I noticed that there aren't that many Pre-2000's build threads out there, so I thought I'd start one for mine.

I got her about a year ago, with about 145000 miles. 1996, 2wd Automatic extended cab. Here she is less than a month after I got her. I hadn't done many mods except replacing the radio. The tape deck got old fast, and I already had the headunit.




It's been in some kind of collision, you can see the damage here. The passenger headlight has been replaced.


The bed was really rough. I don't know much about the history of this truck, but I do know it was a fleet truck at one point. In the right light, you can see "How is my driving" and an 800 number.




The interior is surprisingly clean. I love the vinyl floor. It was several months before I noticed that the passenger seat doesn't match the driver seat...


Here is the replaced headunit. I'm not sure what that switch on the bezel did. It had broken off inside. I traced the wire back, and it disappears into the fuse box under the hood. I think it was probably for an orange strobe. I was looking in the owners manual, and I found a permit for an orange strobe for the state of New Jersey.


Here is the engine. She runs like a champ. I did recently replace the alternator, but it looked like the original one, so I'm not surprised.


Pretty soon I painted the bed. I used oil based enamel (or something) from Lowe's. It's a lot cheaper than bedliner, though I would really like to bedline it someday. It stood up about as well as I expected. It got scratched, but not too bad, until I hauled mulch. Now I really need to paint it again. I also got a $20 chest from Walmart and built a 2x4 frame to use as a tool box in the bed. It's easy to remove, just one bolt through the stake pocket, but it stays put.


Here I had her loaded down with a TON of sound gear I was hauling to a camp. Had to take it up a mountain. made it just fine. It was a lot easier coming down though. You can also see the CB antenna. I had that for a while, but I took it off. Now I have a shorter one that lives in the tool box in case I need it.

I added some HF Aux lights to the front, but they got broken in a fender bender (literally the only damage to my truck). After that, I bedlined the front bumper and grille. It looks great, but it's hard to clean. I actually have one wired up as an extra reverse light now.

Other mods:
- Almost everything swapped to LED. Only things left are front corners, 3rd brake light (I had that one converted, but had some issues, so I went back to the bulb), and idiot lights under the gauges.
- Mustang Dome light
- Expo Gauges with Tach. Gained a lot of new lights with that swap, which was unexpected.
- 3rd Brake Light with Cargo Light
- Bluetooth audio
- Custom switch panel (that is not hooked up to anything yet)
- Power locks with keyless entry

I have an Expo OHC I'm waiting to install. I need to get some wire.
I also have new ball joints and tie rod ends that I'm waiting to install.

Mods I want to do
- MOAR BEDLINER. (I want to do the rocker panels)
- Valance swap to one with fog lights
- New headlights (Thinking Anzo Clear Heads and Corners)
- Maybe new tails. I found some on ebay that look pretty good.
- HID Headlights and Fogs
- LED Aux Lights
- LED Reverse Lights
- Nexus 7 In Dash
- Coil spacers to level the front
- Adjustable Add a Leaf in the back to level the sagging springs
- Electric fan
- Expo seats and center console.

So anyway, that's my Ranger. I'll try to keep this thread up to date as I make changes.

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96 Ford Ranger XL, 3.0L V6 Auto, Black and White exterior, Aftermarket JVC headunit, Tinted windows, LED replacements for almost everything, Power locks (with Keyless Entry), Bed Armored front bumper and grille, Mustang Dome
BUILD THREAD!

Here's the bedlined front end:

I love the flat black. There's a few runs, but nothing too noticeable.


Here's the switch panel. It mounts right below the headunit. I have it installed now, but it's not connected to anything yet.


Not really Ranger related, but helpful. I took my dad's old grill and converted it to a portable work bench.

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96 Ford Ranger XL, 3.0L V6 Auto, Black and White exterior, Aftermarket JVC headunit, Tinted windows, LED replacements for almost everything, Power locks (with Keyless Entry), Bed Armored front bumper and grille, Mustang Dome
BUILD THREAD!

The paint looks amazing what kind of black paint did you use? I wanna do this to my 96

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1996 For Life

I installed the OHC on Saturday, but I haven't wired it up yet. I've also gotta go back to the junk yard and see if I can find the right temperature sensor. The one I got reads at 40 degrees in my room.

