major's build thread 2 for 1

[Major376]

i figured since i have a ton a pics i could start a build thread, im doing both my rangers for this one so l have more to post and itd give me time to work on my newest addition. heres a pic of both of em:




the gray one is a 1987 ranger 2.3l l4 3spd auto 2wd. its the first one i got and the first on this thread. i got it for $400 with a rebuild engine but the tranny was slipping and it didnt run, all it needed was a fuel sender unit to crank :P. its my DD til the blue on is fixed before i go off to college.
The blue one is a 1986 ranger 2.9l v6 4x4 that had a Bodylift and the auto was swapped for a 5spd tranny. got it for $500 the guy said he might blown the engine but it ran and it sounds like a bad rod bearing or main bearing. The PO changed the gears in the rear but couldnt for the front axle, but he has the gears for the front and a roll bar.

here are my current plans for it:

Gray Ranger-

replace fuel problematic areas, fix interior, install radio, spray on bed liner on frame, get it legal.

4wd ranger-

-tranny swap auto to 5spd – DONE
-repair v6 hopefully
- remove bed and bedline frame
-paint body white
- herculine truck bed, as well as floor in cab
-paint interior (no blue) , possibly red.
-diamond plate gauge pod cover
-custom center console w/ subwoofer enclosure built in
- upgrade speakers and subwoofer
-bushwacker cut-out fender flares(paint to match)
-roll bar
- euro style taillights, also upgrade headlights
-air horn hidden under bed
-custom diamond plate/black front bumper with winch mount hitch receiver
-rear lift shackles 2”-3” debating
- front lift coils probable 2”
-32” tires depending on gearing
- msd ignition coil w/ upgrade 8mm spark plug wires
-k&n drop in air filter w/ airbox mod
-E-fan conversion
-possible wire hiding mod?
- throttle cable mod
-install a/c
-rear receiver hitch
-upgrade headers + remove muffler (keep dual outlet though)
-fix tailgate ( lettering saying “big daddy”)
-big Georgia bulldogs “G” magnet on tailgate

that's pretty much the idea right now, ill have pics of the first one in a few. feel free to ask questions n stuff!

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here the 88 ranger the day i got it.





came with an extra bumper and tires :P







this ranger replaced this blazer, cuz the chevy just had too many problems and wouldnt pass emissions for crap!

[knightmare1015]

2 old school rangers in 1 project, I love it. You'll like the old 2.9 Cologne V6. It runs damn good once it gets up to par. How come you're not using a V8 instead?

[Major376]

well i did have the chance to get a 318 from a 92 dakota, but right now fixing the v6 is a better option, plus it'll be easier. i would like to swap in a cummins or mercedes diesel down the road!

also do you have any experience with these colognes v6's? i've read the specs and all that stuff, but id like some personal opinions about these engines, any feedback would be greatly appreciated. ALSO (lol) i havent messed with 4x4 trucks alot and was wondering what the difference is between the "low range" select and the "4x4".

[DiabloBlanco]

nice trucks man!

[Major376]

Originally Posted by DiabloBlanco

nice trucks man!

thnx man, its gonna be a fun project.




Got some pics of day 1

couldn't figure out which pump was working (apparently theres 2?)/ so i took the high pressure fuel pump from under the frame rail to look at it.



it looked like crap but it worked fine, so that meant we had to go to the tank. I started to undo the tank straps, but one bolt just wouldn't cooperate so me and the old man decided just to take the whole bed off.




the frame had a TON of surface rust, so i decided while its off ill replace the shocks (which were busted bad), clean the frame up, and put some spray-on bed liner on the frame.






ill post Day 2 tomorrow

[Major376]

Day 2 post
dropped the tank to get a look inside... was not pretty at all. :





it looked like a coral reef of rust in the tank. I honestly dont know how the truck ever ran before with this. So i ordered a new fuel assembly, tank, and some shocks. Started to wire-wheel the frame and sandblast some hard to reach areas.


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Two days later the parts came in, big difference lol



primered the tank white so it'd help prevent rust from the bottom n what-not.


Next day finished prepping the rear half of the fram for undercoating, and heres the end result.. MUCH BETTER


Before......



