Hi all,

Just bought an 09 XL Ranger regular cab, 2.3L with 45k KM on it. It has basically 0 options beyond AC, so I'm looking to spend a little money on the truck. Maybe cruise control, I've also done some reading you can put a limited slip/locker in the rear diff on these things? That would be cool.

I'm really just looking for some ideas on what I can do to this thing to make it a little more fun and nicer to drive.

 

Not sure a Locker would be practical for a street truck, limited slip/positraction is OK.

Look at your drivers door sticker to see what you have now, codes are here: Ford 7.5 & 8.8 Inch Axle Tag & Door Codes

You may already have it, but most likely not.
You can then decide if you want to swap whole rear axle or just ring and pinion gears.

On this sticker you will also see the VIN for the vehicle, write it down.
Go to or call a Ford dealer and see how much the Cruise Control kit is and if it can be used with your VIN
Reason is some vehicle wiring harnesses can have Cruise added, some can't.
If yours can then you can hit a wrecking yard to pick up all the parts cheaper.
You need new steering wheel(with cruise buttons) and clock spring.
Servo for throttle and speed amplifier(brains)
Also the brake pedal cutoff and clutch pedal/NSS cutoff.

If yours isn't wired for it then adding a 3rd party cruise will be the best option.


Outside of the limited slip axle best bet is to keep current Ranger clean and watch the papers for similar Ranger with all the factory options you want.
Then sell yours and buy the one with all the goodies, that would be money better spent.

Once you start rewiring factory harness you can get into a bit of trouble with other systems, the newer vehicles are filled with microprocessors that are constantly monitoring status of themselves and the rest of the system.

 

my advise to you is stick with the 0 options but AC

a lot less problems to deal with down the road

i would swap in a 8.8 axle with limted slip already installed

plus the benefit is larger rear drum brakes vs the 7.5 small drum brakes

 

If you want an easy way to swap in a tilt column, get an explorer's column from a wrecking yard. From there you can swap your steering wheel on (or don't if you're so inclined), your pats module, etc.

However, given your model year, it's imparative that you research this before hand as I'm sure Ford would have changed something. 04 is when Ford began flipping things on their heads.

 

I added power locks to my 01'. I should have done it sooner but everyone on the forums was say it was extremely difficult..etc. It's not. Now I don't have to fuss with the stupid key in the cylinder and have a panic mode. I kept the manual windows but did things like add a sunroof. But just as mentioned research on what you want as things have changed.

Cruise control is great but what I read you need to add a lot of things which can be a pita if you don't have a junkyard by you to pull stuff from... I don't in my area at all so most of the things I bought were new or were feasible. I might have added more things OEM if there was a pick and pull around me.

-Nigel

 

About the cruise control, it appears to me like you really don't need that many parts. You need cruise pods, and a shroud for your steering wheel because cutouts (for the older look), the servo, throttle cable for said servo, clockspring and wire; all of which can be scavenged from a single ranger.

Bear in mind this was a 2003 Ranger that I witnessed cruise control being installed in, so again, things could have changed since then. I'm sure they did.