on the bottom, and once again tackling the stereo to see if I could do something so I could actually hear it with the windows open. I think we’re going to try speakers in the doors, I haven’t made a final decision since I’m hesitant to cut the door panels since the vinyl stretched out so nicely.

Forgive me, I forgot to get a “before” picture, but the big depression in the door just popped out once I got to the inside. Then I drilled a couple access holes on the inside frame under the door panel, and using a couple dowels and a block of wood got it as bad as flat as it’s going to be, and hit it with the first round of Bondo.

I was contemplating getting a scrapyard door, but when the big dent just popped out, it was obvious I could just work a little magic with filler.

I used up the little bitI had left in my can, which had an $8.95 price tag on it, and I went up to the corner auto parts store at 7 o’clock on Sunday night to get another one. When the clerk said $32 when I was checking out, I went into the same shock as when I smashed my knee into the dashboard. We canceled that sale.

After riding over to Walmart and seeing it for $29, I went home and I got online and had the biggest case of sticker shock I’ve had in a long time. The price went up 300 to 400% in five years? Thank you Covid fraud!

Harbor Freight had the best price at $14.99 and it was on Inside Track club sale for $11.99. That was worth waiting overnight, and I bought it on Monday. I wasn’t up to tackling it on Monday, but I’m about to dive in now.

 

[pjtoledo]

changes plugs hoping to cure a developing missfire. nope, on to more diagnostics.

 

[holyford86]

More a last couple of days update. Coiled up the leads on the welder because I'm done wirh metal work on the replacement cab (finally) and the minimal body work is also done. Now on to seam sealing pretty much every gap on the cab, haha. Hoping to have it in paint by the end of the month.