I also got my front corners switched to LEDs. Not as bright as I would like during the day, but bright enough.
The bumper and grille? It's Duplicolor Bed Armor. I got 2 cans for $20 at Advance Auto a while back. Here's an Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-BAA2010-Bed-Armor-Aerosol/dp/B004SJ16QG/
I really like it, I'm glad I did it. I think I'm gonna do the rocker panels when I have the time and money.

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96 Ford Ranger XL, 3.0L V6 Auto, Black and White exterior, Aftermarket JVC headunit, Tinted windows, LED replacements for almost everything, Power locks (with Keyless Entry), Bed Armored front bumper and grille, Mustang Dome
BUILD THREAD!

Wired up the OHC about a week ago. I should have taken pictures, but it was dark, and I just wanted to get it done. No temp sensor yet. That will have to wait on another trip to the junk yard.


Hauled a bunch of sound gear to a camp for the week. She sat way low, but I've loaded more weight than that.




On Thursday morning, we were sitting in the dining hall waiting for breakfast, when the nurse walked in and said that a tree had fallen across the road. We hopped in my truck and drove up there, and sure enough, a tree a foot thick was completely blocking the road.

Someone brought a chain saw, and we started to cut the tree. The chain was dull though, so we couldn't cut all the way through it. I didn't have a tow strap (getting one soon) so I wrapped a ratchet strap around the log, and tied the other end to the ball hitch. I thought the strap would break, but I managed to snap the log where we had been cutting it, and drag it almost all the way off the road before it broke.

I'm thinking I want some amber strobes in the windows for things like that. I'll have to check on the legality though.



When I got home, I found LED replacements for the map lights in the Mustang Dome and cargo lights that had come in the mail. Now I'm wondering what to do with the OHC map lights. I already have the map lights in the Mustang dome.

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96 Ford Ranger XL, 3.0L V6 Auto, Black and White exterior, Aftermarket JVC headunit, Tinted windows, LED replacements for almost everything, Power locks (with Keyless Entry), Bed Armored front bumper and grille, Mustang Dome
BUILD THREAD!

I wired up the reverse light to my switch panel (On-Off-Auto) one night. The next morning as I backed out, the reverse light got knocked loose. It wasn't broken. It just deformed the plastic enough to knock it loose. I fixed it, but I can't wait to get some LED reverse lights.

The next thing I am planning on doing is to replace the brake master cylinder. The ABS light has been on since I got it, and the tests I've done show that it's a problem in the master cylinder. Also, I've been getting a stiff brake pedal every now and then, which can be caused by the master cylinder going bad.

After that, I'm thinking a valance swap and add fog lights.

Then I want to do headlights and tail lights.
I like these a lot:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1993-1997-FO...9868c1&vxp=mtr

I'd like to do a front end swap and get the more modern headlights, but that's way out of my price range.

For tail lights, I like these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/93-97-Ford-R...f49ca7&vxp=mtr

I'm having some weird issues with my brake light. I've swapped the tail/brake lights with LEDs, and they work great. When I swap in an LED for the 3rd brake light, when the key is on, the brake lights are on at a low level. Some people have said this is a "feature" to let you know you have a light out. I'm thinking some higher powered LEDs for the tails/brakes would help trick it (lower resistance). Failing that, I guess I would have to install a resistor. I really don't want to do that though. Kinda defeats the purpose of the LEDs. Has anyone had this problem, and how did you fix it?

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96 Ford Ranger XL, 3.0L V6 Auto, Black and White exterior, Aftermarket JVC headunit, Tinted windows, LED replacements for almost everything, Power locks (with Keyless Entry), Bed Armored front bumper and grille, Mustang Dome
BUILD THREAD!

Great looking truck man, looking forward to see what else you have in store for it

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1993 XLT 2.3 Single cab 2wd
Used to be lifted, but now low and slow. Flipped hangers and cut coils up front for 2/2 drop. Soon to be 3/4, 17x8, 235/45/17 up front, 245/45/17 in the rear 300K+ miles
My Build Thread:[url]http://www.fordrangerforum.com/project-logs/89577-jldanger-rangers-build-thread.html[/url

Thanks. Nothing super exciting coming up, unfortunately. New master cylinder, ball joints, tie rod ends, repack wheel bearings, and maybe leveling kit in the front. I want to do it all at once so I only have to get one alignment.

