Dog picture posted, you are forgiven.
I have now hacked the 04/05
Ranger cluster 100%this means I can upgrade older 96-02 explorers rangers sports to use this updated cluster
I like the big bright 4wd lights
Thanks for sharing, I might be picking your brain about this in the future. I kind of want something other than the black factory cluster in my '99, but retain a factory appearance. I've got a silver faced Explorer (?) cluster, but I don't know if I like it much better. That later model cluster is a nice look.
Kartek made the rear spring hangers that invert the shackle (facing up, ranger shackles point down) because their brackets keep everything under the bed (1.5” drop vs just using the stock hanger flipped)
As in they drop the truck 1.5" vs what the flipped stock hanger would? Or do you mean that the Kartek shackle pivot point is 1.5" lower than with the flipped stock hanger, effectively lifting the truck?
I'm not planning to sun Chevy springs, but this might be handy information for dialing in rear ride height.
Ranger based vehicles!!!!!
Ranger bronco ii explorer explorer sport mountaineer Navajo b2300 b3000 b4000 sport trac all rbv
Is the early Aerostar an rbv? With its 4.0, a4ld and awd…. I think so!
I'm going to have to say no. Aerostar is as much an RBV, as a Pinto or Mustang is.
As you noted the Aerostar did share an engine and transmission with the Ranger. First year production had the 2.8L and A4LD. The M2 and Pinto both had the 2.8L as well. The A4LD was also used in some 80s Mustangs, and was derived from the C3 transmission which was used in the Mustang, Pinto, and some other cars of the 70s and 80s. In 1987 it switched to the 3.0L which was introduced for cars in 1986, it wasn't put in the Rangers until 1991.
Like the Pinto and Mustang, the Aerostar was unibody construction instead of body on frame. It used an independent front suspension similar to those, not TIB like the Rangers. Actually the suspension was more similar to the second gen Explorers than any thing else. Rear suspension was trailing arm and coil spring. I don't think anything else in Ford's lineup used that configuration at the time. Maybe some FWD, but this was RWD and had a solid axle.
Some parts are similar, but I think it's pretty safe to say that the Aerostar was its own platform and not an RBV. That's my 2 cent on the subject anyway.