Sport97's sport

sport97 · September 27, 2011

I didn't realize how much a good coat of wax would protect from brush scratches
(2 coats of megs). Over the weekend I was on some really tight trails dragging a lot of brush down the sides. I have leaves all in my backseat from the branches coming in my windows. I figured I jacked up the paint badly like the last time, and would need to buff it all out. I washed it after and I only got one, one inch scratch. Very impressive considering how over grown the trails are.

I was fairly impressed how the explorer did. In one rock/rutted area I kept getting a wheel up and losing traction. Hit it with a little more gas and got right up and over. Locker, or more travel would help there. Other than that it was smooth sailing. I can't tell you how nice it rides over rocks with these rancho shocks. I love them.

sport97 · October 7, 2011

Today I took the safari bar off, as well as the bumper valance. This was harder than removing leaf springs. I broke a socket in half, and busted my knuckles up. I hate rust...

The plan is to add tow hooks, and also mount fog lights into the bumper opening, and get a set of hellas on the bumper. Possible addition of a skid plate, but i'm not sure yet.

Glen4X4 · October 7, 2011

That sucks, but awesome!

sport97 · October 8, 2011

Hmmm. I like the look of the bumper without the valance, but the rad hangs down low and is visible and unprotected. I will definitely need a skid plate or its going to get hit or punctured with sticks

sport97 · October 8, 2011

Junkyard trip today. Failed at finding a ranger skid plate and a new sport style center console. Although I did snag a 8'' sub enclosure for 6 bucks. Sound is much better than with the small 6" enclosure that I modified. Some guy gave me 5 bucks to take out a window for him, so I basically spent a buck.

Also picked up a set of pioneer 6x8s for free on craigslist. They are a matching set as the ones I have in the back. They seem to work, so on Tuesday they go into the front doors.

sport97 · October 9, 2011

Put a few miles off the road today. Me and a few buddy's jumped in the ex and hit the dirt. I got a few funny looks from the quad guys when we were way back in there. Most people don't take cars all the way up. It did great and crawled right over any rocks in the way. I heard some rattling going on underneath. Maybe a heat shield. I was hitting stuff kind of hard. I need to trim my fender out more. I slammed my wheel really hard into the fender on my out of a big puddle that had a good lip coming out of it.

I was kinda upset because the lower part of the road heading up the mountain was widened and cleared out last week to use as a skid road for logging.

sport97 · October 16, 2011

I think my multiswitch thing is broken. It buzzes when I turn on the left signal. I also have some sort of sort near the wiper motor, when it rains the wipers go crazy. They work fine if its dry.

I think I also have an intake leak. I need to check for it. I have a sucking sound and it has a hesitation when I get on the gas, and makes a hissing sound when I turn it off.

I also noticed a gnarly smell when I am running the engine really hard, like 4-6k rpm hill climb passes and such. Temp gauge stays put.

I have also determined my stopping distance from 60mph has got to be like 75 yards. Even on a wet road I can't get ABS. The rear brakes also sound like they are grabbing at low speeds, 7-8mph and less, I can hear them groan.

Seems like s**t is gonna hit the fan soon. The little "1" is creepin up on the odometer. Should be in full bloom in a month.

sport97 · November 8, 2011

Little update:

Haven't done much, been busy doing body work on my grandparents 96 buick.
Garage kept but its a total mess. I took it on thinking it was a sand and paint deal. Both rockers, drivers fender, and in front and behind the driver rear wheel all need metal added, and several other spots need sanded and painted. Also I'm sure my neighbor is going to ask my hand helping him with his model A restore. He is 72 and doing his first ever restore. I haven't seen the magnitude of that project yet.

My turn signal hasn't been an issue recently. I thrashed the multi switch around in anger of it not working and its been going good now for a few weeks(knock on wood)

Still having some rough idle issues- my idle dips down to 200rpm at red lights, and even in park and it does it with a consistent pattern of stumbling and recovering, but its only every few days. (still have fuel filter, plugs and wires to install

)

Avoid Diehard batteries. Trash. Mine is 2 1/2 years old and its gone. Died on me a few times this month. Cleaned the connects and tried to charge it but it wont even take a 100% charge with my charger. I think its still under free replacement period. Gonna see if I can pay a little extra to get more CCAs for those 0 degree mornings.

Been looking into having a skid plate made to protect my rad. Hoping for 3/16 stainless, but if stainless is too pricey just regular 3/16 with many coats of paint or herculiner. Also going to throw on some tow hooks up front.

