masanders
Active Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2016
- Messages
- 219
- Reaction score
- 36
- Points
- 28
- Location
- Greenville, SC
- Vehicle Year
- 2000
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- 2.5 (4 Cylinder)
- Engine Size
- 2.5L
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 2WD
- Tire Size
- 235/75/15
- My credo
- Don't get louder, improve your argument.
Hey guys! I figured I’d start the beginning of a build thread for my truck. Things will go slowly, but I’d rather take a long time and get it right than rush.
This was my Father’s truck.
A 2000 Ford Ranger XLT with a 2.5L and MT. I’ve been with this truck since the start. The day my dad and I went to go pick the Ranger up, his 1986 Mazda B2000
died in the Ford parking lot. Yup...that’s me in the bed.
After Dad passed, the truck sat and wasn’t used for about 3 years. Once it was given to me I rigged up some tow hooks to the frame
I pulled it around to a better working spot and put it on jack stands all around.
Since it hadn’t been started in a while and I knew it would need a lot to get it going so I sold the truck I was currently driving, a 2006 Ranger XLT 2.3L AT. Got about $2500 out of it and threw it all at the ‘00.
It needed a lot of work...coils, plugs, tires, oil, sensors, gaskets, injectors, brakes, discs, and a lot more than I can remember. When I first fired it up it was rough. Turns out it had a #2 cylinder misfire and a lot of water in the gas. It also had a goober of an owner who wired the coils to the plugs wrong [emoji2957]. After I finally got them wired right, it ran well enough.
I ended up putting in a JVC-430BT double din radio in with a Bazooka sub and Rockford Fosgate speakers in the door. I hated that radio, sub, AND those speakers! They were mismatched, glitchy, and sounded like tin. Fast forward a while I now have a Pioneer AVH 500-EX with Skar 6x8 speakers and a Crunch 8” powered sub (CR-8A)
behind the seat. Sounds AMAZING!!!
I also put an Explorer console in but have yet to put a new shift boot and knob on.
Currently I’m working on some white face gauges from a Sport Trac.
The green film has been sanded off and I’ve been working on putting colors on the backs so they have blue main lights with red where the “red line” would start on both tach and speedo. The LEDs are on the way. As soon as I get that done I will post the pics.
NOW here’s where I’m getting a “creative block”. I’m not sure where to go from here. Thought about lowering it 2/3 but have heard a lot about the crappy ride. I’ve thought about leveling the truck or lifting it just enough. Nothing crazy. I would like to trail ride with my uncle and cousins, but I have an open diff. Not any rock crawling, just gravel and dirt. I’m not sure how to proceed both properly and economically. Suggestions?
Things I know I’m going to do: exhaust (Gibson or Dynomax), going to have it painted (possibly blue or black), wheels, possibly tires depending on my altitude adjustment, some reupholstering with Marine grade vinyl like the console lid I did, and full LED swap inside and out.
So that’s it for now. I welcome any suggestions, tips, tricks, and help that y’all might send my way.
Later
This was my Father’s truck.
A 2000 Ford Ranger XLT with a 2.5L and MT. I’ve been with this truck since the start. The day my dad and I went to go pick the Ranger up, his 1986 Mazda B2000
After Dad passed, the truck sat and wasn’t used for about 3 years. Once it was given to me I rigged up some tow hooks to the frame
Since it hadn’t been started in a while and I knew it would need a lot to get it going so I sold the truck I was currently driving, a 2006 Ranger XLT 2.3L AT. Got about $2500 out of it and threw it all at the ‘00.
It needed a lot of work...coils, plugs, tires, oil, sensors, gaskets, injectors, brakes, discs, and a lot more than I can remember. When I first fired it up it was rough. Turns out it had a #2 cylinder misfire and a lot of water in the gas. It also had a goober of an owner who wired the coils to the plugs wrong [emoji2957]. After I finally got them wired right, it ran well enough.
I ended up putting in a JVC-430BT double din radio in with a Bazooka sub and Rockford Fosgate speakers in the door. I hated that radio, sub, AND those speakers! They were mismatched, glitchy, and sounded like tin. Fast forward a while I now have a Pioneer AVH 500-EX with Skar 6x8 speakers and a Crunch 8” powered sub (CR-8A)
I also put an Explorer console in but have yet to put a new shift boot and knob on.
Currently I’m working on some white face gauges from a Sport Trac.
The green film has been sanded off and I’ve been working on putting colors on the backs so they have blue main lights with red where the “red line” would start on both tach and speedo. The LEDs are on the way. As soon as I get that done I will post the pics.
NOW here’s where I’m getting a “creative block”. I’m not sure where to go from here. Thought about lowering it 2/3 but have heard a lot about the crappy ride. I’ve thought about leveling the truck or lifting it just enough. Nothing crazy. I would like to trail ride with my uncle and cousins, but I have an open diff. Not any rock crawling, just gravel and dirt. I’m not sure how to proceed both properly and economically. Suggestions?
Things I know I’m going to do: exhaust (Gibson or Dynomax), going to have it painted (possibly blue or black), wheels, possibly tires depending on my altitude adjustment, some reupholstering with Marine grade vinyl like the console lid I did, and full LED swap inside and out.
So that’s it for now. I welcome any suggestions, tips, tricks, and help that y’all might send my way.
Later
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