'85 Ranger Restomod

[85_Ranger4x4]

Seat covers look good and like they might actually stay in place. I've bought AutoZone ones before and they just move around underneath you. Missing the front driveshaft?

Nope, it is in the garage.

Clearance is tight after the 5 speed D35 swap and the boot is up against the exhaust. So I just poke it on without the boot the morning of trail rides and pull it off before I go home.

Not ideal and I really need to address it. Trying to get brave enough to get it done botween the car show on the 21st and the trail ride...

 

[Blmpkn]

Let me know how those Bilsteins end up working out for you. Especially on highways with lots of rough cracks that have been patched, etc. I've been meaning to buy a set for ages now for my V8 truck, but I'm sure that I'll never get it to ride smooth ever again with the low profile tires. Plus the price tag is awfully hard to swallow at $76 each.

Is 300 bucks for a complete set of something that's going to function for what could be 100k miles REALLY that much?

 

[Dirtman]

Is 300 bucks for a complete set of something that's going to function for what could be 100k miles REALLY that much?

Yes if something else can do the same thing for 299 bucks.

 

[Blmpkn]

Lol fair enough!

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Is 300 bucks for a complete set of something that's going to function for what could be 100k miles REALLY that much?

It is when you've read reviews stating the shocks blew out in the same mileage as other cheapo options. Then there's the question, do they actually improve your ride that much, or is it just the owners being full of pride about their new installation and your mind playing tricks on you..?

 

[Blmpkn]

It is when you've read reviews stating the shocks blew out in the same mileage as other cheapo options. Then there's the question, do they actually improve your ride that much, or is it just the owners being full of pride about their new installation and your mind playing tricks on you..?

Your not exactly wrong. All depends on usage I suppose. Someone who beats the hell out of their truck won't have shocks that last as long as someone who only commutes, regardless of brand or price paid. The human element needs to be taken into consideration as well.. not every shock gets assembled with the same care. Bilstiens made on Mondays and Fridays probably blow out at the same mileage the 30$ kyb option would

I will say though.. bilstiens DO ride good. I'll be snagging some for my 21' whenever I have the money to waste replacing 10k mile shocks lol.

 

[RustyShackleford94]

The 5100s on my GMC outlasted my old duratacs if that says anything about the quality. They ride as good today as the day i put them on.

 

[Shran]

Me and my buddy who has an Explorer both trashed a set of parts store shocks (Monroe I think) in less than 2000 miles. And that was just from use on dirt roads...nothing crazy. Cheap shocks are so bad these days! I've pulled some presumably OEM shocks out of junker trucks that had the whole top cover part rusted off and they still worked.

What's your plan for the front driveshaft?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Me and my buddy who has an Explorer both trashed a set of parts store shocks (Monroe I think) in less than 2000 miles. And that was just from use on dirt roads...nothing crazy. Cheap shocks are so bad these days! I've pulled some presumably OEM shocks out of junker trucks that had the whole top cover part rusted off and they still worked.

Its kind of like tires too. Somebody gets new ones and "OMG they are so much better than the old ones!" out of the gate. Well yeah, you got new ones because the old ones were bad dummy.

I have had 5100's in the rear for a year, I still like them. I need to replace the steering box and then it would drive like a new truck.

What's your plan for the front driveshaft?

What caught me was a combo of two things:

1. The D35 pinion is higher compared to a D28
2. The BW1350 tcase had a slip yoke for the front output so there was no boot to fuss over.

The exhaust needs reworked no matter what, I am thinking bring it back farther with a bigger radius.

I may need a custom driveshaft I can run with the telescoping bits on the t-case end to cure it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

And the sun rises on car show day...

 

[ericbphoto]

And the sun rises on car show day...

View attachment 64562

Check your pm

 

[1qaz]

A great show in small town Iowa. Nice pic!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

A great show in small town Iowa. Nice pic!

And there was actually more than one Ranger there!

 

[ericbphoto]

And there was actually more than one Ranger there!

View attachment 64589

Yeah. But both of those trucks are probably owned by the same family.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah. But both of those trucks are probably owned by the same family.

Hey, if i gotta marry into a family and wait 4 years to get a fellow Ranger at the show... a guy has to do what he has to do!

There is talk it may convoy with me to the roundup this year too.