2002 Ford Ranger Sean's Ranger Build/Update

[Popsgarage]

Now that's what a garage is supposed to be used for, Sean!!!! Lookin' good brother!

[glacierpaul]

Nice rigs Sean!! Love your ranger!!

[Java]

This is my favorite of the build threads, but I'm guessing I'll have a new favorite when you get that 57 going! :thumb:

[Brody]

I hope that Sean posts close ups of some of the sweet hand formed (by him) sheet metal work he has done on the 57....hint, hint...

[Cr33p3r]

Thanks Paul & Paul & Pete. Just might post up some pics of that Pete, or should I just do a build thread on it too?

[Brody]

I would do a separate build thread on the 57. Try to label it so that SEO stuff is optimized (1957 chop and drop build, etc). You do such good sheet metal/body work and people on the forum are going to be amazed at it because it is so out of the realm of anything else on here. The 57 has a lot of very sweet hand formed metal on it, too!

[Cr33p3r]

Well I finally order my rod ends to fix my problem with the track bar on the front of the truck so hopefully the parts will be here this week and I can get the new track bar built and be out running it on the trails again.
I am going with CHROMOLY 3/4-16 RH & LH - HEIM JOINT- ROD ENDS on 1-1/2" DOM this should be plenty strong enough.

[Popsgarage]

Sounds like you've got a plan. If you need some help and if I'm in town you know I'll be there.

[Cr33p3r]

Thanks Jon, I got the new one fabbed up yesterday and painted today so tomorrow I can install it, if you want to come by thats cool. I will post pictures up after it is installed.

[Cr33p3r]

Here is the new track bar I fabbed up, it is 1-1/2"dom with chrome moly 3/4" rod ends. The last picture is the new compared to the old.

[Funrover]

Man I need you to do my steering bars!! Lookin good bud!

[Cr33p3r]

What a difference the new track bar made, Jon (popsgarage) and I installed it yesterday and took it out and about and it did really good especially on the highway. Now to tear both axles apart and replace the leaking seals what a PIA that job is going to be. So needless to say it is not going on our camping trip tomorrow.

[Hypoid]

Sweet! Progress is always good. :)

[Hypoid]

I'm seeing this build through a new set of eyes!

Were you able to git-r-done today?

[Cr33p3r]

No after my physical and grocery shopping I had no time to work on it. So it will be tomorrow morning when I get home from work. Here is a thought I have been wondering about- how much will I have have to shorten the drag link and panhard bar once I cut the coils to get the front back down to a reasonable height.

[Popsgarage]

We'll have to look at that when you actually cut the coils. Shouldn't be to much.

[Cr33p3r]

Ok thanks Jon.

After buying another new to me 9", I swapped out the passenger axle shaft and backing plate and Bingo no in and out axle play at all. Now to bleed the brakes again since I used the new wheel cylinder from the old backing plate and then recheck the brakes and hopefully everything will be good to go wheeling with no more issues popping up.

[Cr33p3r]

I spent the last two days redoing my air system on the truck, instead of a single quick disconnect right off the air tank I piped in two underneath the bed, one on each side so now it will be much easier to air up either side w/o having to overly stretch my flex hose. Also got my new Shackles in the mail Thursday and now to remove the set up that Jon and I made, the new shackles will lift the rear 1-2 inches and should level the truck off now. I will post up pics as I go along on this part of the swap.

[Cr33p3r]

The 1st three pics are the shackle mount that needed to be cut apart and redone. The next couple are comparison shot of the new shackles and the old ones.

[Cr33p3r]

Cleaning up the mount and prepping to weld the newly fabricated mounts

[Cr33p3r]

Also got the new front brake line mounts done too.

[Popsgarage]

Taken it out for a test drive with the new shackle mounts and shackles yet???

[Cr33p3r]

Taken it out for a test drive with the new shackle mounts and shackles yet???



Nope after working last night and all day I was wiped out so taking it to church this morning to see how it drives. I did a push test side to side and bounced it up and down. No side movement and moves up and down pretty smoothly.

[Popsgarage]

Keepin' the fingers crossed for ya.

[Cr33p3r]

Took her out and she drives a lot better now, going to take a while to get used to the top heavy feeling and the rear suspension is stiffer now too.

[Popsgarage]

Awesome! Good to hear it rides better and welcome to my world of top heavy!

[Cr33p3r]

welcome to my world of top heavy!

Not sure how to take this one LOL!

[glacierpaul]

Cool Sean!!

[Cr33p3r]

Paul I still have the spot sand blaster for you.

[Popsgarage]

My rig, my rig!!!!!!!!!! LOL!