I can't get the fog light brackets off. I broke my 10mm trying. I broke my 3/4 inch on my safari bar. I have to take the bumper off for the tow hooks so i'll torch or use the cutting wheel then I guess.

I better get the party hat ready to put on the ex, early next week is the 100k mark.

sport97 · November 13, 2011

Not that many people follow along here but I hit 100k yesterday, doing what the ex does best, work. I was towing a loaded trailer. Had a little scare though, I thought I was going to break down at 99998 miles. I was pulling out from a stop light and it just would not go, I slammed the shifter into 1 and buried the pedal and I still could not gain any speed until it finally kicked in and went. I realize I had a loaded trailer (maybe 1500-2000) but this was not due to the weight, something is wrong.

My guess is i think my Cats are going bad, I have a sulfur smell when the engine is under load, and it would explain the lack of performance i've seen a few times. Add that to the master cylinder that needs replaced, and the exhaust that is starting to leak, time to do some repairs i guess.

sport97 · December 2, 2011

Skid plate will hopefully be installed next week some if the weather holds out. I need to get my hands on some f150 tow hooks as well. Looks like a junkyard trip is in order.

sport97 · December 6, 2011

Been playing around with some ideas on how I want to work switches. I'm going to use the stock fog light switch with a relay to run 55w rectangle lights in the opening of the bumper since I've ditched the bumper valance, and as soon as I fire up the torch, the fog lights will be out too.

I also want to run 6" round lights on the bumper, and possibly add extra lights in the back somewhere and maybe a roof light bar somewhere down the road. For that I was thinking about going and getting a few stock switches from the junkyard and mounting them into a piece of small panel of plastic which will be attached over the little useless pocket in the radio dash adapter thing for my stereo. I'll probably bondo it in and paint the whole piece to make it look stockish. The goal is to keep it clean looking. Might be a fun winter project after my skid plate and tow hooks, and it won't cost me much money at all either, which is a big plus.

My buddy just traded in his f150, I was so mad, I wish I would've known, I would have taken his tow hooks off before he did!

sport97 · December 12, 2011

Getting my plate tomorrow. I've also determined for sure there is a hole in my muffler. Now begins the daunting task of finding a muffler than sounds good on the sohc. Also I've spotted bubbling in the paint above the gas cap, guess that's springs project. I can't escape the rust! I'm just finishing rust repair on my grandparents Buick (both rockers were toast, front fender was partly rotted out, there was rust around the gas door, a hole in the quarter panel, hole behind the rear door, and rust on all the fender lips. Not fun, at all. Slap me next time I say I will fix someone else's car)

MidnightRebel07 · December 13, 2011

Gotta love the rustbelt of western Pa.. For a muffler, check out Spintech or Magnaflow. Flowmasters a re over rated and rust out from the inside out, mine only lasted for two years and it was gone.

sport97 · December 13, 2011

Thanks for the tip, I didn't think about the rust issue and the new muffler.

sport97 · December 14, 2011

MidnightRebel07 said:
Gotta love the rustbelt of western Pa.. For a muffler, check out Spintech or Magnaflow. Flowmasters a re over rated and rust out from the inside out, mine only lasted for two years and it was gone.

I checked out spintech, I saw on a muffler chart that they are very loud. I don't want something that loud. I have read a fair amount of reviews that the magnaflow sound ricey. The flowmasters are notorious for droning, which I do not want. I was looking at gibson, but can't find any good reviews. All of this as led me to the conclusion....I need a v8.

Jerry, what muffler do you have now?

sport97 · December 25, 2011

Got a little cash for christmas, and got paid from work, and for a project I was doing. I am going to order a flowmaster 70 series muffler, and some fog lights with my cash :thumbsup:

sport97 · December 26, 2011

Skid plate installed, straightened my bumper a tad, chopped off the old fogs and put on 2 new ones:

sport97 · December 26, 2011

Skid plate was purchased here: http://www.fordrangerforum.com/exterior-parts/26949-skid-plates.html

I'd recommend this plate, it is very stout. 3/16 steel, CNC cut. The seller is willing to make any changes, or take measurements, or help in way you want, very pleasant to do business with.

I only had to drill 2 holes, but i think the 4 door ex's may have all 4 holes to start.

Glen4X4 · December 26, 2011

Thats cool, looks good. Where did you drill?

sport97 · December 26, 2011

Glen4X4 said:
Thats cool, looks good. Where did you drill?

Thanks Glen.

On the frame along side the radiator where the plastic radiator shield mounted.

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