Scott B's 93 Ranger XLT V8

[Scott B.]

Since the condenser is universal, it had no mounting brackets.

These are the brackets I fabricated to the mount the condenser.

 

[Scott B.]

Here are some shots of the finished fuel can carrier. I had it powder coated, but it wasn't finished until the night before I left for DE III!

 

[Scott B.]

Emergency Brakes

I upgraded the e-brake cables from factory Explorer cables (which didn't work that well) to a set from Lokar. The brake works much better now.

Since the Lokar cable adjustment system is somewhat universal, I made a bracket to mount the Lokar adjuster to the front spring bolt. (Seen in picture 3) I also made an adapter cable to go from the Ranger cable to the Lokar adjuster. (Picture 2)

NOTES:
1) The cables from the brakes need to be trimmed. I am letting them get their initial stretch before trimming.
2) The mounting bracket got sandblasted on my recent trip to the desert.

 

[Scott B.]

Inside Storage Hanger

I added two 2-inch wide adjustable straps to the inside of the shell - these will let me carry things like sleeping pads without having to roll them up. Should save some when breaking camp. I can also carry fishing poles up there.

Here you can see before and after pictures. The last one is a close-up of how I mounted the straps to the roof - the black plates are 1/4" aluminum backing plates for the roof rack mounts.

 

[2TimingTom]

Where do you get those stickers of the different passes you've been over?

 

[Scott B.]

Where do you get those stickers of the different passes you've been over?

A little tourist shop on main street in Telluride.

 

[Scott B.]

The steering has been a little loose, so I changed the steering box. The one I pulled out was the second one, having been changed about 150,000 miles ago. Nothing lasts forever - ha.

There are quite a few different brands of rebuilt steering boxes on the market - not sure how many there actually are, the rest being marketing. Of all the descriptions, only Motorcraft says they magnaflux the parts, checking for cracks. I checked with Ford, but a brand new one is not available.

I decided to get the Motorcraft box - it was 4 times the price of the cheapest rebuilt unit. One can only wonder...

Here you see a picture of the box.

While the box was out, I painted more of the frame.

 

[Scott B.]

Lift Blocks

The new springs did not position the rear of the truck where I wanted it - it was about an inch low - more so when loaded.

The easy solution was to build a set of 1" lift blocks.

I ordered 6061 aluminum flat bar and 5/8" dowel pins from McMaster-Carr.

While I had everything apart, I painted the axle tubes. Still need to paint the chunk.

The pictures walk through the process:
1 - parts
2 - cut to length
3 - pilot hole (in the center)
4 - pins pressed in (with relief hole)
5 - painted with Por-15 chassis paint
6 - complete

 

[Scott B.]

Rear Axles

Several years ago, when I last freshened the rear end, I had to use a repair bearing on one side. Knowing that, and these axles have about 200,000 miles on them, I thought with the added torque/power of the V8 that an axle change was in order.

I picked up a set of Moser axles (made in USA! ). While I was at it, I changed both axle bearing and seals.

The pictures show:
1 - the axles
2 - the bearings and seals
3 - comparing old vs. new
4 - the end result

 

[Scott B.]

Fuse Block

I replaced the auxiliary fuse block I had under the hood. I upgraded to a Blue Sea model (like I put in the back) - this one is only a 6-circuit model.

Here you can see the wiring harness I built, and then it is installed on top of the factory under-hood fuse/relay block.

 

[4pullingGM]

I just finished reading through your entire build, very impressive sir. You should be proud of what all you have accomplished!

 

[Scott B.]

I just finished reading through your entire build, very impressive sir. You should be proud of what all you have accomplished!

Thanks. I'm happy with it, and still so much more I want to do!

PS - nice to see someone is reading this thread!

 

[Maniak]

<snip>
PS - nice to see someone is reading this thread!

This is one of the places I go for ideas for our X... The Tire carrier (similar style to yours) is on my short list now.

~Mark

 

[Scott B.]

This is one of the places I go for ideas for our X... The Tire carrier (similar style to yours) is on my short list now.

~Mark

Look at Brian1's also (his was the inspiration for mine!)

 

[Scott B.]

Happy Birthday!

Today is the truck's 20th birthday!

I ordered this truck from Ford in June, and had to wait 8 weeks to take delivery (2 extra weeks due to the floods in the Midwest.) I remember driving onto the dealership lot in Simi Valley, California, and saw it sitting on the sidewalk in front of the building. At that time, I had no idea of the path that would be taken with this truck.

I've driven this truck in 25 states - I won't visit all of them, but there are plenty more on the list to see, lots of dirt roads/trails to drive.

20 years, and still going strong! I guess that's what they mean by Built Ford Tough! (Or, in this case, Rebuilt Ford Tough!)

Here's a picture from the Colorado trip 2 weeks ago. It is on Schoefield Pass, about to head down to Devil's Punch Bowl.

Here's hoping for 20+ more years!

 

[Rick]

Happy birthday!! She's looking better than ever

 

[mjmcdowell]

Scott...... 20 yrs!!! the new old truck!

Look's like a great place you were at in Colorado must have been fun, and you missed all the rain and flooding! Soooooo........ where to next spring on DE IV? Oh..... I will be trying a new dust control idea... maybe I will lick it this time... think so? Ha, Ha! Michael

 

[Tbars4]

..Happy 20th Birthday..

 

[Brian1]

In 1 more year you can start feeding that truck alcohol!

 

[Scott B.]

In 1 more year you can start feeding that truck alcohol!

As opposed to ethanol...