[Rick]

Took her out and she drives a lot better now, going to take a while to get used to the top heavy feeling and the rear suspension is stiffer now too.
Not sure what ya mean!!!!:D:D:lmao:

[Cr33p3r]

Well here is the latest update, who says they are ever done it is the little thing now that gets finished up. I just finished making a new control panel for some of my new lights, winch control power and operation switches. The two Red switches are for the control power for the winches, the amber switches are for the lights and the solid red switch is for the in - out control for both winches(double pole double throw switch). This switch has separate control power for each side of the poles so it can operate either winch depending on which red power switch is turned on. So now I can operate either winch from the inside of the cab. The LEDs indicate in or out so I will know which directions the winch is operating.

All that is left to do now is install it in the truck and connect it up to the lights and both winches.

[xaza]

that is sweet! you going to label your switches? I was thinking about using an old fashioned label maker or letter cut outs and spray paint.

[glacierpaul]

Really sweet Sean!!

[Cr33p3r]

that is sweet! you going to label your switches? I was thinking about using an old fashioned label maker or letter cut outs and spray paint.

Yeah I am going to make the labels tonight at work need to see what colors we have and go from there.

[Rick]

Looks good!!!!

[Cr33p3r]

Finally after all this time I got around to changing my Sway bar end link arrangement over to a quick disconnect system. I had a pair of Jeep disconnects laying the garage for sometime now and figured I better make some use of them. After an hour of rethinking the wheel I realized there was an easier way to modify this setup, I combined both end links, stock and jeep by cutting of the threaded end of the stock links and re-threading the ends and attaching just the quick disconnect end itself. At the same time I also had to cut the bushings down a bit to, I did that the fast way with a cutoff wheel, wow liquid rubber flying but didn't burn as bad as the poly bushings the sh*t really stings!

[Rick]

nice work!!!

[Popsgarage]

Sweet!

[glacierpaul]

Cool Sean!!

[Cr33p3r]

Well I upgraded the Alternator to the 250 amp output one took about two hours to change it out cause I couldn't keep the sweat out of my eyes for very long, but anyhoots it is working great and now when I look at the Battery charging indicator the needle isn't sitting at the bottom of the little battery picture is up and actually on the positive post on the indicator. I should try to get a pic so you guys will know what I am talking about. As of last Sunday when i was winching huge tree branches out of the tree and then re-spooling the winch using the trucks weight the charging indicator dropped about a 1/10 of what it was doing before.

[Popsgarage]

This is one of the next upgrades for Andra's Blazer.

[Cr33p3r]

Was going to post pics of the beginning of my link rear suspension but can't post pics from my phone so you'll have to wait til I get on the computer. :frown:

[Popsgarage]

How's that coming along?????

[Cr33p3r]

Got some of the ends welded up and then realized before I go any further I best focus on getting the gas tank raised since one of the links will be connected to a cross member that needs to be raised 3".

[Popsgarage]

There's always something.

[Cr33p3r]

Yeah Jon there is but hey thats why we do what we do right?

[Popsgarage]

How long are the links gonna be and are you going to have to build a custom crossmember to locate the uppers and just welding tabs/brackets on the axle??? I need to get over there one of these days.

[Cr33p3r]

Jon the two bottom links are maybe going to be 40" and the top 30" this would maintain the axle angle thru the up/down motion, on the cross memeber I was going to just cut the factory cross member and raise it 3" and then weld the top tab mounts to it. The lower frame mounts I will see if I can relocate and use the factory mounts or need to make new ones. Will have to get some mounts for the axle end of things. I will be using the old track bar from the front axle for the rear so that will save time and money.

[Popsgarage]

Cool. I'll get by one of these days. Working second shift lately, and it sounds like it might last 'till the end of the job. Roughly mid October. That's all right though, pays $5.00 over scale.

[Cr33p3r]

Sounds good Jon, always nice to make a few bucks extra. Sounds like this is a job you guys are doing.

[Popsgarage]

It's been a bit rough, that's for sure!

[Cr33p3r]

It's been a bit rough, that's for sure!


Well you could join me on 3rd shift!

[Popsgarage]

No, no thanks. Second is bad enough.

[The StRanger]

Did my share of Night shift.
Sorry, Im a day walker !!!

[Cr33p3r]

Did my share of Night shift.
Sorry, Im a day walker !!!

I hear ya Sam, I've been doing it for almost 13 years now and ready for a switch so I can get back to a semi normal life!

[Cr33p3r]

As of next spring the 1Freaky1 will have a new home and I will need to look for another ride!

[AdventureReady]

As of next spring the 1Freaky1 will have a new home and I will need to look for another ride!

Cool! What are you thinking for your next rig?

EDIT: It is sad, but I'm excited to see what you're gonna transform next, haha.

