My 98 Ranger - the never-ending project

I've posted some random pics here and there, but I figured it was time to put them all togather along with a list of things I've replaced on my truck.

I bought this truck in late November 2007 to replace my escort that didn't run too well in the cold. No, I didn't buy the truck because of the paint job, I bought it because it was a great deal. Four days later on the way back from Pittsburgh for thanksgiving, the weather changed from light rain to heavy snow very suddenly, and I crashed before I even had a chance to slow down. basically I slid sideways off the road, hit a sign with the right front corner, then tipped onto the driver side and slid for 20 feet. I had it towed to the wrecking yard, and came back for it 2 days later. I put the spare on, taped up the window, push started it, and drive it home. That truck either tried to kill me, or saved my life. Not sure which. Basically I've been fixing it little by little ever since.

Body parts replaced:
driver front door
windsheild
driver rear door
-fenders (wrong generation, made them fit, but they need to be replaced)
-header panel
-one headlight/turn signal
-one taillight
both mirrors
bed/tailgate
01 edge front fenders, hood, header panel, grill, headlights
06+ taillights

Maintenance items:
Brakes (everything, front and rear)
front upper and lower ball joints
inner and outer tie rods
passenger side cv shaft
front axle seals
AVM locking hubs
passenger side middle leaf
lift shackles
all u-joints
exhaust (custom 2.5 side exit cat-back)
intake manifold gasket (and all of the gaskets removed on the way to getting to it)
Alternator
flywheel
clutch
slave cylinder
all of the fluids except for brake fluid (thats next)
driver side outer cv boot
injectors
maf
iat
cts
coil pack
plugs
wires
iac
explorer leafs
blower motor resistor
fuel pump
shackle hangers
fuel filler neck


pics soon (lazy)

how it was when I bought it



four days later





after some temporary repairs including a headlight from my escort


and after painting flat black

stuck, not sure when

some of the "artwork" thats been on my truck since my friends discovered that you can draw on flat black with chaulk







more








sometimes I park like an asshole

my exhaust

fenders

123456

Some fun in rochester




my sub box


a fun weekend...

Screwing around (after my girlfriend started to sand off my paint)

Swapping out my bed




how the truck is right now








I still need a hood

If you were closer I'd trade ya hoods for shits and giggles...

I have a warped sense of humor so a panther on the hood would make my day

Chance said:

If you were closer I'd trade ya hoods for shits and giggles...

I have a warped sense of humor so a panther on the hood would make my day

Click to expand...

did you noticed the whole front passenger corner is fawked up?

ZMan said:

did you noticed the whole front passenger corner is fawked up?

Click to expand...

shhhh, don't tell him

Zman, you haven't seen my truck obviously

Actually I think the hood might be the only undamaged part on my truck

Swapped out my leaf springs yesterday. I had a broken middle leaf on one side, so I swapped for explorer leafs.

one of the new springs with the center pin flipped.

old on top(notice broken leaf), new on bottom

weird seeing the axle with no spring in the way


sits pretty good

With the explorer leaf springs in place of the rangers and the blocks, it sits about an inch higher.
It does ride a little stiffer, but in a good way. I would even say it handles better. The bit of axle wrap it had from the blocks is gone. I highly recomend doing this.

were did you find the explorer leaf?

bigjmcconnell

That would just kill me if I own a truck for 4 days and then wrecked it. Glad to see you kept it though.

Mabey the reason you wrecked was the truck didnt like the paint job so it took care of for you with you.

That sub setup you've got going there looks real clean man, I would like to do something like that in my back seat, what size is the sub?

did i see this truck on cardomain to