Canadian Ranger Build

Well i thought i better start a progress thread. Ill just start out with the current specs of my truck and give you the future plans that will be happening this summer.

Current Specs: 1989 Ford Ranger Custom Ext Cab 4x4

- 2.9L v6 Engine with FM146 5 speed tranny.
- Push bottom 4x4 controls.
- 2" budget boost.
- 31x10.50R15 BFG Mud-terrain tires.
- 15x8.5 Cragar Aluminum rims.
- 3.73 gears D28 & 7.5 axles.
- Chrome Bush guard.

Things i have been Collecting to be installed:

- D35 front ttb with 3.73 gears picked it up for $100 CDN
- 2" Coil spacers from a jeep, i need to mod them and have them cut down to a 1" block to level out my front end.
- Custom Front Bumper.
-Pacesetter Headers for my 2.9L engine, has a cracked manifold. Im going to kill the 2.9 before i do the swap. I don't **** bag my truck either so it still has lots of life in it.
- Olympic rock slider rails, bought them off a guy that bought them new for his jeep Cherokee.

Future Plans:

- Do ALL Body work and spry bombing flat black and rock guard undercarriage and rocker panels.
-Dual custom exhaust (in the planning)
- 8.8 rear
- Aussie front and rear lockers
- 4" suspension lift
- 33x12.50r15 tires
- 4.0 swap with a 5 speed tranny

Pictures!

More pictures and progress to come, i have done more to the truck but i need to find the update pics.

 

[Tbars4]

...Cool...It will be nice to see another Ranger get built up...:biggthump

 

[XtremeRanger89]

Thanks, i found a 1969 bronco for $200 so maybe it might be getting the d44 and 9" axles.....hmmm

 

[Tbars4]

Thanks, i found a 1969 bronco for $200 so maybe it might be getting the d44 and 9" axles.....hmmm

...We sure can't find them for that price around here...What is the gearing in the Bronco???

 

[XtremeRanger89]

The guy is finding out for me.....he had to correct himself its a 1979 bronco. still a deal and a half for a dana 44 and 9" rear

 

[Tbars4]

...Still, you can't get one axle out here for $200 bucks...When do you plan on getting the tools out and getting started???

 

[XtremeRanger89]

well Im gonna go check out the bronco this weekend....and go from there. If it looks pretty good ill be hearing the call for solid axle swap!

 

[Tbars4]

..Keep us posted either way, we will be looking forward to a new project on here...

 

[XtremeRanger89]

i will for sure, i gotta buy myself another camera and ill keep ya all posted. Getting everything all sorted out and figure out the final plans.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

i see a manitoba plate where abouts are you?

 

[XtremeRanger89]

Im from Douglas, small town outside of Brandon

 

[XtremeRanger89]

Well plans have changed a bit, I started to pull my exhaust manifolds off yesterday and found out i had both sides cracked all the way around. So i got the passenger side manifold out and 4 bolts broke so we drilled them out. Its gonna be nice to gain all the power back, 2.9 is gutless as it is, but holds its own weight. Hope the headers makes the difference. My truck should be done tonight and driving it around. My dad had to get a better tap set because he does not want to break a tap in the manifold flange.

I removed the heat shield that was on the passenger side and the manifld looked like it was melted, and its cracked all the way around.

Passenger side Manifold off and drilled. Just need to tap.

I will have more pictures tonight, Alot has been done since my last post. I got some rock guard on the truck, swapped out the tail gate, Put explorer grill on with chrome trims.

Thanks, hope to hear your feedback

 

[XtremeRanger89]

well she is purring like a kitten, Has a nice sound to it with it being straight piped to a cherry bomb glass pack, not loud at all. I like the power gains, Way better than the 2 busted manifolds it had on. Ill have pics tomorrow for you guys.

 

[XtremeRanger89]

So a few days ago i toasted my clutch and blew up my release bearing. well i spent all day working on the truck got a nice burn haha. But anyways everyone probably knows that feeling where you work on your rig so much, do the work yourself that it becomes apart of you so after pulling my engine and give it a good cleaning while its on the engine stand i made my final decision that i will not be selling my truck. I have done so much and put alot of blood and sweat into my truck that its not worth selling. Its a very capable rig and its just going to get better as i go along.

While the engine is out of the truck i have been cleaning the block/engine. Pulling the valve covers off because both my gaskets must be worn out, leaking pretty good right now. So ill be pulling them putting the new ones on and painting the valve covers red. and giving the air intake manifold a custom look. Ill be picking up Accell cap and rotor, getting my u-joint replaced, New front brake pads. Im also buying a 2" body lift for my truck later this week.

Depending on if it does not rain tomorrow i should have my truck back on the road. My release bearing in my tranny snapped, and the clutch was gone, the clutch was toast. I will be removing the valve covers tomorrow and paint them. Resurface my fly wheel, already installed the new release bearing, and then will get the clutch put in and slap the engine back in and hook everything back up. I will have pictures later on when im done.

By the beginning of July my truck is not going to look the same, Everything its working out and turning out how i want it to.

Im going to Kal-tire to price out myself some 33x10.5r15 tsl boggers for the trails

 

[vroomzoomboom]

if the motor is out, go all the way and put a 302 in it!!!! there's no replacement for displacement!

 

[XtremeRanger89]

haha ya but i like this little 2.9L engine. My truck turns heads when im covered in mud lol. And i got my exhaust straight piped after the headers lol so it sounds beasty right now.

I have alot of plans this summer. gear changes, bigger tires, lift, etc...you guys all know how it works. I plan to get a decal that says jeep recovery vehicle haha

 

[XtremeRanger89]

Well a few days ago i picked up a bumper for my ranger, It used to be on a 2nd gen ranger and was custom built by the previous owner. It needs a few repairs and I'm going to take a wire wheel to it and get a nice coat of Rock guard. I need to get the brackets modified to get it working right on my ranger.

I got some of my lights mounted and wired up on it, I also got rid of the 3" gap that there was and im still working on fixing the brackets so that it doesn't point up like it is.

Im also getting a stinger bar welded on the bumper in a couple weeks.

Enjoy the pics, Open to ideas.

 

[XtremeRanger89]

I was helping my dad around the yard yesterday and took a couple pictures. Picture of my truck loaded and weighed right down with cinder blocks and railroad ties. It dropped about 3-4" in the back haha but nothing my beast couldn't handle.