Ian's 96 Ranger Build
 

So here's a new build thread for my new truck. I sold my gold 93 302 and T-5 swapped Ranger on Wednesday, September 24th. So I went a few days and didn't really find anything that interested me in the Metro Detroit area, so I started looking south into Ohio. I had a few other members help me out too, and I want to thank all of you who did. Anyway, I was looking in Columbus, Ohio Craigslist and found an ad for this truck. 2.3 5 speed with low miles and it's really clean! No rust on the body, but there's a bit of surface rust on the frame. I'll undercoat it eventually, but it'll get parked for the winter while the Explorer is driven.

We agreed on $1300 cash along with the subwoofer and amp setup I had in my Explorer that I was trying to sell. I bought in on Saturday, September 27th, 2014 in Lancaster, Ohio.

I had a friend follow me home in my Explorer. It's around 230 miles back home from Lancaster. The Explorer got a whopping 15 mpg while my new Ranger got just over 25!

1996 Ranger XLT
2.3L 5 speed manual
Single cab, short bed
70k miles!
BONE STOCK

I haven't really driven it since we got home, and it threw a P0500 code on the way home. The battery terminals and posts were a bit corroded so I unhooked the battery when I test drove it and cleaned it up, erasing the code in the computer. The speedometer and odometer stopped working on the previous owner and the ABS light is on. Today I ran up to Advance Auto and their scan tool said it was a P0500 code for the vehicle speed sensor, which also has something to do with the ABS light also I believe, I briefly read something about it on the Explorer forum Serious Explorations. It'll be tagged and legal sometime this week! Big plans for it in the future. I also kept the Cobra wheels I bought from Matt (AnythingCanHappen) that were on my gold truck. Here's some pictures!


http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...psqfnssud8.jpg

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...psmx1inkev.jpg



Tupperware container lid screwed onto a broken tail light. Genius!



http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...psmu8j1xyg.jpg

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1ulfdf4e.jpg

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...psanuegvpb.jpg

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4p3lduhp.jpg





Headliner indicates a tiger cub was raised inside my truck. Maybe.





http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...psybkk1g3d.jpg


Anyway, I'm going to take off my mudflaps asap and my friend Dominic said he's got 20% tint in his garage and said he'd tint it for me for free because he'll need my help with something at some point in time. Just gonna use this to save gas driving back and forth to work, and I'm planning a motor swap in the future. But I want to build the motor on an engine stand and take my time, so everything is reliable and I know the history of it. I don't want it to be rushed like the last truck.

Nice truck!! But it's BEGGING for new tires and rims bro ;)
Also looks familiar. Not sure why...
Also, that tail light is genius. Haha you gonna level it?

Needs a few odds and ends, but it's a really solid start! I have a set of OEM 2003 Terminator Cobra wheels in my bedroom along with spacers. Just need front tires!

Lmfao at the taillight

Looks like a good start Ian. Not bad for 1300 bucks. If it wasn't for the headliner and tupperlight it would look about 300 bucks better!

Can't wait to see what it turns into. Also glad you have the updated dash now.

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And 96 is a great year!

With the speed sensor being bad the odometer and speedometer wont work. so theres no real telling on how many miles are on it. Other than the headliner and tail light it looks clean. Nice find

Yeah I know, it's bad. Nothing that can't be fixed though.

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Yeah he estimated 70k and showed me his bill of sale he had with the old guy he bought it from a year ago and it said 59k and some change. It reads 62811 now, and he said it stopped working around the beginning of the year. He barely had it a year. 70k is probably pretty close.

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I'm not too concerned about the mileage anyway because I plan on swapping out the motor down the road. It runs really well and I'm really happy with it.

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Headliner and tail light are simple fixes. For $1300 I can deal with it.

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He wanted 1600 to begin with but I talked him down. And yeah, I wanted this dash so I could put in a double din like the Explorer.

Titled and registered. Legal to drive finally.

Re: Ian's 96 Ranger Build
 

I see you plan on swapping the engine out. What to?
I hope one day to put a 302 in the explorer or ranger but right now a 302 in my F150 is plenty.
Trav

Time for a new avatar

My last truck was a 302/T-5 swap. Thinking 351.

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Na. Gonna stay for a bit.

Re: Ian's 96 Ranger Build
 

that would be killer. Going a FI or carbed if you do?
Trav

Sub'd :D

EFI probably. Last one was carbureted.

Re: Ian's 96 Ranger Build
 

Ok now this is one of my favorite builds. LOL I love 351 EFIs.
Trav