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-   -   GCEXTREME's 99 Ranger - ShadowTrax (http://www.fordrangerforum.com/project-logs/86669-gcextremes-99-ranger-shadowtrax.html)

gcextreme 03-12-2013 06:21 PM

GCEXTREME's 99 Ranger - ShadowTrax
 
Figured i might as well start a project log for my 1999 Ranger..

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Year: 1999

Model: Ranger XLT 4x4 Ext.Cab 2 door, 3.0FFV, Auto

Mileage: Engine 65K, Transmission 20k, Body 185ish?

Truck Autobot Name: ShadowTrax

Options: Manual Windows, Locks, Mirrors, No Tilt, No Cruise

Mods/Custom Work:
New Engine, Rebuilt Transmission.
Added a Tilt Steering Wheel, with OEM Cruise Control
3" Body lift, plus t-bar crank
15x10 Black Cragar Soft 8s
33x12.5x15 Goodyear DuraTracs
Bushwacker Extend-A-Fender Flares
AVM Rugged Ridge Manual Lockouts
Antenna Delete
Throttle Cable Mod
Blinker Mod
Airbox Mod with K&N Filter
Explorer Bucket Seats
Explorer Full Center Console
Explorer White Gauge Cluster
Explorer OHC/Auto Dim Mirror/Visors
OHC LED Panel by Buggman
Mustang Dome with Buggman LEDs
LED 3rd Brakelight by Buggman
LED Cruise Pods by Pooleo
LED 4x4 and HL Switches by Pooleo
Altezza Tail lights with Buggman LEDs
Herculined Bed, Bed Caps, bottom of rocker panels
Added a double foglight switch radio bezel with LED foglight switches from Buggman
Roll bars with KC lights
Red Fiberglass Topper with Explorer Roof Rack and Cargo Basket
Custom Tuned with an SCT X3 Tuner
Black Nerf/Step Bars
Black AVS Light Covers, Window Vents, & Bug deflector
Added stock Transfer Case & gas Tank skid plates
Added an RCI Front Skid Plate
Stainless Steel Flame Grille insert
Autobot Oval decals and logos, with tons of other decals
Custom Sound System
Windows Tinted and Topper Windows Tinted
Added an 01 Steering wheel Airbag
Removed my stock manual flag mirrors for the regular kind, soon getting the 06+ ones.
Working on a full 01-03 Front End Conversion, with a powerdome hood!
Working on a front hitch and a brush/grille guard.
I have a cab visor i will be painting and installing this summer too.
Saving up for a Superlift Suspension Lift Kit

Description:
This is my second vehicle, second ranger. My first one was a 95xlt 2wd 2.3l 5speed.
Got this 99 3.0 with 118K on it and 2 yrs later at 128K i had a faulty fuel injector cause a spark plug to detonate damaging the cylinder/piston. Spent about $3500 to have a new engine put in. Then about 4 yrs later my reverse band in my tranny snapped, had to spend another $1900 to have it rebuilt. Also have spent over $1000 in brakes and rear axle work.
I picked up another truck, a white 98 xlt 3.0 ext cab 4x4 for $500 that has a bad motor, got a good motor and tranny for it for $400. Will be putting that into it this summer and this white ranger will become my daily driver and winter beater, and my red 99 will be my project fun truck..

Photos:
Explorer rims with 31"BFGs, no body lift.
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/.../WP_000996.jpg

Explorer rims with 31"BFgs with 3"body lift.
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/.../WP_001001.jpg

New 33" tires and rims with 3"body lift, and my old black aluminum topper.
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/.../WP_000094.jpg

New red fiberglass topper
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/...1476_small.jpg

Truck with old stock fender flares...
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/.../WP_003205.jpg
Truck with the new Bushwacker flares.
(Can u believe this truck body has about 185K miles on it and looks this good for a Minnesota truck!)
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/.../WP_003413.jpg

Added the explorer buckets and center console
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/.../WP_003516.jpg

Putting the explorer roof rack on the topper.
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/.../WP_003189.jpg

Winter shots
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/.../WP_003635.jpg

See the roof rack and basket.
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/.../WP_003636.jpg

Stuff for my front end conversion:

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/...ps96a0e2f4.jpg
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/...powerdome3.jpg

For more info and pics go here:
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/


So as you can see..my truck has changed alot...and more changes in the future...
I have spent way too much money over the years on this truck... and i dont plan to ever sell it....
I don't have aton of money to throw at it all at once... this has been many years of slowly evolving..since i got the truck in April 2004..til now.


oh heres pics of my tranny torn apart for the rebuild:
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/...r/IMAG0038.jpg
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/...r/IMAG0034.jpg
http://www.gcextreme.com/FordRanger/...r/IMAG0035.jpg


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NOW I WILL UPDATE THIS EVERYTIME I MOD OR CHANGE SOMETHING, LOL

So get Subscribed...