Soon I'm hoping to get 4 new tires. I'm going larger, but sticking with all season tires. (I really have no need for all terrains) I've been watching Craigslist for some 15" wheels.

Also want to do some 06 mirrors, if anyone has some for sale.

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96 Ford Ranger XL, 3.0L V6 Auto, Black and White exterior, Aftermarket JVC headunit, Tinted windows, LED replacements for almost everything, Power locks (with Keyless Entry), Bed Armored front bumper and grille, Mustang Dome
BUILD THREAD!

Yeah, finding 15" wheels on cl is a b****

Sent from my VM670 using FRF App

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1993 XLT 2.3 Single cab 2wd
Used to be lifted, but now low and slow. Flipped hangers and cut coils up front for 2/2 drop. Soon to be 3/4, 17x8, 235/45/17 up front, 245/45/17 in the rear 300K+ miles
My Build Thread:[url]http://www.fordrangerforum.com/project-logs/89577-jldanger-rangers-build-thread.html[/url

Yeah, most people want to sell tires along with them. I can get a set of four wheels from Summit Racing for under $250 with free shipping. I'll probably just do that.

Does anyone know if a 235/75R15 tire will fit in the stock spare tire spot?

I'm looking at Michelin LTX M/S 2. They're about the same price as the BFG Radials I was going to get, but should last a lot longer.

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96 Ford Ranger XL, 3.0L V6 Auto, Black and White exterior, Aftermarket JVC headunit, Tinted windows, LED replacements for almost everything, Power locks (with Keyless Entry), Bed Armored front bumper and grille, Mustang Dome
BUILD THREAD!

Holy crap really?!? You mind sending me that link in a pm?? And I believe they should fit in the same spare tire location

Sent from my VM670 using FRF App

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1993 XLT 2.3 Single cab 2wd
Used to be lifted, but now low and slow. Flipped hangers and cut coils up front for 2/2 drop. Soon to be 3/4, 17x8, 235/45/17 up front, 245/45/17 in the rear 300K+ miles
My Build Thread:[url]http://www.fordrangerforum.com/project-logs/89577-jldanger-rangers-build-thread.html[/url

Sent.

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96 Ford Ranger XL, 3.0L V6 Auto, Black and White exterior, Aftermarket JVC headunit, Tinted windows, LED replacements for almost everything, Power locks (with Keyless Entry), Bed Armored front bumper and grille, Mustang Dome
BUILD THREAD!

Thanks! Ill be sure to take a look at that

Sent from my VM670 using FRF App

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1993 XLT 2.3 Single cab 2wd
Used to be lifted, but now low and slow. Flipped hangers and cut coils up front for 2/2 drop. Soon to be 3/4, 17x8, 235/45/17 up front, 245/45/17 in the rear 300K+ miles
My Build Thread:[url]http://www.fordrangerforum.com/project-logs/89577-jldanger-rangers-build-thread.html[/url

I've got all this to install soon. I'll probably get the master cylinder installed tomorrow, but the rest will have to wait a few days. I'm working in the afternoons this week, and I don't want to strand myself at home without a working vehicle.

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96 Ford Ranger XL, 3.0L V6 Auto, Black and White exterior, Aftermarket JVC headunit, Tinted windows, LED replacements for almost everything, Power locks (with Keyless Entry), Bed Armored front bumper and grille, Mustang Dome
BUILD THREAD!

Replaced the master cylinder today. No more ABS light means that I have ABS again!

The whole thing was pretty easy. Biggest difficulty was reconnecting the brake lines to the new master cylinder. They did not want to thread in.

Also the driver's side front bleeder was stripped out. I had to take a pair of vice grips to it. I'll replace it next time I have to bleed them.

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96 Ford Ranger XL, 3.0L V6 Auto, Black and White exterior, Aftermarket JVC headunit, Tinted windows, LED replacements for almost everything, Power locks (with Keyless Entry), Bed Armored front bumper and grille, Mustang Dome
BUILD THREAD!