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  #1  
Old 09-23-2013, 03:34 PM
spillina spillina is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 4
Default 99 3.0 XLT Stepside 2wd build thread

Hey everybody, I'm pretty new here. Been around for a while in the shadows reading (where I got most of my ideas). Now that I've done some work on my truck, I'll post onto a build thread.

Background
I got this truck just over 3 years ago to take to college with me. First three years, I neglected her. It got bad to the point that I needed a completely new rack and pinion at one point; and had wires coming out of my tires. Now that I'm getting ready to graduate and commission into the Navy, I'm starting to do a little work. I started off by fixing everything that was broken.

First, this is how she was the day I got her:





First job in my repair/mod work: new leaf springs!
The back end had a really bad sag and shot shocks. New springs picked up in extremely good shape from an '02 4wd at the JY.


Jobs to be done with the new springs:
-New upper and lower ball joints (front)



-New tool box for the back


-New front and rear shocks (3/4 were completely shot when I got them off)



Now time for the work. Before picture:


My little helper:


3/4 old leaf spring bolts needed to be cut off. We had no cutoff wheel or dremel. 8 Hacksaw blades later, we had them off.


New leaf springs and factory 4wd lift blocks installed:


Old leaf spring removed:


Now with 2" lift in the rear (blocks) and new 4 pack leaf springs.


Front lifted with 3" coil spacers: (no in progress pictures taken ):






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***Note, I live in an apartment, so all work on this truck is done in the community parking lot or a friend's garage.***

Next up: roof rack, CB, and lights

Roof rack was taken from a Ford Escape (don't know year) from the JY for $13.
I wire brushed the aluminum cross piece and repainted the rails black.


CB Antenna setup: Passenger side is Firestik Firefly 3' antenna, driver side is the Firestick AM/FM 3' antenna. Managed to get about a 1.5 SWR on both channel 1 and 40 with this setup. CB is a cobra 29 mounted between HVAC controls and cup holders.


In progress in parking lot:


Harbor freight 100W off-road lights mounted to escape roof rack:


Wiring runs into the weather stripping and down the a-pillar. Lights are power by 2 separate relays; one for the outside lights, one for the inside lights.




Lights in action during daytime:


Inside lights:


Outside lights:


Console setup: You can see the CB mounting location, along with new switches for lights. Top red switch controls inside lights, bottom control outside. Black switch on the right controls nothing right now. CB also has a 15W PA speaker mounted near the front grille.


Driver's side front fender dent removed (removed fender and pushed dent out):
__________________
___________________________________________
1999 2wd XLT 3.0L
-3" lift front/rear
-Isolated Dual battery (deep cycle and starter)
-Expo roof rack
-Harbor Freight offroad lights
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  #2  
Old 09-30-2013, 10:08 AM
Koda22 Koda22 is offline
Ford Motor Co
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 162
Default Re: 99 3.0 XLT Stepside 2wd build thread

Looks good so far...how the ride with the coil spacers? And where did you get 3 inch spacers?
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  #3  
Old 10-01-2013, 04:33 AM
spillina spillina is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 4
Default Re: 99 3.0 XLT Stepside 2wd build thread

The ride isn't too bad; a little rough over speed bumps if I go to fast, but not unmanageable.

I got the spacers off of fleabay, they're about an inch thick and advertised about 2.5-3" of lift. I didn't get before/after measurements, so I don't know exact lift amount. They lift about the same height as factory 2" blocks and 1" shackles in the back.
__________________
___________________________________________
1999 2wd XLT 3.0L
-3" lift front/rear
-Isolated Dual battery (deep cycle and starter)
-Expo roof rack
-Harbor Freight offroad lights
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  #4  
Old 10-01-2013, 06:44 AM
2000rangermg 2000rangermg is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,965
Default

Nice looking truck so far!
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2000 xlt 5 speed 2wd 2007 bed and seats, flowmaster orignial 40 series dumped, led reverse lights, LED grill lights, LED cluster bulbs, mustang dome, recon smoked cab lights, cb with dual 3 foot whips, 35% tint, 5% 8 inch banner, Rigid Industries duallys wired to factory fog light switch, Throttle cable mod
Build Thread
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...rmg-build.html
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  #5  
Old 10-22-2013, 05:17 AM
spillina spillina is offline
Learning to use the forums
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 4
Default Re: 99 3.0 XLT Stepside 2wd build thread

Had a 4-day weekend, and some time for updates:

First up, I build a backseat storage container for my extended cab. Saw one on here that inspired me, but I wanted to leave 1 jump seat in for passengers if need be. (this entire box was built with a jigsaw and 12v cordless drill)

In progress:


Carpeting and mounting streamlight charger and compressor:


Mounted in truck, along with straps to hold my tent/hammock:


New fire extinguisher mount:


Compressor and streamlight ultrastinger:



Next was the dual battery setup. I wanted to have a deep cycle in the back for running accessories while camping or anytime the engine was off and a starter battery up front to start the engine. I used a 120 amp isolator and a group 24DC battery for the deep cycle. All wiring was done with 4 gauge wires.

Isolator mounted near front battery (center is from alternator, left is to starter battery, right is to deep cycle and accessory box:


Starter battery and isolator:


Deep cycle is located in bed tool box. The wiring you see there is for bed mounted marine speakers, to be installed later.



Up next, bed tool box mounted 12v weatherproof outlet, toolbox mounted marine speakers, with switch to control inside vs outside music, and LED bedlights.

In the future, when funds appear, I also want to switch to an 8.8 axle with a LSD and put mustang disc brakes on it.

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These were done previously, but I forgot to post them:

Under door LED puddle lights:


Hood light (LED):



My tailgate edge was fraying really bad and caused fiberglass splinters to anyone that leaned on it. Solution: leftover bedliner from when I bedlined the inside of my boat. Looks and works great.



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As she stands now:
__________________
___________________________________________
1999 2wd XLT 3.0L
-3" lift front/rear
-Isolated Dual battery (deep cycle and starter)
-Expo roof rack
-Harbor Freight offroad lights
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  #6  
Old 10-11-2014, 01:11 PM
Rutgers Rutgers is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 19
Default Re: 99 3.0 XLT Stepside 2wd build thread

Great pictures! New to the forum and just browsing around! Thanks for sharing!
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MAZDA B2500 1999 SE 2.5

Gold, 2x4, Reg Cab, Looking for authentic radio. Starting to like these trucks, have to get another one!!!
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