[carpenle]

As of next spring the 1Freaky1 will have a new home

Are you selling it?

[Funrover]

NO!!!!!!

[Hypoid]

That is sad, and wonderful news...

[The StRanger]

As of next spring the 1Freaky1 will have a new home and I will need to look for another ride!

The funnest part of our hobby is building as we feel we need and want..
Having a hand in watching a everyday cookiecuter truck into a trail king !!
The sadest part of our hobby is selling the thing we brought to life so we can start all over.
To bring another every day cookicuter truck to trail king !!!

[Cr33p3r]

Not sure what I'll be looking for next but it will be pretty stock maybe just bigger than stock size tires. As for Freaky it's staying in the family, my oldest son is taking it. He agreed to help me finish the'57(which was originally supposed to be built for him)but he has no where to keep it, so I will keep it and he gets freaky for all the help!

[The StRanger]

Sound's like good deal for both ..

[javaman34]

I could hardly believe what I read. Giving Freaky away. I guess as long as it stays in the family it is ok. Of course all I really saw of it was the rear and at night trying to find our way out. :steer:

[Cr33p3r]

Yep Jarold it is going, thinking of changing over to Jeep Cherokee so we can take both dogs with us or a Bronco like yours would be great too.

[javaman34]

Yep Jarold it is going, thinking of changing over to Jeep Cherokee so we can take both dogs with us or a Bronco like yours would be great too.

Just for the record, mine isn't for sale. LOL:tisktisk:

[The StRanger]

Id lean more to the Bronco myself
But Im a Ford man !!

[javaman34]

So would I, that is why mine isn't for sale. Heehee.

[Hypoid]

My head just exploded! I think this deliberation deserves a thread all it's own. :thumb:

[Cr33p3r]

My head just exploded! I think this deliberation deserves a thread all it's own. :thumb:


Well I will do up a new page when the time comes or should I post up a poll?

[alexb]

My kids thought that 1Freaky1 was a "monster" truck! :) It'll be missed. :)

[Jim]

And I thought 1Freaky1 was you / your ID, not the truck's name. Learn something new every day!

[Chris]

As of next spring the 1Freaky1 will have a new home and I will need to look for another ride!

I'll wait and see before I believe it Sean! :cool:

[javaman34]

I thought the trucks name was overkill. That is what you said in Central City. My mistake.

[The StRanger]

And I thought 1Freaky1 was you / your ID, not the truck's name. Learn something new every day!

The StRanger is my Ranger. Im just the LeashMaster !!!

[96blkbeauty]

Its always hard seeing them go. Especially after so much time, money, memories in them. My Bronco didn't have near the time or money that your Ranger has in it, but lots of memories that I will never forget. I didn't really end up missing it until a few months after I sold it. Thats when you really realize that what you had was "special." Maybe not to most, but to some.

Clean FSB...been in my family since new...so much potential. I just got distracted with the purchase of my Ranger. Oh well.

I definitely recommend a FSB. Great rigs.

[Cr33p3r]

After talking it over with Val she agrees that the FS Bronco is the way to go, already looking at whats out there and there is quite a bit availabe. I don't want to go any bigger than 35s possibly stay around 33s more likely. Main thing is which engine to go with the 5.0,5.4 or 5.8 auto or manual definitely don't want anoth electric shift transfer case, That I do know!

[alexb]

So will the FS Bronco have a welded plate that says 2ndFreaky1?

:)

[javaman34]

After talking it over with Val she agrees that the FS Bronco is the way to go, already looking at whats out there and there is quite a bit availabe. I don't want to go any bigger than 35s possibly stay around 33s more likely. Main thing is which engine to go with the 5.0,5.4 or 5.8 auto or manual definitely don't want anoth electric shift transfer case, That I do know!

Good choice.

[Hypoid]

I'm kinda partial to the Windsor.

[The StRanger]

5.0 & 5.8s Plentiful and easy to build..
The 5.4 modular is the way to go.
With a power programmer, good power

[Cr33p3r]

Went and looked at a Decent '79 Bronco yesterday, mildly built 351M, auto, 4" lift, High pinion D44 & 9" not sure what gears it has. Needs some work like new seats, carb rebuild, and tail pipe, it has 33x12.50/15s and 108k on the odometer, Going to Boulder today to look at a 04 F350 crew cab w/o bed for $3k w the 7.3Ltr, auto has 296k on odometer, down side is it is 2wd, but I have the NP205 so then I would need to find a D60 or 70 front axle and driveshaft.

What tranny came behind the M series engines and the 7.3ltrs?

[Popsgarage]

w the 7.3Ltr

MMMMMM, 7.3! Best engine Ford and International ever put in the Ford diesels.