What did YOU do today?

[scotts90ranger]

Went to rearrange things to get ready to go camping tomorrow, jumped in the F350 to find that somehow the batteries were almost dead and wouldn't start the engine which is always fun in a diesel... not within jumpstarting reach on anything so plugged in one battery charger, worked for about 20 minutes then smoke started coming out the top (was just on the 10A setting)... switched to the next charger which did work, moved to other things for like half an hour instead of frustrating myself going backwards trying it every few minutes like I was... (I was impatient...)

Then I turned the trailer around so I didn't have to do that with the camper on the truck, loaded the '90 Ranger on then loaded the camper in the bed and hooked up to the trailer. Now to go grocery shopping then start packing stuff...

 

[RangerSkellington]

recently broke a 8-32 screw off in an old distributor, steel screw in an aluminum housing.

View attachment 125046
decided to remove it today.
since there was still some good threads at the opposite end of the hole I made a pilot by center drilling a short 8-32 screw.

View attachment 125044

clamped the housing in a drill press and drilled the pilot holeView attachment 125045

View attachment 125047
it was centered great, then opened it up to 3mm.
alternating between a bottom and taper tap from the good threads at the bottom it cut a few remnants then the last few turned out intact.




View attachment 125048



and success

View attachment 125049

First broken screw experience I ever had was my brother snapping a screw when we were changing a valve cover gasket, and once we got that screw out, we discovered an Ignition Coil had burned off around a spark plug (making it impossible to get a socket over the spark plug). Spent a good two hours chiseling with a long flat head screwdriver and blowing rubber chunks up with an air compressor (in order to fit the socket around the spark plug).

And to top it all off, the valve cover gasket slipped out of place the first time, so we had to buy more oil and screw it down again (this time with paste).

My motto when working on cars is always Live Rage Learn .

 

[rumblecloud]

Did some reading on torsional rigidity though, that'll come in handy.

It surely will come in handy the next time you have to twist through a window....

 

[MaicoDoug]

Getting another set of Mickey T's today. 33 x 12.5 x 15.... On 8 inch wide stock Alcoas Edit..7 inch wide. May become a shop queen for a couple while looking at clearance options. The 32 x 11.5 clear no issues, but 33 x 12.5? I'll post a pic later today during the blissful period ~ 1 inch body lift perhaps? I've never done one of those. Only an inch shouldn't be too tough, no more.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Getting another set of Mickey T's today. 33 x 12.5 x 15.... May become a shop queen for a couple while looking at clearance options. The 32 x 11.5 clear no issues, but 33 x 12.5? I'll post a pic later today during the blissful period ~ 1 inch body lift perhaps? I've never done one of those. Only an inch shouldn't be too tough, no more.

The 12.50's are not a great fit on your 7 inch wide Alcoa wheels. 33 10.50 15 would be a far better fit. Less clearance issues too.

I pieced together a 1 inch body lift for my truck. It's yet to be put on... I'm totally dreading my rust belt issues you likely won't have.

 

[Blmpkn]

It surely will come in handy the next time you have to twist through a window....

Exactly! Lol.

 

[Uncle Gump]

@MaicoDoug

You likely measured outside to outside on those wheels. They measure 8 inch wide.

A wheel width gets measure inside to inside where the tire actually sits. This is one of my Alcoas...

I think we're getting "What did you do to your Ranger today" posts in the "What did YOU do today" thread.

 

[MaicoDoug]

I thought they were 8 inches wide. Ok, measured 8.0" - 8.5" outside to outside, from the lower spindle ball joint nut is 1/4" in from the inner outside diameter using that to hold the tape measure at, so perhaps it indeed is a 7" wheel. Well just got done attempting to find out how bad the rub actually is....they barely rub just touching the sway bar but not enough to feel it barely moving. By only maybe a 16th on the passenger side. With no spacers. Measuring the actual width of the widest part of this tire (sorry the pic doesn't show it very well) is 12", same as the last tire which was touted as 11.5" wide at the widest, the "Deegan 38" (11.5 x 32-R15). The tread it's self is of course an inch or so thinner. The Baja Boss M/T has these lugs that stick out here & there. So far today I think that the 33" size may indeed rub the plastic fender well at full up travel just a tad. But I'll be going pretty slow up there. Next month will be going to Alpine, Marfa & Terlingua, TX. rock hounding. Well there are really only a very few 32" choices, and nothing in the Mickey Thompson lineup which I am completely satisfied with. Trailing through the river (at 12,600 ft) on Imogene pass, often the very active (1-2 feet deep) stream, fully takes up the entire width of the trail often 10-15' wide for a quarter mile of so, the need for floatation is a desire. I only air down to not less than 18 psi, so praying that bead locks won't be needed at that pressure, for sure below that with a skinny wheel as it seems that I have. Can't wait for Colorado this July!

