Ranger one - my son’s first Ford. 98 stepside build by 410customs | Ford Explorer Forums

  • Register Today It's free!

Ranger one - my son’s first Ford. 98 stepside build by 410customs

410Fortune

Truck Season!!
Staff member
Moderator
Elite Explorer
Joined
August 3, 2000
Messages
34,928
Reaction score
11,871
City, State
NORTH IDAHO, 7B
Year, Model & Trim Level
B2 "Slightly" Modified
Callsign
FOURTEN
I build Ford Rangers and Ranger based vehicle's, some of you may be familiar lol

My son is over 15 now and has his permit! He is actually a pretty good driver thank goodness.
Probably helps that I have had him on atv’s since he was 4

Anyways he needed a vehicle so I am building him one. I actually started building this ranger to sell, I typically restore and “flip” 5 rangers a year. This one we decided to keep.

Project “Spare Parts”
This is the first ranger we have ever kept! I drive a bronco ii, I have owned explorers and sport tracs, many members of my family drive rangers, I have built and driven hundreds of them but this is the first one in my immediate family. So she gets lots of cool parts because I have a huge collection



This is a 1998 ford ranger xlt 4.0 auto 4wd, 4 door “ super cab” stepside. It came to me needing a lot of work… it had a bad engine installed. The kid we got it from had blown up the original ohv 4.0 and then picked up another 4.0 from a junk yard and attempted into install it… it also had bad heads so he had the junk yard provide him with yet another engine, then lost interest and sold it to me. So it came with. Bad engine under the hood and a “good one” in the bed.
That is how it sat for a while.
Plan was to clean it up, refresh the good engine and install, do some paint and sell the truck. That didn’t happen

A year goes by and I got my hands on a 2004 Mazda b4000 with only 150k likes that was wrecked. I used most of the parts to
Build up this 98.

That’s when this all started back in March of 24

I did not get any good pics of this truck when we first got it in there was still snow on the ground. The ohv engine was out in about 5 minutes and the entire truck was stripped down to the metal
Here are some pics from back then


Here we go

Mazda b4000 “smashy” the story goes some poor high school kid was messing with his cell phone and blamo! Smacked the front end into something, enough to shatter the front diff and break the knuckle. Truck totalled. It went to a yard down south of us where they grabbed the seats and cat converters then decided to sell the engine. I contacted him about his engine.. and asked about the transmission as well… ended up with the entire truck for $800. Beautiful 04 b4000 4 door 4wd ran perfectly at time of wreck.

IMG_0923.jpeg


IMG_0922.jpeg


These are before, actually this is a different green 98 stepside 4.0 auto 4wd but this one is a two door. I didn’t get any good pics of the truck until after….
It was not long before the truck was stripped down
The engine and trans were pulled,, t case, drivelines, exhaust all trims the interior was removed down to the metal. Rear window pulled and we had a cab and bed ready for building

IMG_7295.jpeg


This is how it sat for a very long time, except in this pic it still had a front bumper, engine, trans etc

Then we scored the Mazda Parts donor
04 B4000 SOHC 4wd auto 150K miles smashed
We stripped the mazda down in record time

IMG_0850.jpg
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year or try it out for $5 a month.

Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





The 04 SOHC engine was put on a stand, stripped down to the long block and built back up with new gaskets, seals and wear parts

We heard the Mazda run a few times before tearing her apart....purrs no timing noises. I wish I had the seats! Mazda seats are awesome

IMG_0868.jpg


73169892632__87437095-FF45-434B-A0DA-3CAAF83FB422.jpg


IMG_0866.jpg


IMG_0863.jpg


IMG_0887.jpg


IMG_0891.jpg


new oil pan gaskets, new valve cover gaskets, new chain tensioners, aluminum thermo housing, new waterpump, plugs, wires, etc

Ready to go back in, mated to trans.......dropped under the hood

IMG_0895.jpg


IMG_0898.jpg


IMG_0901.jpg


all chain guides, chains in excellent shape, engine was spotless inside

IMG_1073.jpg


going back together, this truck now thinks shes a 2004


IMG_1074.jpg


bypassed the radiator trans cooler and added a second factory cooler in series

IMG_1074.jpg
 






I began wiring up the conversion to convert the 98 to think its a 04. I kept the 98 dash, but skinned it with the 04 dark grey skin from the mazda
I wired the truck with the 04 style pats system integrated into the 98 cab and chassis wiring harness. I was having issues getting it to be happy with the key and them my buddy @allmyEXes offered to help by deleting the pats from the 04 PCM. The pcm was shipped out, deleted and sent back. Truck fired up immediately

