Completed Project Kirby's 1991 Ranger Build Up

[BKennedy]

That might just be the prettiest Ranger I have ever seen.

 

[RangerX]

Those graphics put it over the top!! Beautiful!!

 

[Scott B.]

Truck looks great!

 

[Kirby N.]

Thank you.

Does anyone have any ceramic coating or wax recommendations?

 

[410Fortune]

Ive heard good things about the ceramic coatings but holy heck are they pricey.
Can you even put that on a fresh paint job like yours?

See here for wax choices, I use Meguires or Mothers waxes.....something with carnuba cannot go wrong.
Nu Finish is also the old go to standard....stuff is awesome!! Can get at Harbor freight too LMFAO!!!!!!
Best car waxes: the critical factor you are forgetting!

 

[timtimtimajim]

Saw you and your Ranger just a little bit ago near Black Forest. All I can say is WOW!! Pictures do not do this thing justice. Looks even better in person!

We oughta do some kind of meet up at some point! There’s an Explorer meetup planned in June with one of the Facebook Explorer groups. It’ll be a weekend of meetups and trails. You’re more than welcome to join!

 

[Kirby N.]

Oh yeah, I was just there. Thanks. Yeah I can come. Idk which fb group? I don’t get on fb much

 

[timtimtimajim]

It’s called Off Road Ford Explorers. It’s about the only reason I haven’t deleted Facebook

 

[410Fortune]

Bumpity for anyone who missed the pics on the last page, this Ranger is soooooooo well done!

 

[Paul]

Sofa . . .









. . . king . . .




AWESOME.

Wow, well done - - great color, graphics, and attention to detail.

Paul

 

[Kirby N.]

Thanks Paul. I appreciate that. I have always loved your sport and enjoyed seeing it up close in Moab a few years ago.

I have been leading a student church camp this last weekend. I always bring my truck because we charter 6 buses and it never fails that they do something stupid and get stuck. This year after they dropped us off, one took a wrong turn and got down a steep soft hill that he couldn’t (wouldn’t) turn around at the bottom and couldn’t get back up. I had a big tree to tie off to and tried a single line pull. Wouldn’t move. So then I tried a double line pull but the only trees available closer were lesser trees. It seemed like it was going to move, but then I ripped the tree out of the ground. He had to call the wrecker and I had to get back to work. It was a good time for me.

 

[BKennedy]

That's a good way to make sure your frame is straight.

 

[Kirby N.]

Haha. Yeah. You can see in the one pic how compressed my tire is.

I ordered some rebuild kits for the ballistic joints on my track bar and a spanner wrench today. They are really getting sloppy and making a racket. I know I can just tighten them, but Ill probably put new races in them too.

 

[410Fortune]

How many miles are on those ballistic joints?
I cringe every time I think about adding a uniball or heim to a rig.....because they just don't seem to last!!

 

[Kirby N.]

I am def not a fan of Heims. The ones on my radius arms seem to be holding up well. I think probably 40k on them or so. I have greased them a couple times and never tightened them. I have been told I may just be able to tighten them a little and be fine, but I think I’ll just put in new races.

 

[BKennedy]

Heims do seem to wear out. I have replaced steering heims on the drag link because they work a lot harder than the two on the tie rod. The heim on my track bar is still good, but I have blown out the bushing at the other end once. The heims on my radius arms are not showing any signs of wear. I have the same Duff arms as Kirby, not nearly as many road miles, but more dirt miles.

 

[Kirby N.]

One of the joints in the tracbar had a ton of slop. I replaced both bushings on both joints and reinstalled. It drives a lot better and less clunk. But the clunk isn't completely gone.

I might tighten them a little. I also figured out I could run a johnny joint on the lower mount. I thought I couldn't because of the width, but it has a 9/16" hole and it will get wide enough to fir the johnny joint at over 2". I might do that.

Not sure what the other clunk is. Ill keep an eye on it. I don't know if I would run ballistic joints again.

 

[TKZ]

Bumpity for anyone who missed the pics on the last page, this Ranger is soooooooo well done!

That rocks !! I love the black & blue !!

 

[Kirby N.]

I took my niece and my kid snowboarding at my parents house. The ranger was the lift.

 

[410Fortune]

sheesh where were you when I was a kid! We had to hike back up LOL

Looks awesome! CO in March