Gump said "dreading my rust belt issues " I've read that when installing a body lift on these trucks, rust belt trucks may need some mount re-work. This truck did enjoy 2 years in Galveston, and the core support shows that~

 

[sgtsandman]

I cleaned up the garage today. Packaged up the spare fuses for the 2019 so they can be put in the glove box, if needed, and did some financial stuff. All after a visit with the chiropractor. It will be nice to be able to get up in the morning and not need 975 mg of aspirin in order to get moving for the day.

 

[Curious Hound]

Worked on the Ranger a little bit. Then went to a friend's house to install new headlight bulbs on her 2020 Gladiator. She wanted brighter headlights. So, we talked about it a couple weeks ago and I explained the options from brighter halogen bulbs right up through total headlight replacements with LEDs, including halo DRLs, extra turn signal elements inside them, etc. Finally talked her into Sylvania LED replacements in her existing 7" glass housings. They came in this week. So I installed them today.

Let me tell you. Jeep engineers never planned on anyone needing to replace a headlight bulb. Driver side is crowded. Barely enough for me to get a hand in there. And twisting the bulb out of and into the housing is no treat. Nothing easy to remove to gain better access. Passenger side? Had to disassemble and remove the entire air filter box. But then access was easy.

I bet she's getting ready to go out and drive it now that the sun is setting, to see how much different it is. Should be pretty good, since she still had the OEM basic level halogen bulbs in there and they were 5 years old.

 

[racsan]

The used tractor tire I bought last weekend wouldn’t hold air so I loaded it up today & took it to a tire place that also does ag tires in addition to cars. Tire needed flipped around on the rim anyways to make it a right side tire instead of the left that it was. $60 for a new tube & $100 labor. Still much cheaper than a new tire. Now to get the center piece out so I can put the correct one in.

 

[Curious Hound]

Worked on the Ranger a little bit. Then went to a friend's house to install new headlight bulbs on her 2020 Gladiator. She wanted brighter headlights. So, we talked about it a couple weeks ago and I explained the options from brighter halogen bulbs right up through total headlight replacements with LEDs, including halo DRLs, extra turn signal elements inside them, etc. Finally talked her into Sylvania LED replacements in her existing 7" glass housings. They came in this week. So I installed them today.

Let me tell you. Jeep engineers never planned on anyone needing to replace a headlight bulb. Driver side is crowded. Barely enough for me to get a hand in there. And twisting the bulb out of and into the housing is no treat. Nothing easy to remove to gain better access. Passenger side? Had to disassemble and remove the entire air filter box. But then access was easy.

I bet she's getting ready to go out and drive it now that the sun is setting, to see how much different it is. Should be pretty good, since she still had the OEM basic level halogen bulbs in there and they were 5 years old.

She's happy! And I got 2 free meals out of it.

 

[pjtoledo]

@MaicoDoug

You likely measured outside to outside on those wheels. They measure 8 inch wide.

A wheel width gets measure inside to inside where the tire actually sits. This is one of my Alcoas...

View attachment 125350

I think we're getting "What did you do to your Ranger today" posts in the "What did YOU do today" thread.

@Uncle Gump
that wheel has the inner step needed to clear 12" front rotors.
I'm sure you already knew that being a 2006 owner.

 

[sgtsandman]

@Uncle Gump
that wheel has the inner step needed to clear 12" front rotors.
I'm sure you already knew that being a 2006 owner.

I thought the 12" rotors didn't come until later? I know that the 2010 and 2011 years, rim design is an issue.

 

[pjtoledo]

I thought the 12" rotors didn't come until later? I know that the 2010 and 2011 years, rim design is an issue.

'
I'm thinking 2004+ 4wd had the 12" front rotors. that's what ( actually it's now was ) on my 2000, with 2010 Sport 15" wheels.
2wd coil springs never had 12" rotors, 11.24" was the biggest.
I'm not certain what the 2004+ 2wd torsion bar trucks had up front.

for certain 2001 Sport Track had 12" front rotors with 2WD and torsion bars. they have the combined hub & rotor.

in 2010 2011 4wd 15" rims needed the enlarged step/inner barrel to clear the calipers.