Paul's '91 Sport

[EddieMoney]

Gonna have to use hand signals when turning left...

 

[Paul]

Wiring Day . . .

Every time I think I've got it all figured out, feels like I'm starting from scratch. . .

Luckily I've got a cover to hide all that spaghetti wiring. . .

In the end. . .

And. . .

Paul

 

[Paul]

Got a chance to field test the repair of the rear ARB airline from a few weeks ago at Kevin's shop as well as check any clearance issues with the rear bumper with a solo "snow run" up to Haller Pass for a little anniversary snowshoeing with the Mrs.

No issues with the bumper or swing-away tire carrier, but didn't really expect any. . .

Less snow than I expected at the pass. . .

Rear ARB line worked like a champ, so glad that's off the list.


So we tromped around a bit - - surprised that there were not many others out - - saw a handful of Jeeps and few Toyotas, but not much else.


Old guy and the better half . . .

Now need to plan out the front bumper/winch options as it'll take a while to get that sorted and Moab is coming - - like in a 100 days ! ! !

Paul

 

[Paul]

Latest performance mod:

Unfortunately the Left Coast will lurch farther left with the race to socialism, so always gotta fight the "woke" crowd whenever possible . . .

Paul

 

[Kirby N.]

I dig the build. Same color as my old Navajo- brings some nastolgia for me! I made mine a Ford too because back then Navajo parts were hard to find and expensive. So when I smashed the grill it was tough to get parts.
It looks great Paul. I have appreciated building my ranger as a second go around too. Applying everything you learned the first time and you sure come out with a good product in less time.

 

[BKennedy]

Wiring Day . . .


Every time I think I've got it all figured out, feels like I'm starting from scratch. . .
View attachment 326897

Your wiring looks neat, just a lot of it. I like the ceiling panel, I used to have a back up camera monitor on the cross member of my roll cage, but went through a bunch of cameras because they can't handle off-road. I went back to my old back up until it stops moving method (only in the dirt, not parking lots).

Have you thought about using a small fuse block like these?

Fuse Blocks - Marine & Automotive Fuse Block Products

Shop Del City’s extensive range of marine and automotive fuse blocks and accessories. Simplify circuit protection with our space-saving fuse blocks, from automotive to marine applications like RVs, fleets, and motorbikes. Choose from a variety of configurations, including MINI ATM and ANL...

www.delcity.net

I bought some of the 4 fuse blocks and have one in the rear of the Explorer in the jack access, and one in the RV at the batteries. They are very convenient and it gets rid of all those in-line fuse holders. You also don't need to fuse all of those AC plugs separately. One fuse would be able to handle the light load they are going to carry. You could get away with extending the AC plug wires in the ashtray that is already on a fuse. I have a bunch of those AC plugs and have the plugs in the front on one fused line, and the plugs in the back on another. They all run off the auxiliary battery. I also have a 18 fuse block under the hood that came out of a Kia with most of my accessories tied into that. If I was doing it over again, I would purchase a aftermarket waterproof fuse block for under the hood. I have it covered with a piece of soft rubber sheeting.

 

[Paul]

I dig the build. Same color as my old Navajo- brings some nastolgia for me! I made mine a Ford too because back then Navajo parts were hard to find and expensive. So when I smashed the grill it was tough to get parts.
It looks great Paul. I have appreciated building my ranger as a second go around too. Applying everything you learned the first time and you sure come out with a good product in less time.

Thanks Kirby! Following along with your Ranger build, looking awesome - - apologies for not having a spare Atlas II for your build, but my old one found a good home. . . Always thought your "Sport" was light blue like my old one, swear sometimes it looks the same, but it's a seafoam green metallic. It's been a fun build, and good working with Kevin; this rig certainly came together quickly, but had a few to take the best parts off of. . .

Your wiring looks neat, just a lot of it. I like the ceiling panel, I used to have a back up camera monitor on the cross member of my roll cage, but went through a bunch of cameras because they can't handle off-road. I went back to my old back up until it stops moving method (only in the dirt, not parking lots).

Have you thought about using a small fuse block like these?