I could have converted the truck 100% over to be a 2004 since I had the entire donor and it was running. However in 04 the fuse box moved to the pass kick panel and the bulkhead connector in the firewall on the drivers side changed, so instead of messing with all of that I just wired the 98 to accept the 04 drivetrain. Many changes to c110 42’pin plug, starting and alternator harness, pats wiring, steering column and more…

Now the 04 mazda interior going in
I stole the front bumper off this truck for another project
then one day at the junk yard found a 06 ranger front clip

everything fits in a Sport trac

IMG_1078.jpg


IMG_1079.jpg


IMG_1080.jpg


and factory sheet metal fits so nicely

IMG_1085.jpg


IMG_1090.jpg


many other Rangers went through the shop while this was happening

I ended up getting new Ebay headlights

IMG_0897.jpg


IMG_2003.jpg


IMG_2235.jpg
 






truck was eventually moved to home shop to be finished
washed and then put inside
Many parts being gathered
Seats and mirrors from a 2010, interior from the 04 mazda with bits from an 06, 06 wheels and more

IMG_2232.jpg


IMG_2415.jpg


IMG_2231.jpg


mirrors seats interior going in
Front end was rebuilt
I removed the 98 Ranger PVH and replaced with 2002 Sport trac knuckles and larger brake rotors

IMG_2413.jpg


IMG_2417.jpg


IMG_2438.jpg


IMG_2444.jpg


IMG_2446.jpg


IMG_2447.jpg


slider back window in
2004 instrument cluster being prepped and wired, B4000 carbon fiber radio bezel got updated, speakers sub and headunit coming in

IMG_2414.jpg


it sure would be nice if the shocks for the front of these things were actually long enough to install at ride height. Our shocks become our limiting strap

IMG_2421.jpg


06 black grill with new black emblem thanks to @EddieMoney
 






Beautiful work
 






Tail lights in
Aluminum rear d shaft in
Ready to fire up and move under its own power (only 5 quarts of Mercon in the trans right now)
I’m building exhaust with bits from the 04 and a new muffler

IMG_2453.jpeg


IMG_2454.jpeg


IMG_2456.jpeg


IMG_2457.jpeg


IMG_2458.jpeg


IMG_2459.jpeg


IMG_2460.jpeg


IMG_2461.jpeg


IMG_2462.jpeg


IMG_2468.jpeg


IMG_2442.jpeg


IMG_2471.jpeg
 






You have a lucky son. :D
 






And we are lucky to have him!!

His job is get good grades he keeps that up then he gets big rewards
Now he’s gonna have to work to get fuel $$$ and insurance too on top of school
He will
Also be paying for upgrades and maintenance

I was Building this truck to sell for around $6500-8000 w a windshield and paint, I will now have about $2k and a bunch of my cool ranger parts in it when we are done. It’s getting green monstaliner and I’m gonna try to do my own windshield

I’m also training some of his buddies in the shop and we are Building rangers for a few of these kids… I will be posting many projects on coming years ;)
 






His job is get good grades he keeps that up then he gets big rewards
Now he’s gonna have to work to get fuel $$$ too on top of school
That's the best way. Teaches responsibilities. I started working at 15.
 






I started answering phones summers for the elevator Consultant company at 15, I have my first paystub from 1987. I had been riding on top of elevators W my dad My whole life.
I earned my first bike and my first car. My dad tried to give my son a 14 wrangler 4 door Sahara with only 24k miles on it??? I’m like I had to earn my car???? but I said no way is he getting that nice jeep as his first car and that jeep had been at the dealer twice in 4 months for stuff I could not (did not want to) fix and now it’s back w me in need of a 4wabs module that Chrysler cannot even get their hands on…. Engineering hold. I bought one on eBay for $650
And will install. I hate jeeps

New driver + teenager + insurance + cool new 4 door Jeep 4wd convertible = disaster

Jeep insurance on a new driver is same as a hellcat last I checked, no way Jose

He will have to earn the Jeep
If it keeps screwing up I told my dad let’s trade it for a new maverick
 
























I like your Jeep! We have not had good luck w Chrysler I tried hard to like them ;)
 






I like your Jeep! We have not had good luck w Chrysler I tried hard to like them ;)
Cars are like spouses, you either get a good one or a bad one. I'm a ford guy, I do like the older Jeeps though
 






