Rangebe...version 2.0

-Nathan- · Mar 23, 2011

Well, as most of you know, I couldnt kick the habit, and got ahold of another Ranger. This will be a dedicated trail rig, with stage 1 being a low-buck build, just to have fun with, and stage 2 will involve a SBF, 1 tons, and 38's.

Well for now here is the truck,

1993 Ford Ranger XL 4x4 2.3 L 5 speed, 250 000 km.

The bad....tranny is NOISY, right cab corner and tailgate rust (only spots), and 4x4 doesnt work.

-Nathan- · Mar 23, 2011

and so Stage 1 begins.....

Well I had a couple hours to kick around tonight, figured Id try a few things.

Well after checking the fuses an module, all that could have been left was the motor.

I crawled under the truck and this is what I saw...

shift motor wasnt even there. Found it tucked up in the frame rail.

Luckily I still had the t case from the old rangebe, and the shift motor on it worked flawlessly. So I pulled it.

for those of you who dont know, this plug attached to the shift motor wiring just pulls out of the hole on the t case, it is to indicate position of the t case (ie 4x4, 4lo)

Now, there is a brown wire attached to t case and shift motor for which there is no plug. You have to either take the t case apart (no thank you) or just snip it, and splice it in. I chose option number two.

So I took the new motor, cleaned up the mating surfaces and electrical connections, applies silicone dielectric grease to the connections. I just butt connected the brown wire, and used some heat shrink to seal it.

and here is the new motor in place...

Before Id push the buttons and get nothing...

but after the shift motor swap...

we have 4wd baby!

of course I took it for a rip, the auto hubs actually work quite well. The truck turned teh tires in 4x4 better than I had thought it would, and in 4 lo it will have more than enough snot to sling some mud

-Nathan- · Mar 23, 2011

oh... forgot to mention Ive got new wheels and meats

They are 31x11.5x15 TSL bias, with 90% tread, with cragar 15x9 wheels. I have 5 of each, and the 5th swamper has never even been mounted.

Will do the manual lockout swap, and a small lift before I put them on.

Stay tuned.

Ranger Sport Honduras · Mar 23, 2011

damn ur working fast!

4.0B2 · Mar 23, 2011

sweet..

'scribed.

ranger_mclaren · Mar 24, 2011

Nice! 4 wheel drive already!!

TastySloth · Mar 24, 2011

I vote tube bed! :icon_thumby:

...and subscribed.

MountainMike · Mar 24, 2011

Wicked, bought time we had brother trucks again

jhammel85 · Mar 24, 2011

Glad ur back.

And yes..You are definitely working fast, haha

86 slo-vo · Mar 24, 2011

nice ranger, its a shame your going to pull the 2.3...arent many of those trucks out there

keep it up

rkneeshaw · Mar 24, 2011

MountainMike said:
Wicked, bought time we had brother trucks again

I agree!

Glad to see you've got another 3rd gen, and nice work already! What are you dropping in place of the 2.3?

keep the updates coming

-Nathan- · Mar 25, 2011

The 2.3 will stay for at least a year or two. Than it will get swapped, not sure with what yet, maybe a 302, but Id like to throw a 4bt in it. Well see.

Going to junkyard saturday morning to source a grille, and parts for my homebrew lift. will post pics.

wahlstrom1 · Mar 25, 2011

I still vote for a turbo and prerunner it...

-Nathan- · Mar 25, 2011

Andrew believe me, I would LOVE to prerunner it, but that just doesnt suit the terrain here. It would be cool and all, but I dont want to have to drive south a thousand miles just to be able to run it. Plus I love wheeling in the snow

Whats your rig getting? 5.3? 4l60 or 80? If so let me know, I just got done rewiring a 5.3 into a 98 k2500, so all the little snags I hit, I can probably save you the trouble.

wahlstrom1 · Mar 25, 2011

You've got miles of ditches, and thousands of square miles of field all begging to be blasted through at excessive rates of speed!

My rangers gettin an 6.0l and an NV4500. Thanks for the offer, I'll let you know when I get that far.

Rangebe...version 2.0

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