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Also i have a project log for my 1998 White Ranger project too
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...r-project.html

shanevogele1 03-14-2013 01:10 PM

Question. Does the explorer gauge just plug right in? Or do you have to mod it. I got a gay aftermarket tach and would like it all in the gauge.

Shane Vogele or V

gcextreme 03-14-2013 01:21 PM

Re: GCEXTREME's 99 Ranger - ShadowTrax
 
Direct plug in...works fine...

shanevogele1 03-14-2013 01:24 PM

Tach will unplug and plug into that one? I'm in the electrical part of school right now. Still hate it.

Shane Vogele or V

gcextreme 03-14-2013 02:10 PM

Re: GCEXTREME's 99 Ranger - ShadowTrax
 
I dont know what year your ranger is...but find one from the same era...95-00 should be all the same...and 01-05 are the same...and 06-11 are the same..

And yes it will plug right in and work......there are numerous threads about it too..

shanevogele1 03-14-2013 02:14 PM

99 3.0 same as yours.

Shane Vogele or V

gcextreme 03-14-2013 02:18 PM

Re: GCEXTREME's 99 Ranger - ShadowTrax
 
Then look for rangers or explorers or sport tracs about the same year....from 95-00.

86indy 03-14-2013 02:56 PM

Like it! What made you switch toppers if I may ask?

gcextreme 03-14-2013 03:16 PM

Re: GCEXTREME's 99 Ranger - ShadowTrax
 
I bought the black aluminum topper (it was actually for a dakota) for $50 long ago and had it on my first ranger, a 95 2.3l 2wd reg cab, i liked it..it looked ok with the red/black theme..but i wanted a rack and basket...and needed a fiberglass topper for that.
Found a green fiberglass one for $75...was going to paint it red..but that was going to cost about $150...then i found this red one for $125....so i sold the black topper for $125! , put the green one on my white ranger and the red one on my red ranger...

86indy 03-14-2013 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcextreme (Post 1304272)
I bought the black aluminum topper (it was actually for a dakota) for $50 long ago and had it on my first ranger, a 95 2.3l 2wd reg cab, i liked it..it looked ok with the red/black theme..but i wanted a rack and basket...and needed a fiberglass topper for that.
Found a green fiberglass one for $75...was going to paint it red..but that was going to cost about $150...then i found this red one for $125....so i sold the black topper for $125! , put the green one on my white ranger and the red one on my red ranger...

Good deal! I would have just thought you would have color matched the aluminum one but it make sense now with the roof rack.

Devin-20 03-14-2013 07:15 PM

Just found this thread. Glad you started one Glenn trucks looking good!

gcextreme 03-14-2013 07:29 PM

Re: GCEXTREME's 99 Ranger - ShadowTrax
 
Thanks Dev....

By the end of the summer i will have the 01 front end conversion done...painting the hood and grille and fading my fenders will be costly...lol.

And i have that cab visor to get painted too....

Really slowing down my savings for my superlift lol.
By 2016 my truck will have a superlift...mark my words...

RSCblow 04-03-2013 02:39 PM

Re: GCEXTREME's 99 Ranger - ShadowTrax
 
Good job, you run 4.10 gears on it? If only the cruize control swap was an easy deal on mine... should look pretty slick with the conversion done.

gcextreme 04-03-2013 02:44 PM

Re: GCEXTREME's 99 Ranger - ShadowTrax
 
Yep 4:10 gears....but i dont do alot of driving, maybe 10k a year...i have my motorcycle thats my gas saver...and then soon my other ranger the white 98 one will be my daily driver...


Yeah i dont know how the cruise control swap would go in a 2010..and probably hard to find a donor in a junkyard too.

Hopefully mid summer i will get my stuff painted and do the front end and hood swap.

cassiouru 04-07-2013 07:07 AM

Re: GCEXTREME's 99 Ranger - ShadowTrax
 
That's a nice truck! This 10" rims are awesome, the truck become a lot more aggressive with then.
One question, do you know the height of your truck? From the floor to the top of the cab?
I did a 3" BL on mine too, and i'm saving to put 33" tires, but i'm still not happy with the height of my truck, i want more LOL

Great truck! I will keep a look on this thread;)


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