Fuse Blocks - Marine & Automotive Fuse Block Products

Shop Del City’s extensive range of marine and automotive fuse blocks and accessories. Simplify circuit protection with our space-saving fuse blocks, from automotive to marine applications like RVs, fleets, and motorbikes. Choose from a variety of configurations, including MINI ATM and ANL...

www.delcity.net

I bought some of the 4 fuse blocks and have one in the rear of the Explorer in the jack access, and one in the RV at the batteries. They are very convenient and it gets rid of all those in-line fuse holders. You also don't need to fuse all of those AC plugs separately. One fuse would be able to handle the light load they are going to carry. You could get away with extending the AC plug wires in the ashtray that is already on a fuse. I have a bunch of those AC plugs and have the plugs in the front on one fused line, and the plugs in the back on another. They all run off the auxiliary battery. I also have a 18 fuse block under the hood that came out of a Kia with most of my accessories tied into that. If I was doing it over again, I would purchase a aftermarket waterproof fuse block for under the hood. I have it covered with a piece of soft rubber sheeting.

Thanks Brian! Those in-line fuses were built into the switch-panel: 1 x 12v socket, 1 x cigarette lighter (really?), 1 x voltmeter, and 1 x with two USB plugs. Agree it's overkill, but since those four in-lines were already mounted I opted just to leave them as is. The greatest bulk of wiring is for the ARB Compressor and front and rear lockers, but really wanted to mount them overhead instead of cutting up the dash or mounting them under the dash (hard to reach with the stick shift).

Do have the Blue Seas fuse blocks (another bad habit is wooden boats) in both this rig and the Ranger.

With the recent add-ons, this one is almost full, so when I get around to mounting the drawer system in the cargo area, will add another back there...

Appreciate the comments - - front Duff bumper ordered and with luck will get here in time to do the required fab work for the "covert" winch install before the Moab trip. . .

Paul

 

[BKennedy]

I have a four fuse block mounted in the rear inside the panel in front of the jack storage

I also have the twin stick awesomeness that is a Atlas II. Made a center console with all of my accessory switches in one place.

 

[Paul]

Sweet looking console and shifter. Realize you've upgraded to the 700R4, but wish all the 1st Gens had console mounted automatics. . . . Just looks better than the column mount, IMO.

 

[BKennedy]

Its also way better in the dirt for quick shifts, much easier to grab the shifter in the console than one on the column.

 

[410Fortune]

an atlas would like so complete my BII build
Keep up the good work dudes! I enjoy watching

 

[Kirby N.]

My ranger too. And a new engine. Maybe a new tranny depending on engine. And a new tailgate. And a cage. And sliders and more tube on my bumpers. And...

Never complete.

 

[Paul]

Not much in the way of upgrades, so playing around with emblems. . .

Paul

 

[Paul]

Mr. Duff came through ! !

Some mods this weekend to fabricate space for the "hidden" winch . . . another hold-over from the old Sport.

Paul

 

[Paul]

Progress. . .

"Can't get enough of that wonderful Duff. . ."

 

[Paul]

"If you wait to the last minute . . . , it only takes a minute. . ."

A whole bunch of "must-do's" before Moab (coming up quick), some more important than others, but all essential. Here's another transfer from the old rig:

Frame in. . .

Color change for the deck lid and accessories. . .

The "slides" that went on the deck lid that the ARB fridge pulls out on will wait until post-Moab. . .

More to follow,

Paul

 

[Kirby N.]

Sweet setup. Super clean. What drawers are those?

 

[Paul]

Sweet setup. Super clean. What drawers are those?

The drawers are "Outback Solutions", now re-branded as ARB. Thread to initial installation: Outback Solutions Cargo Storage – '91 Sport

Great quality, but they make you pay for 'em. . .

Paul

 

[BKennedy]

Sure are a lot fancier than my tupperware drawers.

 

[Paul]

Sure are a lot fancier than my tupperware drawers.

10% of the cost, 90% of the efficiency. . . Well done.

Finally got the front end buttoned up (almost, still need to wire the fog lights), but coming together . . .

Closer detail of the front bumper / winch / skid plate.

That's a non-winch Duff bumper, but with a Ramsey REP 8000 winch snugged in between the frame rails - - another carry-over from the old Sport. . .

Paul