80% of the fun 20% of the price 2001 ranger build

[bondvagabond]

Well, I sold my first gen cummins (sniff) to pay down the wife's medical bills. But I have to have a truck for work/wandering around in eastern oregon, so I needed to figure out something asap.

The budget was very low, like raiding the change jar low, because of said bills I Had a 1991 ford festiva that I had picked up for the missus to drive while I sorted out some stuff on her fzj80 daily driver. I found a guy who was willing to swap his dented up 2001 ford ranger for it.

The deal was, trade strait across, but, he got to keep the 20 inch gangsta rims. Fine with me. So I drive it home, put it on blocks and he comes to pick them up.

Found a guy willing to swap some dodge rims with the correct lug spacing for an old compressor I had as a backup. Two good tires, two 20% tread. will need upgraded soon, but now she's a driver.

I had had a few rangers in the past, since this was a true recession proof build, I wanted max economy. So I went for 2.5 liter 4 cylinder and and 5 speed manual and 2wd. We already have my wifes fzj80 for a winter expedition vehicle, so this one would be the summer one with the 2wd and about twice the fuel economy.

I already had a scangauge 2 from my wife's old car, so plopped that in, showing 34mpg cruising the 40 miles to work. Then it started to drop, hmm wheel bearing going out? Nope, dragging left rear brake shoe. Whenever they get hot like that I like to put on a new drum and do wheel bearings too just for good luck.

Tomorrow will be throwing new brakes and wheel bearings in. Maybe wheel cylinders too, depending on how they look. Parts are so friggin cheap for this truck it's great.

 

[Gcraft]

Sounds like a great build, cant wait to watch.

 

[bondvagabond]

Well, just got diagnosed with ulnar nerve entrapment on both arms. No heavy wrench turning till I see the specialist on tuesday. Supposed to keep arms as straight as possible. How to keep the ball rolling on the project? hmm...

I am going to go weld two bolts together to make an adapter for my slide hammer to hook up to the rear axle bearing puller I picked up. Picked up all the parts I need for the rear axle, bearings/brakes/ and one drum.

My bajillionare buddy, rolled through in his Tesla roadster on his way from san franscisco to idaho, and dropped me off a nice car stereo and an ft-817 ham radio. Seams they were cluttering up his airplane hanger :drool: So I figure installing them will be easy on my poor arms, and keep the project moving forward. I am wining and dining a craigslister for some 30.5 inch tires to give me a wee bit more clearance.

Plugs, wires, air filter and sea foam should be doable.

One thing I may need to enlist the aid of a large friend for, the bed liner is just barely touching the cab, and when I go over a bump it drums on the cab, ruining an otherwise very quiet ride. will get someone big to get the bed back in shape.

Interior will need cleaned, for certain.

I also have a dog storage box I made for my cummins truck that I need to cut down to ranger size. have 2 80lb dogs that are not going to be in the regular cab with 6'5" me and 5'10" wife.

Averaged 28mpg around town today picking up parts and tools. Not too shabby.

 

[bondvagabond]

Promise I will get some pics up soon, too busy working on it

picked up a nice contractor style canopy for the ranger. It has a piece of angle iron bolted on the front to help it fit a slightly longer toyota bed, but it should come off easily.

Pulled the axles in order to do new wheel bearings/brakes. Both old bearings came out easy. Got new passenger side one in, but drivers side was a different brand, and it will not go in the last 1/4 inch. Will mic it tomorrow and see if they are different sizes.

Wish I had the bucks for a locker to throw in while I am in there.... must... resist...temptation to lincoln lock it....

Drivers side bearings and brake drum looked like they had been heated up a bit, diff oil was contaminated with water, so I am glad I am going through it. Will make sure the diff breather hose is not plugged and vented up nice and high.

 

[Bayou Boy]

Pics! Pics!

 

[bondvagabond]

some much needed pics

I believe some pics are in order. Here you go.



I got the wheel bearings, brakes, and drums back on, and the axles and wheels back in.
Just need to put the diff cover on and filler up, and she'll be road worthy again.

Went through my jars of bolts and found some fasteners to bolt the canopy down to the bed.

Rounding up all my ham radio stuff and the "new" stereo that my jet setting buddy was clearing out of his hanger, both of those will be going in.

I am thinking about cutting the front of the canopy out in line with the rear cab window, then putting saran wrap over the joint and making a fiberglass gasket to make a weatherproof seal. This would allow the dogs to get some air conditioning in the summer, and also allow the front of the bed to act like an extracab for the junk that one wants but invariably will not fit into a standard cab.

Most importantly, it would allow the missus to lean the passenger seat back another 20 degrees or so, an important feature in an expedition vehicle. Last minute destination changes invariably lead to long days in the saddle.

 

[bondvagabond]

Well shoot. Broke a rear brake return spring, so need to redo brake job.
And when I tore into it, I noticed the axle flange on the other side is bent.

So my options are, put better than stock alloy axles on the 7.5 and redo the brakes or get an explorer 8.8 axle and rebuild that/swap the spring perches around.

What do you guys think?

 

[1meanz]

since this is a budget build, you have 90hp and stock sized tires I'd get a junkyard axle for the 7.5 and call it a day...

 

[Ray Hyland]

since this is a budget build, you have 90hp and stock sized tires I'd get a junkyard axle for the 7.5 and call it a day...

what he said.

 

[4x4junkie]

since this is a budget build, you have 90hp and stock sized tires I'd get a junkyard axle for the 7.5 and call it a day...

Unless 33" or bigger bigger tires will be in the works (or you plan to haul heavy loads), I would 3rd this as well.
Note that Ranger 8.8" and 7.5" axle shafts of the same year group are interchangeable ('83-'92, or '93-'09... you would need '93-'09 ones to fit yours).

Also, the 2001 2.5L is 119HP.