Chop, Cut, Rebuild: DB_1's Ranger...again

[DB_1]

Thanks Brian...and Brian:

That's good to know, I think i'll make it more street legal before I take it in.

Brian (Kennedy), did you take out the 4x4 control box or whatever it's called too? I was looking at mine and there's about 3 or 4 harnesses connected so I left it in tact. I'd hate to disable something i'm not supposed to.

 

[BKennedy]

...and Brian:

Welcome

Brian (Kennedy), did you take out the 4x4 control box or whatever it's called too? I was looking at mine and there's about 3 or 4 harnesses connected so I left it in tact. I'd hate to disable something i'm not supposed to.

On my Explorer the panel with the 4wd switches has the center dash a/c vent included. I pulled the panel, unpluged it, and removed the switches from the back of the panel (I don't remember how they were attached to the panel; I think they just clipped on), and threw them away. Then I put the panel back so I did not have a giant hole in the center of my dash. The panel is now covered with my GPS mount. You could just screw a piece of plastic over it if you care (which I know you don't. The harnesses are zip-tied to some other wires in the dash. It did no harm, since they were no longer connected to a transfer case.

The only codes I get are from the missing transmission, which is not a problem since it does not activate the CEL.

Unplug it and see what happens. If you truck catches on fire or something, then you probably should not have taken my advice.

 

[Stic-o]

Thanks Brian...and Brian:

That's good to know, I think i'll make it more street legal before I take it in.

Brian (Kennedy), did you take out the 4x4 control box or whatever it's called too? I was looking at mine and there's about 3 or 4 harnesses connected so I left it in tact. I'd hate to disable something i'm not supposed to.

Dave, when I switched to a manual t-case, I had the same blinking light, I just switched the cluster out to a later white faced 2wd cluster. But removing the bulb would do the same. I also switched to a 2wd Ranger center bezel to eliminate the wiper(you don't have) and the 4wd switch. Also gave me a extra cig lighter plug. I just unplugged the 4wd switch.

Did they run yours on the treadmill before? They would not do mine, but when I switched to manual t-case, they use the treadmill every time now. Also my ABS light is always on for obvious reasons, but they never say anything.

 

[mounty71]

Some inspiration for a tube bed...the best looking one i've seen yet.

 

[DB_1]

Brian, i have the dash like the 2nd gen Ex's with the dial type 4wd so no worries

Steve, I unplugged the 4wd switch while I had that bezel out, I robbed power from the cig lighter for the rock lights long ago since I dont smoke. I still have the aux 12v power to use if i need it.

I believe they did run it on the rollers last time, trying to remember if i had my manual case in there or not...I don't think I did.

Mounty, yeah i've seen the build thread on pirate...definitely a cool truck. Not exactly my style on the bed but thanks.

Pulling the bulbs out was fun since the bezel for the gauge cluster is now looped around the cage and also blocked by the gearshift lever, I could only pull it out so far. I unbolted the steering column but that only gained me an inch or 2 of wiggle room but it got the job done.

 

[DB_1]

Nothing new to report fabwise since work has picked up which is always a good thing.

When I have time and the motivation, i need buy some more tube to build new sliders and a tube bed. Temps are on the rise so not sure much will get done until the fall but we'll see.

On another note, i plugged in my code reader and had to look up the code with the software that comes with it and it was EGR valve related. I cleared the code just for giggles to see if it would re-appear. After letting the truck warm up and running it for awhile the code never came back...wishful thinking maybe.

 

[josh40601]

looking great Dave! Glad to see it back most of the way together. You think you will have it done (wheelable) by Labor Day Weekend?

 

[DB_1]

Thanks Josh, it's possible but I just need to find time to go get it smogged. It should pass since the code hasn't come back and I've been starting it once a week since my last smog debacle.

 

[josh40601]

just find someone who will pass it. I got mine smogged. It cost me 140 bucks, but it passed.