Well the 14 Sahara… 24k miles and it’s 21 years old. That’s the issue, lack of use. Dad started it moved it around kept it indoors, it’s a nice Jeep! But they didn’t drive it much

So earlier this year we started driving it.. first thing to fail the autostart wireless module. I removed the starter bench tested starter, tested truck side of things, replaced ignition switch, tested entire truck side of things determined it’s in the pcm.
Dealer had it for 30 minutes. Did a re set.. works fine now. I asked will it happen again? They said “not sure”
I said “why did it happen”
They said not sure… the wireless start module stopped communicating w the ecm

Few weeks later
Limp mode speed sensor codes. I replaced 2 speed sensors as the codes called them out… nope. Ended up ohm test all 4 speed sensors from abs module, all checks out.. back to dealer. 60 days later I picked up the Jeep as they cannot get the part. 4wabs module failed. I bought nib mopar eBay $640 and will install when it gets here…

Fun fun

You can see why I decided to keep the ranger for him
My mom had a 08? 12? Can’t remember Grand Cherokee 5.3 with dod (displacement on demand) it sucked a valve at 191 miles…
I towed it in, 5 hours later it was ready for pickup. They didn’t even change the oil, but replaced the head? Didn’t scope the cylinder walls, didn’t re create the valve with the shrapnel and to top it off they didn’t even change the oil… I was livid as my mom paid cash for the truck and now she’s supposed to trust it for 150k miles?
Went back and forth w Chrysler on this on my moms behalf… eventually they gave us 6 free oil changes…. She never wanted to go far from the house w that thing and that Sucks

Bad Chrysler!!! Bad!! lol

She drives an Explorer now Ecoboost limited its super nice …. Not one issue

In other news

Runs great! Had to back it up
Next I’ll build the exhaust

IMG_2472.jpeg
 






Taking a step back here
Installing 2010 mirrors on a 98 ranger
You have to modify the mirror to sit flush on the earlier trucks

The metal studs are removed and the plastic is shaved down
I shave further then most… this way the mirror actually sucks all the way to the door
I then re open the holes with a drill and re install the two way mounting studs

These mirrors are from a powered truck. This 98 has manual mirrors. Ford gave us a cavity you can simply tuck the wiring into. No holes in door metal needed.
Later if this truck ever gets keyless entry power locks etc mirrors can be added

IMG_2425.jpeg


IMG_2427.jpeg


IMG_2429.jpeg


IMG_2432.jpeg


IMG_2435.jpeg


IMG_2437.jpeg


IMG_2438.jpeg


IMG_2439.jpeg


IMG_2440.jpeg


IMG_2444.jpeg
 






Next time for exhaust
The truck has y pipe with primary and secondary cats. After that I took over
Added a new thrush muffler and a Jba stainless tip. Parts from the 04 Mazda were used to complete the hangers and tailpipe

Sounds great! And cheap haha

IMG_2485.jpeg


IMG_2484.jpeg


IMG_2487.jpeg


IMG_2488.jpeg


IMG_2489.jpeg


IMG_2496.jpeg


IMG_2499.jpeg


IMG_2497.jpeg
 






Adding these led tail lights… that was a fiasco! I expect some things to bolt up

98 stepside bed needed metal removed and “clearancing (bfh) to fit these tails?? Anyways they look great and work good


Bright! Good for safety
I ordered matching high mount / cargo combo

Also installed some 50watt rms mb quarts coaxial 5x7 and a $99 self powered “600w” 8” Subwoofer :)

IMG_2462.jpeg


IMG_2467.jpeg


IMG_2466.jpeg


IMG_2468.jpeg


IMG_2470.jpeg


IMG_2469.jpeg


I had a pioneer Bluetooth gps head unit in the collection
Sounds good!
Have to wait for an audio cable before can test the sub
Rear bumper being prepped for install

Now I’m done for a bit… be can start driving it soon
The rest is paint and detail work, windshield, steam clean, clean clean clean
Will Fix some Dents and then paint/ coating
I like this little truck

IMG_2501.jpeg


IMG_2493.jpeg


IMG_2492.jpeg


IMG_2494.jpeg


IMG_2495.jpeg


IMG_2503.jpeg


IMG_2502.jpeg


Love that carbon fiber center bezel!! Too bad I can’t use it in the sport trac hahaha lucky kid. This is actually the first ranger we have “owned” and kept…

IMG_2511.jpeg


IMG_2505.jpeg
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year or try it out for $5 a month.

Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





Glad to see Baylees wheels are coming along! Keep it up! Hell be rolling in styee!
 






Featured Content

Back
Top