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1988 Ranger Restoration - Keeping a Promise


ericbphoto

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Age
59
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
Chemistry has been attacking you. On the other hand, the spacer bushing looks brand new.
 


PetroleumJunkie412

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Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Chemistry has been attacking you. On the other hand, the spacer bushing looks brand new.
Yeah, figures... Just picked up two gallons of Corroseal on a BOGO sale :LOL:?

Bushings are the Prothane. Easy as heck to put in, but have to pull one back apart over squeaking. Packed the SOBs with their specialty grease and all, and still, *squeaky squeaky squeaky.*
The dog seems to like it. Every now and then he stares at the spot in the floor where its coming from. Holy crap do I hate that noise.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

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Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Aw sh*t....


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Nice gaping hole in the frame. Rest of the area is paper thin.

Have some 1/2 inch mild plate leftover from a blast plate.

Google-ing "how to fishplate a frame."
 

alwaysFlOoReD

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4.0,4.0,5.7
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No straight sharp corners.
ends of fishplate cut in a diamond [45 degrees].
Link coming shortly.....unfortunately I'm out of town and my laptop doesn't have the file to Fords Body Builder Advisory Service. When I look online it's not where I think it should be. If I remember I will upload it when I get home in a couple days.
 
Last edited:

PetroleumJunkie412

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Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
No straight sharp corners.
ends of fishplate cut in a diamond [45 degrees].
Link coming shortly.....unfortunately I'm out of town and my laptop doesn't have the file to Fords Body Builder Advisory Service. When I look online it's not where I think it should be. If I remember I will upload it when I get home in a couple days.
Greatly appreciate it. I don't have the time right now to get another frame, nor do I know of one available. ?
 

Ranger850

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Born with a 3.0, looking for a donor V8
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Stock 2"
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Stock
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pretty sure its been discussed here somehwere. i remember somebody had to do it and even posted pics.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

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Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Any suggestions on mods while I have the bed off??
 

PetroleumJunkie412

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Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Just some photography

Needle scaler was run to everything from the transfer case to rear bumper. 5 gallon bucket worth of rust removed.

Two holes, one thin spot. Not bad.

Shot a gallon of corroseal on entire frame and underside of the bed and fenders. Let's see if it works.

Re-repaired some old frame repairs. New cab mount on. Fishplates are next.

Thought about running some diagonal braces in the frame. Not sure yet.

Oh, and a good shot of the rear KiaGuard9000 and the brackets I had to make for it.

_20190516_221247.JPG
_20190516_220328.JPG
_20190516_220229.JPG
_20190516_220246.JPG
_20190516_220215.JPG
 

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PetroleumJunkie412

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Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Now that the weather has started warming up, I'm beginning to see some issues developing from the headers.

Went for a long drive on the Interstate today. Mostly 65-75 mph. Temperature gauge was not having fun. I could literally watch a difference in engine temperatures when the sun was out versus when a cloud would pass by. Seems I'm having some issues blowing the "stank" out from under the hood.

Well, looks like i need to put "fender vents / cut hood for cowl induction" on the to-do list; this will only get worse as the engine build continues.

When I got home, I had an hour or two to kill. Since the 2.9 is allergic to heat, figured no time like the present to start correcting a potential issue. Took the initative, and installed the Mercedes C230 Kompresor pusher fans. They are from the same car from which I pulled the M62 supercharger. They fit like they were made for it.

I can't express how brilliant the fit is. All I needed to do was remove the plastic shroud from the fan unit and drill four holes in my core support. Even re-used the 'benz bolts that were on the fans. Oh, hidden bonus, the fan units are aluminum. Gotta love Mercedes. (y)

They easily move 3x the air that the 16" electric puller does. These things are like a freakin' tornado on the front of the radiator. I was planning on installing a bigger radiator (eventually) for towing and truck stuff/driving way too fast on dirt roads. No need now.

Tested them out in the driveway. Let the truck get up to temperature with the hood down and the 'benz fans off. I have the windshield wiper linkage access plate removed on the cowl to encourage airflow through the engine bay. Without the 'benz fans, I had the normal heat tsunami running out of the cowl.

Kicked on the 'benz fans. within 2 minutes, air was leaving the cowl at slightly above ambient temp, as well as pouring out of the gaps in the fender skirts. These things WORK.

Hit the bottom of the radiator with the laser temp. By time coolant is getting back to the engine, it's at ambient temperature. Heh.

Video of them in action:


Need to figure out how I want to control them. Either temperature activated by the coolant or ambient engine bay temperature, or road speed activated to kick on while in traffic. Probably going to opt for a temperature probe by the fuel rail and allow the intake area temperature control them. Should give me the desired result of them running when at low speed and while stuck in traffic, and turning off when cruising.

Photo of them installed. LIKE A GLOVE. Just need to get rid of the paint marker mess.

_20190519_182801.JPG
 
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PetroleumJunkie412

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Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
The blackout continues thanks to a lucky find at the junkyard. Just need to locate an armrest.

And yes, they're power seats.  :headbang::headbang::headbang:


_20190522_183811.JPG
 
Last edited:

racsan

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ford/escape
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2.5 (4 Cylinder)
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2.5/151 I-4
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Automatic
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2WD
Tire Size
235/70/16
My credo
the grey-t escape
Very nice! I had bad frame rust and cab mount issues too. From the rearmost spring hangers back there was only top & bottom frame rails, looked like a shotgun had been took to the middle part of frame. I slid some channel iron over the frame rails after treating what was left with por-15. Also had to plate drivers side of frame from front spring hanger forward to the cab mount attaching point. Your floorpan takes the cake though. I’ve never seen one that bad except on a 51 Plymouth Cambridge that had set in the mud for over 30 years.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

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Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Very nice! I had bad frame rust and cab mount issues too. From the rearmost spring hangers back there was only top & bottom frame rails, looked like a shotgun had been took to the middle part of frame. I slid some channel iron over the frame rails after treating what was left with por-15. Also had to plate drivers side of frame from front spring hanger forward to the cab mount attaching point. Your floorpan takes the cake though. I’ve never seen one that bad except on a 51 Plymouth Cambridge that had set in the mud for over 30 years.
I kid you not when I say this, I was told by the previous owners daughter that the truck had not been washed once the entire time her father owned it. He just wiped it down.

Now it gets an undercarriage wash once a week in winter, once a month in summer. I think I may be accelerating problems by doing this, but I don't mind as it let's me find and fix them quickly.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

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Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
The blackout continues.

_20190525_213051.JPG


_20190525_213113.JPG



Oh. Just a fitment note - the arm rest is from a 98-01 Explorer. It does fit, and gives you two more cup holders. For a back seat, which in my case no longer exists.

In a strange way, my Ranger has now become a two seater with a loud V6. TAKE THAT SPORTS CAR PEOPLE! ?
 
Last edited:

alwaysFlOoReD

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Make / Model
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Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Did you photoshop the dash and column in there...they look so shiny black. lol.
 

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