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'85 Ranger Restomod


85_Ranger4x4

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And I sure hope you gave them a good treat after that...
They went back to eating their supper (pictured upper left)
 


85_Ranger4x4

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I had something of a revelation on a t-case.

A guy posted in the V8 swap forum about what t-case fits the best. After my recent discoveries how big the NP208 is I suggested a NP205 for its compact size.

Then it hit me, why am I dinking around trying to piece together a Jeep 208 and a Ford 208 if I can just buy a Ford 205 that is basically ready to go? Still going to have to buy another t-case either way. Won't have to buy the extra thick clocking ring or cut down my output shaft. I will have a completely resealed Bronco NP-208 try to resell instead of a bunch of basically junk parts parts.

I talked him down some but here it is, I pick up it up next Saturday (wife has to be in Omaha then so I will already be halfway there)

https://lincoln.craigslist.org/pts/d/1979-ford-case/6471855171.html
 

BlackBII

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Sometimes the best option doesn't become obvious until you've tried a few different things. Looking forward to seeing it in your truck
 

85_Ranger4x4

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Sometimes the best option doesn't become obvious until you've tried a few different things. Looking forward to seeing it in your truck
Me too.

I had better save a lot of gas, I think I am going to have more $$ in this 5 speed swap than I did in the V8 swap at the rate it is going. But at least the engine won't sound like it is beating itself to death cruising down the highway at 3k rpm.
 
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85_Ranger4x4

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Starting to go back together. Cleaning/soaking parts. Brought it to work because I didn't think it was too good of an idea to be spraying brake cleaner next to the furnace in the basement...

Continuing on...

Cleaned the cosmoline off and soaking the syncro.



Before:



During:



That really makes it look bad when you look at it edge on:

 
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85_Ranger4x4

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Trans is set back together.



Swung by Lincoln U-Pull-It while I was there, found some nice interior trim pieces.



Theres the beef!

\
 

85_Ranger4x4

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It got into the 50's today so while it was loaded I gave it a bath. Kind of a bugger to move around, it is heavy (130-180lbs dry depending on where you read without the cast iron extension and lever) but it is a combo of it being hefty and no good place to grab the thing that makes it hard to sling around.

As my high school shop teacher would say, if you are going to cheat, cheat smartly. :icon_thumby:

By the way, the tailgates were level before I switched trucks. Didn't note how much each went up/down but that is a lot of change. The GMC's springs are whooped so I suppose it felt it more.





Looking forward to seeing it in your truck
It went right in, just swims in there. :icon_thumby:



It was sold as a '79 but I think it is a '77. Makes no difference to me either way, tag is cool though.



Popped the extension off to lose some weight, struck oil. Not sure why it started leaking after I took that off.



I think this will bolt on my my M5R2 and be the foundation of a stand to hold the trans upright during the input bearing setup. :yahoo:



Random thought I had. I think it could be made to work but by the time I make the linkage and weld new shafts I don't know if it would be really worth it vs $135 for a twin stick kit. Dunno, I will keep playing with it.



I do have a couple different ideas that have hit me so far. Cut off the bends and make a clamp on lever like what I have for my current t-case so I can adjust the lever angle if I want. Or... (ideally) cut the shifters off entirely and weld flat stock onto and bolt on two FX4LVII shifters (I have one right now) Not sure how much if at all I am going to clock the t-case and where the shifters are going to end up coming thru the floor at makes the two piece lever more appealing. I could get the bottom set up and done any time. And then as soon as everything is in the truck I could tweak the upper lever to fit.
 
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1qaz

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Nice score! The weather was nice today! And winter kicks us in the nuts again overnight.
 

Twister

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That things size is deceptive, its so damn heavy lol.

Sent from my LG-LS997 using Tapatalk
 

85_Ranger4x4

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Nice score! The weather was nice today! And winter kicks us in the nuts again overnight.
Same here. It was nice temp although very windy yesterday... 33 and lightly raining this morning.

That things size is deceptive, its so damn heavy lol.
You ended up with one didn't you? I forgot about that. How did yours fit?
 

BlackBII

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Looks like it has plenty of room! :icon_rofl:
 

Twister

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Same here. It was nice temp although very windy yesterday... 33 and lightly raining this morning.



You ended up with one didn't you? I forgot about that. How did yours fit?


It fit like it was suppose to be there.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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It fit like it was suppose to be there.
Spitballing off of the pic I took last January it should, I think I measured it at 13.5" from the center if the input to edge of the case, the 1350 is around 13". :D
 

85_Ranger4x4

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I was talking with dad how to make my stand the other day. He called me back today and told me he went ahead and just made it. I think it will work well, something similar would have been awesome when I had the C5 off and messed around with the pump a few years ago.

He thought he should put Ford on it so I didn't forget what it was for...



In taking apart the trans I lost a ball, the shop manual mentions it neither when tearing down or reassembling. Parts book actually shows it in front of the rear countershaft bearing. I found it laying in the bottom of the trans case and had no idea where it went. In comparing fit between it and the other 5/reverse detent ball I managed to launch it into low orbit never to be found again. The earlier transmissions used the same ball for both positions, mine has a smaller one on the countershaft. I could only ever find the part number for the bigger one (99611-2500)

In my experimentations a John Deere 400R ball fits nicely.

 
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BlackBII

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Total Lift
5
Tire Size
33
In taking apart the trans I lost a ball
Not something you read every day! :icon_twisted:

Glad you got this sorted. When I took mine apart, I made sure I had a magnet on hand to hold those little guys.
 

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