adsm08's Ranger build up

[88_Eddie]

looks good, how are thinking of attaching the gear numbers and ford emblem on the top? if you wanna dress it up a bit, get some painters tape and tape off the outside and then paint the grooves at the top ford blue or black or whatever color your truck is. i think it would look good

 

[adsm08]

So I may be having a change of plans now.

I was originally gonna D-35 and 8.8 the Ranger and then SAS whatever B2 I end up getting and make it a tow rig. I'm thinking now that I might but the D-35 in the Ranger for now and then SAS it when I get the B2, take the 35 off the Ranger and put it in the B2.

Thoughts?

looks good, how are thinking of attaching the gear numbers and ford emblem on the top? if you wanna dress it up a bit, get some painters tape and tape off the outside and then paint the grooves at the top ford blue or black or whatever color your truck is. i think it would look good

Paint. I'm not gonna attach an emblem, I'm gonna pounce one out and paint it on. I already have the pattern ready, I just need some chalk dust and terry cloth to move it over. I'll get picks of that tonight and post them up with some I've already taken.

Inside of the truck is red, so I might do that. I'll have to think about that.

 

[adsm08]

More pics from the shifter project:
My first, failed attempt to get the pattern onto some tape:
On paper

Holes punched out

Taped in place

When I tried to pounce it out so I could trace the emblem on the tape I found out my holes weren't big enough and it didn't work... so I got a better idea:

put the tape right on my computer screen and traced it, worked much better

The original pattern on the tape, on the piston:

Then I cut the whole oval out and just brushed some Ford blue over it, forgot to take a pic of that. Stuck the oval cut out up inside the piston so I didn't lose it. Let the blue paint dry over night and then I cut out the letters today after dinner. I got out a manila file folder, stuck the oval cut-out to it lightly, and cut the letters out with an Xacto, and peeled them back. Then I stuck the oval back on sans letters:

I had to cut the centers out of the O and D and set them aside and then stick them back in on the piston so I didn't white out the holes in the letters. I also had to run the sharp edge of the knife back against the cutout as I pulled it off the folder to keep the adhesive on the tape and not take up a bunch of paper with it.

 

[88_Eddie]

what kind of paint are you using

 

[Grunizzle]

Cool shift knob idea but it looks way to large to be comfortable or anything...

 

[adsm08]

what kind of paint are you using

Just using cheapo Testors model paint. This isn't anything super special, it has the rough-edged look to the numbers and letters that I wanted, but if I was doing one for someone else I'd probably go get some higher quality stuff.

Cool shift knob idea but it looks way to large to be comfortable or anything...

It is big, and a lot of people have said that, but I think it's going to work out better than people think.

A lot of people I know grab onto the shifter, I prefer to palm it and not actually close my hand around it. The heel of my hand sits in the cup of the piston perfectly with my fingers sitting off the front edge. I'm setting it up so that if I get it on and don't like it I can put it back stock pretty easy.

 

[Grunizzle]

A lot of people I know grab onto the shifter, I prefer to palm it and not actually close my hand around it. The heel of my hand sits in the cup of the piston perfectly with my fingers sitting off the front edge. I'm setting it up so that if I get it on and don't like it I can put it back stock pretty easy.

as long as you like how it looks and feels thats all that matters

 

[adsm08]

Yup

 

[88_Eddie]

i think it would be great for me, i have huge hands

 

[adsm08]

Well once I get it in there I'll let you know how I like it. I'm stuck now trying to figure out how to pin-stripe the lettering in the Ford Logo. It looks kinda stupid going straight from white to blue, and it has a few rough edges I'd like to smooth out. Problem is I don't have a brush that small and in this whole freaking town I can't find 1 lousy tooth-pick.

Maybe I'll go see what O'Relly's has tomorrow if I get time.

 

[Boggin]

i love this truck lol

 

[adsm08]

Thanks man. I love it too.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

nice improvements on the shifter, hope to see it done soon!

 

[adsm08]

Thanks man. I should have it in in a week or so. My big hold up right now is that I don't have anything good enough to cut through a connecting rod and I don't have a tap and die.

Incidentally, does anyone know how deep the hole in the M5 shift lever goes?

 

[adsm08]

how deep the hole in the M5 shift lever goes?

Answer: deep enough, found my good flash light and took a look down there. I think it ends around the weld where the lever starts to get thicker.