James is doing well! The human brain is an amazing thing, to witness the healing and what is capable is hardcore
Healing takes time! We have our James back you could say, good news for us, his family.
He is like a mule and just keeps beating it all back.. Starting to work on trucks a little bit again now too
Its been crazy, lots has changed in my/our lives recently, but we battle through it.
Summer goes by quickly. I have made much progress on many projects, we take on alot around here!
Aside from all of that
It is time for an update.... I have been working on the 07 Ranger now again! Throwing all my "spare" time at it and working once again towards being in the shop full time (30-50 hours a week)
So here's the update!!
RCV and True Travel are working to get the pass front CV axle resolved. I have also made contact with Dutchman axles and they are willing to help us out if we need any machine work or a new cv hub machined. Of course no promises from the shop until they have the cv stub shaft in their hands. It will still take me some time to put this truck all together, so as long as we have a working CV axle before its running around under its own power, we will be happy.
Kings have ARRIVED!! They are so busy it took 24 weeks to fulfill our custom front shock order
No more excuses!! Nothing motivates a truck project like getting a box full of kings in the mail... so here we go
The front suspension:
So if you guys remember we are running a True Travel + 2 mid travel kit along with Superlift IFS SLA drop brackets lift and Superlift extended steering knuckle.
The TT +2 kit is designed to remove the factory torsion bars and upgrade to a 8" travel 2.0" body threaded body coilover shock
However I wanted to take it a bit further and add the drop brackets
This gives us room to run a 10" stroke 2" body shock AND dual rate coil springs
The shocks arrived, and they fit, ride height also looks good thus far, I am a happy camper!
The install of the true travel shock tower required "a little custom work" (hours of placement and testing chop cut weld before final tack weld and suspension mock up) in order to make it clear the dual spring coilover
Suspension mock up is complete, front diff in place, modified shock tower tacked to frame, everything looks fantastic. Plenty of clearance at full droop, the shocks and a arms will travel way further then the CV axle will ever be allowed to see.....
King coilover is mounted in rear spot, 2.0 shock is mounted in front. CV axle clears no problem
Setting up the bump stops/cans and limit straps properly will happen after she's rolling around on tires and ride height is set
Everything will be stripped back off the truck, cleaned and coated.
Now that the coilover conversion is sorted out, the spring rate looks good, I have good adjustment of the ride height and everything clears..
I will final weld the passenger side, add some gussets and setup the drivers to match
The rear suspension
will be setup with Kartek drop shackles for a shackle reversal
We will run some Chevy 64" springs and re locate the front spring hanger (Rangers have 57" spring). Springs can be arched or a lift block used to adjust ride height.
3.0 Kings will be ordered for the rear once travel is measured and limited
Drivetrain:
All parts have arrived for the trucks re gear
A 1999 Explorer rear axle was stripped down to the housing. Ford 31 spline 8.8, disc brake
The 2007 Dana 35 IFS housing was also stripped down to the housing
Yukon 4.56 gearsets
Yukon master install kits
ARD RD81 rear air locker
ARB mini compressor
New rear wheel bearings and seals
New front diff axle shaft seals
The diffs are headed to a local 4x4 shop to be re geared and have the ARB setup
Engine has been fitted with its 6.3 comp Cams pushrods and valvetrain, valve covers buttoned up.
I have been studying the Holley computer and wiring, how it will control the 302 and the 4r70w, how it is wired and what to expect.
I have chosen the ECM mounting location. The engine/trans will be getting its fuel rail, accessories and wiring harness next.
At same time the dash will begin to go in, the interface with the Holley drivetrain computer, the instrument cluster, all of that will be sorted.
Since it is a 2007 and uses a complex CANBUS system I will have some hacking to do. Lucky for me I have a complete 2005 ranger/dash/wiring "in boxes" I can use if I need to cheat a little. Keeping the restraints computer abs and other systems happy could be a challenge..
The engine has also been bolted down, YES with the TMH headers installed. I have my ways
Eddie Money (owner) also ordered some Ranger rock rails, they have not come in the mail yet...but we are expecting them.
So I have a front bumper, front winch, hopefully rock sliders, front suspension brackets, and more all going in for cleaning, prep and paint
Now to the pictures, There are a S*&T TON of pics, so please bare with me. Getting time here on the PC to post these updates is not as easy as it used to be as I am pulled in many diff directions. However building these trucks is my PASSION, Eddie Moneys truck GOES FIRST! He has waited long enough and this will be my masterpiece. My wife, my best friend, and all my helpers also have my back.
Time to log some hours on this build
I have also picked up 3 more projects for myself in the last 6 months I cannot work on until this truck is DONE!!! (01 trac 302, 5 speed, 4406m, side exit exhaust, OBX headers, and coilovers, 97 explorer v8 with 101K miles, just to name a few.......)