 

[RockRanger]

Updates. Its wheeling season. Are you ready to go?

 

[DB_1]

Still not ready...gonna do a couple things to it and put it up for sale.

 

[FROADER]

Buggy time?

 

[Tbars4]

Still not ready...gonna do a couple things to it and put it up for sale.

oh man..I would do my best to work something out on this just to keep it in the family..

 

[DB_1]

Buggy time?

I wish...I just don't have the time, money or patience to keep it going anymore but we'll see what happens.

 

[FROADER]

You have to at least get a Polaris RZR then. It will fit in the bed of the Chevy!

 

[DB_1]

So, after a Truckhaven run and KOH I've decided to hang on to the Ranger and wheel it if I ever get the time to work on it again. I'll probably wheel it until I can afford to buy a tube chassis and then throw the drivetrain from the Ranger in it.

Here's my to do list for the Ranger:

Wire up winch to battery in the cab.
Patch holes where B-hoop goes through floor to the frame.
Coilover mounts need to be re-done, top mounts will be 1" lower to provide lift.
Might need new coils for the C/O's, need a lower spring rate to reduce the amount of uptravel I currently have.
Build new rocksliders.
Build tube bed...will be built off of the rocksliders.
Get truck smogged/registered.

 

[RangerX]

Glad to hear that, Dave!

 

[DB_1]

Wasn't sure to make another thread for this but I'll put it here.

Now that I finally own this "part" i've been hinting at in other threads I can reveal my plan.
Just picked up a new to me D60 HP kingpin Ford housing, I was told its an '89. I also got a pair of new Reid racing knuckles (Chevy) to go with it from a guy off Pirate who brought them to KOH. I really hadn't planned on buying a D60 but it all just kinda came together.
This may or may not make it's way into the Ranger, might just wait until I build a buggy.

Cliff notes of how I want to build the D60:

Narrow to 65"
35 spline inners/outers...will be spicer shafts/joints until I can afford cro-mo or 300m
Reid outer knuckles with their bronze bushings
Artec hi-steer arms and eventually one of their trusses if I ever go full hydro. Will probably do hydro assist for now.
ECGS drive slugs or Spicer reproduction lockouts if they ever make it to market.
Undecided on gear ratio
undecided on locker
undecided on bolt pattern

Getting the housing in my hands so to speak was quite an adventure.

I bought it from a Pirate member who lives in Sacramento about 3 weeks ago. So how to get it down here well, I looked in the hauling section on Pirate and saw a guy who posted he was headed down from NorCal to San Diego. I hit him up and he said he could pick up the housing in Sac on his way to SD. Cool. So I planned to meet him in Orange County (about 2 hrs from me) on his way to SD but he says he has a bunch of stops to make and could we meet up at KOH. I said that's fine, I don't need it right away anyways. I call him while at KOH and he says he won't be coming down because he's sick as a dog. Great, now what? He actually offered to buy it from me but I said that's not necessary, i'll figure something out.

A few days later I find another guy in the hauling section coming from Oregon who can pick up and bring the housing to me. Awesome. I finally get my housing. He says he'll be heading down tuesday (yesterday) and we can meet up mid-day sometime.
He calls me said he had a late start and won't be in SoCal until late night. Ugh. I remain nice and calm and let him know i'm appreciative that he's bringing it down. Finally get the call this afternoon and he'll be at the meeting point we discussed. The one day it rains in Cali would have to be today plus sprinkle in some rush hour traffic to the mix. Rain all the way there and back...the things we do for our hobbies:

 

[Tbars4]

Rain all the way there and back...the things we do for our hobbies

:shifty_ey ..I couldn't help myself cause I ran into the same thing..:

 

[Stic-o]

I'm always available for a drop off point since, I'm only 20min from the main artery, between Nor Cal and So Cal

Happy to here your keeping the truck Dave, now get it up and running so we can plan a resurrection run to Big Bear