AFTER ....




looked awesome, thenbolt everything back on and now it starts fine, and doesnt bounce when i push it down as much.
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Next thing was exhaust, had a flowmaster 40 layin around so i decided to put it on.. dont judge my welding as i didnt have proper equipment (fixed shade helmet, crappy lincoln stick welder, WAY too big electrodes for thin pipe. used the curved part of a step bar, an exhaust tip off a subaru and a big washer to make it work :P







Put a moon visor on her and thats pretty much how she sits today!





------ UPDATE
tried to remove the oil pan of the other ranger, and that has got to be the most aggravating thing on this planet! removed the bolt..no Lifted up the engine for more space...no . Remove transmission mount to give it more space.... no .. then jacked up the body to let the suspension hang for more space...NO. so today came to the conclusion to go ahead an pull the engine out since we have only a few more bolt n stuff to undo, and to save our tempers from blowin anymore... >.< ill have pics once i get it out.

[TheStig]

youre my new favorite person

[Major376]

Stig im honored lol. the black pearl is awesome!

Now ill go to the blue one. here some pics of us getting it in the shop and some random stuff.


cuzin showed up in his new 4wheeler, a kfx 700


the engine on the left is a 2.0 l4 that was used to power and air pump, it was gonna be our engine to swap in if the v6 was beyond tepair, next to it is the 318 v8 i talked about.



and this is just one BIGass engine, sits about 5' ft tall give or take an inch.


found a big turbo i liked, there's about 10-15 of em layin around, its kinda like a big truck graveyard. also found a long airhorn i plan on installing aalong with two small ones i found.



NOw back to work. nothing really happens till day 2 of tryin to remove the freakin oil pan and no luck. that night we decided to just take the engine out the next day(today). and today was awesome! got alot done and walked off with a smile instead of yellin and hollerin cusswords :P.

first drained the oil into a a mazda's oil pan. ironic?


then removed the radiator after draining it.


This is what came out of the radiator. first it was chunky brown, then water, then green water, then back to brown . NOT goin back in the radiator.


got tired off the hood so took it off.



started to disassemble the engine, there is def a power steering leak, probably the missing hose clamp......


Found a bird's nest under the washer fluid, and a giant wasp nest in the gas lid, i guess you could say its def farm fresh haha. ALSO found out the PO got the engine out of a junkyard, and replaced a good bit of parts to get it running, good for me!



heres the engine as it is now, that intake sits pretty dang high.. is that stock?




looked at the frame, and im def taking the bed off and doing some undercoat like the first ranger.





AND FINALLY, after 3 DAYS, a forklift, and some luck we managed to get the oil pan down!!!


the reason it wouldnt slide easy was the stupid hose that sucks up oil.



looked in the oil pan, and there is no metal flakes so thats a really good sign, gonna find out the big answer tomorrow or thursday. hope u liked the pics! after this figured we'd def do a E-fan mod due to the clutch fan crackin pretty badly.

[Major376]

Update

got the bearings out, main bearings look almost new, the rod bearings are fine except for the two front ones, and the crankshaft is okay. so im gonna replace all the bearings, an oil pump and some gaskets, then get some emory cloth and smooth out the crankshaft and ill have pics and vids of it up and running!! awesome week!!!

[DiabloBlanco]

dude nice progress! I could use one of those turbos.

[Major376]

thanks man ive been workin long hours to get this thing runnin. and if i see another one that doesnt look too bad i could slip it in the truck lol. ill keep an eye out for another one, mind you they are off frieghtliners and peterbuilts :P

[DiabloBlanco]

damn that big? How big do you think the diameter is? Im working on this Mercedes and trying to find a turbo for it lol

[Major376]

the ones in my pic has about a 4" ish diameter pipe? ill look more saturday, there are some smaller ones ill look at em, is the mercedes one of the diesel ones?

[DiabloBlanco]

Nah its not a diesel. its running gas

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and sounds like they are WAYY too big lol

[Major376]

ya might be a bit big, i wouldnt dare put this on my v6 ranger, i was thinkin maybe save it for a maybe a v8 swap or diesel. ill still look out for one though theres an 80's T-bird and a turbo saab sitting ill see if they have their turbos still.