Project Eco-Mod rat, sleeper, 4-banger, thing

1qaz · Sep 3, 2018

Those wheels and tires look great! They're just screaming for that drop! :icon_thumby:

HighMileage93 · Apr 2, 2019

How's this project going/

jpark6491 · Oct 18, 2019

Isk Stark said:
Labor day weekend with new wheels/tires.

Should have got the springs and flip kit installed, but was stalled by a lack of tie-rod fork...

What kind of wheels/tires did you get? They look good!

Isk Stark · Apr 8, 2021

Here are the results of one months work by myself. Both front Belltech springs and shocks are in. Rear DJM on the passenger side is done. Still have one more corner to go. With the fuel tank being in the way, I suspect I'll need to cut off the front spring bolt, and possibly the rear as well. The driverside leaf also sags, so I'm thinking another new leaf will be needed. Reused the shock bellows from the old Rancho shocks since the DJM shocks didn't include new bellows.

The front springs were supposed to bring her down 3", but I'm not seeing it. Maybe I just need to drive it on the new set up for it to settle.

The frame was also in pretty decent shape. No perforations. All surface rust only. Scraped, sanded and sprayed with different kinds of rust products:

Rustoleum Reformer/paint
Harbor Freight rust reformer
Duplicolor Rust reformer/paint
Some generic rubberized undercoating from O'reilly's.

I'm going to be removing the spare tire shelf. That's why I haven't touched it with the rust sprays.

Isk Stark · Apr 8, 2021

jpark6491 said:
What kind of wheels/tires did you get? They look good!

Thank you. The wheels were the Jegs steelies and tires are Mastercraft Avengers.

don4331 · Apr 8, 2021

The 3" front drop assumes you have a 4.0/auto... As your engine is about 100lbs lighter you will see proportionately less drop...

Isk Stark · Apr 9, 2021

don4331 said:
The 3" front drop assumes you have a 4.0/auto... As your engine is about 100lbs lighter you will see proportionately less drop...

Interesting theory.

Here's the one on the truck: It's for 2002 Ford Ranger XLT 2.3l L4, RWD, Standard Cab Pickup

Belltech Sport Trucks and Muscle Cars

Belltech Lowering Coil Springs have been engineered to provide the visual lowering you are looking for with the quality that you have come to expect from Belltech. Unlike other lowering springs on the market, Belltech specializes in not only ride comfort

www.belltech.com

don4331 · Apr 9, 2021

You will note that spring part number is same for all coil spring Rangers from '98 to '11, no differentiation for RC SB/RC LB/SC SB, engine size, transmission, or with/without a/c). While Ford had 5 different options.

The amount of lowering achieved for a 4.0 SC SB with A/C & auto will be a lot more than a 2.3 RB SB with manual/without A/C.

Isk Stark · Apr 10, 2021

don4331 said:
You will note that spring part number is same for all coil spring Rangers from '98 to '11, no differentiation for RC SB/RC LB/SC SB, engine size, transmission, or with/without a/c). While Ford had 5 different options.

The amount of lowering achieved for a 4.0 SC SB with A/C & auto will be a lot more than a 2.3 RB SB with manual/without A/C.

No need to get defensive. My reply to you was neutral.

Uncle Gump · Apr 11, 2021

Isk Stark said:
No need to get defensive. My reply to you was neutral.

I don't think he was being defensive... he is a really helpful fella.

Honestly... I don't believe it's a theory... it's simple physics.

I'm happy to see you still pluggin away on your project... looking forward to your progress.

Isk Stark · Jun 15, 2021

The driver-side is lower than the passenger side for some reason. The only thing I can think of is that maybe the passenger side LCA is tighter than the driver-side LCA. Just been too lazy to crawl underneath.

Broke the piece of the grill that slides underneath the headlight, so I patched it with an old license plate. It'll pass inspection now.

And replaced the steering wheel with something lighter.

Replaced valve cover gasket, plugs, transmission filter, rear end gasket. She's purring pretty good now. Probably should change the brakes out soon. Need to reconnect the parking brake. And re-route the exhaust. Had to chop the exhaust when I flipped the springs, and I didn't quite chop it far enough so now it's hitting the pipe every time it compresses.

Dirtman · Jun 15, 2021

Just curious, if you have inspection in your area, are you gonna pass after you removed the airbag? :dunno:

Isk Stark · Jun 15, 2021

Dirtman said:
Just curious, if you have inspection in your area, are you gonna pass after you removed the airbag?

Luckily for Fords as long as the airbag light is off.

Air Bag Readiness Light
Procedure: Turn the ignition key to the on position. The air bag readiness light will indicate normal
system operation by lighting for 6-8 seconds, and then turn off. A system malfunction is indicated by the
flashing or continuous illumination of the readiness light or failure of the light to turn on, or if five sets of five
"beeps" are heard (concurrent with indicator failing to light).

Reject Vehicle If:
. The air bag indicator fails to light, or continuously flashes, or if five sets of five "beeps" are heard
(concurrent with indicator failing to light).

General Motors Vehicles
Air Bag Readiness Light
Procedure: Turn the ignition key to the on position. The air bag readiness light will indicate normal
system operation by blinking 7-9 times, then turn off. The continuous flashing or illumination of the
readiness light or failure of the light to turn on indicates a system malfunction.

Reject Vehicle If:
. The air bag indicator fails to light or continuously flashes or illuminates.
. An air bag is not operable, has been deflated, or is missing from a vehicle that was originally
equipped

89Twincharge · Jun 20, 2021

You shouldn't tighten lca while jacked up. So if you loosen then retighten while it's on the ground it should level out... its preloading the suspension sort of ish. Nice build keep it up!

Isk Stark · Mar 22, 2022

A lot done in the past couple of weeks. Rattle canned and removed the ac/heater.

Still need to patch the hole in the firewall and finish building the wooden tailgate.

Neighbor is going to sell me a brand new Innovate LM-2 for CHEAP. Will come in handy for later.

Project Eco-Mod rat, sleeper, 4-banger, thing

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