The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Well, I picked up a new vehicle today. It's an '88 Ford Ranger. I'm not entirely sure what my plans are for it yet, probably won't put too much into it, just use it as something I can beat the piss out of and not care about.

Right now it's not much to look at, faded red paint, some super serious vinyl graphics on the side, and some kind of baseball hat visor above the windshield.
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...ct/Ranger1.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...ct/Ranger2.jpg

Oh wait, what's this? Yeah, it's a 5.0 v8. haha!
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...ct/Ranger3.jpg

I picked this thing up for $1500, and it's probably gonna take another $300 to make it comfortably drivable every day. Biggest issue is traction since there's no weight over the rear axle. Pretty much just breathe on the go pedal and the tires break loose.

Re: The REAL Danger Ranger!
 

holy crap 302 in a ranger. That should be a fun project or a daily driver.

Would have been nice if they swapped over a fuel injection system on it.

Good luck with the project. There are tricks on how to get more traction out of the back when spring comes around. For the winter... good luck...

Manual or auto?

Re: The REAL Danger Ranger!
 

I have 340 pounds in sand bags I can put in the back so that will definitely help with the traction issue on slick roads. Also, I still have the snow tires and wheels that were on my 240. From what I've been able to find, they should fit on there. It has an auto trans right now, but that may get switched over to a 5 speed eventually if I decide to get ambitious.

Re: The REAL Danger Ranger!
 

Wow I never expected this from you! haha

Is this just the beater and a new project is on the way?

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Updated thread title due to http://www.mitsustyle.com/forums/sho...+danger+ranger

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

I used to drive an 83 Ranger with a 302 an d 4 speed in it. It was great during the summer. Fun as hell. Till I destroyed that little Ranger rear end. lol.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

This thing is just gonna be a beater. We'll see what I decide on for a new project.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Rangerstyle ftw.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

that is an oxymoron.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

So I was outside fucking with it for a little while today and noticed that there's a 3rd pedal under the dash. So if I ever decide to do a 5 speed swap, it just got a little easier!

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

I got this installed on Saturday
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...t/P1010022.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...t/P1010023.jpg

I finished up a couple other little things and took this pile out for it's maiden voyage yesterday, and the damn fuel pump quit, and the heater core started leaking. This confuses the hell out of me, but Orilley's had the heater core in stock, but not the fuel pump. How is it they have a heater core for an old ass truck that there are barely any of left, yet they don't have a mechanical fuel pump for a mustang? Oh well, they were able to get one from their warehouse, so I should have that this morning.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Nice, I want a ride in this thing.
Looks like u got more money in gauges than the truck is worth. lol

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Haha all of the gauges were only $400 from Jegs. They came as a kit, the only one that wasn't included was the tach. They are all electric, aside from the speedometer, and they all came with their own sending units.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Not bad at all.
What else are you driving around?

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Now that is awesome. When does your mullet arrive?

Edit: If you do swap in a manual gearbox, you'll need this to go with your gauges ;)

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...9woScrLuC598xQ

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

This is awesome. A guy I knew in high school who reminds me a lot of Kevin had a mint S10 with a 350 in it. It was pretty crazy.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

procharger?

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

For now I'm driving my bro's '97 Lumina, it's a pretty sweet ride. Goodhart, I already have the pistol grip on the shifter that's already there ;) haha I actually hate it, it feels like it was designed for your left hand, rather than your right.

Oh, and no Procharger or anything crazy like that, this thing is just a beater after all. If anything, it'll get a set of ported heads and headers if I can find a good deal on some.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

hahaha mullet power! Looks like fun though :D

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Gauges looks sweet!

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Man I would love to do this to my ranger.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

so is this thing a one wheel wonder or.....

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

I gotta find a mullet wig before the cruise... haha And no, it's not a one wheel wonder, the stock 7.5 rear axle is fully locked up. I'm not sure how since I haven't pulled the diff cover yet, but I would assume it's probably welded, or has a spool.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

I hope it's not welded like your 240 was.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

If it is, I don't really give a shit as long as the welds don't break. I'm sure this diff will explode the first time I lay on it hard and actually hook up anyways. At that time I'll replace it with an 8.8 rear end from an Explorer.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

make sure you got a camera rolling for the explosion

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Good choice, be sure to get one with disk brakes,

You can even find one with a LSD from the factory

Thats what I am going to use in my S-10

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

does that mean your gonna take it to the track and see what it runs?

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

I might eventually, I'm not really expecting anything spectacular though. And yes, I'll be looking for a rear axle with the disc brakes and trac lock diff.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

So the pickup coils in the crappy stock Ford distributor (basically the cam sensor) went out, so it's just kinda throwing spark whenever it feels like it. I had a bit of a "well, fuck it" moment and stopped by TNT Race Shop and ordered up a MSD ignition setup. Pro-billet distributor, 6AL ignition box, Blaster 2 coil, Superconductor wires, and NGK V-Power plugs.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...t/P1010570.jpg

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Sweet, now you got enough spark for 12+psi right? :)

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Haha enough spark yes, enough everything else? No.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

v-power plugs suck!

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

WOO HOO! I finally have this thing to a somewhat reliable state! Turns out the stock dizzy was ok, and my problem was that the fuel tank was full of varnish and rust, and was clogging up the pickup sock in the tank. There was also a hole about half the size of a dime rusted into the top, and about a 4" long crack. New tank went in today along with fresh gas. After that, I took it on about a 10 mile drive and it didn't miss a beat! The real test comes tomorrow when I'll drive it to work. 50 miles one way.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Ha, I had one of those pistol grip shift knobs in high school on my Monza, that thing was so damn cold in the winter, I couldn't touch it without gloves on.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Since it was kind of nice out today I decided to get the spacers so I could swap out the front wheels and put my winter wheels on it till I get something for summer duty. I also hooked up the vacuum line to the brake booster, but as soon as I touch the pedal I hear a wooshing noise and I have no brake boost at all. Sounds like it'll need a brake booster as well. FUUUUU!! Anyways, here's some pics of it in all of it's salt covered hideousness err.. glory?

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...t/P1010580.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...t/P1010579.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...t/P1010578.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...t/P1010577.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...t/P1010575.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...t/P1010576.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...P1010573-1.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...t/P1010572.jpg

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Diggin the Mirage wheels!

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

They're not mirage wheels. They're the 300GT VR4 wheels I had on my DSM and my 240.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

Love the 3kgt wheels! That thing looks awesome.

Re: The REAL Real Danger Ranger!
 

ah, they looked about the right shape anyways haha