Nice are you using SEM?

Check your local hardware store for the Christmas tree panel retainers. I've gotten em at my local store a few times before I invented in a trim tool and broke them lol

 

Krylon ColorMaster in satin black. I considered using SEM, but for the price, I figured I'd get a can to test out on the console. I was really impressed so I decided to use it on everything else. I'm also putting down a coat of primer under the paint which is really helping it out.

I have to make a trip to the store later on anyway so I'll see if they have what I'm looking for.

 

That black dash looks pretty darn good. We're painting the inside of my dads car with the same paint. It seems pretty good quality.

 

Thanks! I liked the way it turned out on all of the other pieces, but I was really impressed once I started spraying the dash since it's the only piece still inside the truck lol

 

So you're gonna be black on black on red now? E4+Black= best look imo

 

Yeah, I've finally settled on a color scheme after playing around with a few different looks over the years lol. Here's what the plan is now...

Interior: mostly black with a couple of red accents on the doors, radio bezel, and OHC. The seats will be black leather with red double stitching.

Exterior: E4 of course, with black grille, headlights, corners, tails, and flares. There's still a chance that I'll put bedliner around the lower part of the truck all the way around (valence, flares, rockers, and rear bumper) but I haven't decided for sure yet. I'll see how it goes without it for now, and if I have any trouble with rocks when I bump up to 35s since idk what tires I'll get. I also have something up my sleeve for the emblems. Stay tuned.

Wheels: not dead set on anything just yet since I won't be buying anything for awhile, but my favorite right now is the Ballistic Jesters with the red accent piece. I'd paint the chrome bolts black though. It seems too perfect to not put on my truck lol. I do know that I'll be getting away from the chrome look and going with something that is mostly black.

Thoughts?

 

Got a few things done today...

Shipped my Lock Right back for a refund. Decided not to use it since I already have L/S in the 8.8.

Shipped my old side mirrors and tails to Mike in exchange for the work he did on my corners.

Shipped the Expo illuminated visors to drppdyllwrngr along with some of my leftover headliner material so he can cover them for me.

Looked at Lowe's and a local hardware store for the Christmas tree clips with no luck. Guess it's time for some online digging.

Stripped off the paint I used on the mirror caps since it didn't turn out too well. Going to repaint them this week.

Started working on Plastidipping the flares. Got the driver side done, but ran out of daylight. Never could figure out how to get the last few push pins out of the rear flare so I decided to do it with them still on the truck. I cut the Christmas tree clips though so I'll have to get some more of that size too. If/when I ever get the Bushwackers, it's going to be fun getting my flares off without cutting them off or breaking them lol

Also got a call from the guy working on the Explorer. Rear end is done, and transmission should be done Thursday or Friday. He also told me the motor is separated from the tranny so I can pick it up now or when I come for the rest of the Explorer

What that also means is I need to pick up the pace on getting the interior done. I want to have everything completely ready to swap over when I pick up the Ranger after the motor swap is done. I'll make sure they're aware that I won't have headers til November so they won't be rushing to get it done. Hopefully having that long deadline will save me a few bucks on the swap too.

Pics of the terrible shape my flares were in, and where they are now:

 

Man, now I'm going to have to paint my flares black! Jk. I'm gonna bedline the whole bottom edge/valence/flares one of these days, I've wondered how the black flares would look but between you and Pedro, I think I'm going to go for it.

 

Do it man! I knew I was making the right decision as soon as I put the first coat on lol. Doing the flares in Plastidip will tie me over til I get the Bushwackers and/or bedline the bottom.

 

We just put the glass in my dads car today so the end is near for him so I can begin. It felt awesome today putting in my mustang dome light. I guess modding is my drug .

 

This site will get you in a lot of trouble when it comes to spending money and mods lol. It can be very addictive for sure.

 

Yeah just dropped $500+ today on a truetrac and diff bearings

 

I'm on the 3rd ranger, don't even get me started lol.
I'm thinking about a 5.0L but that wont be for at least 3 years

 

Come on Pedro, just drop a Cummins in it and call it a day. Way better than a 302.

 

either way i go, it'll suck to wire lol.

 

Unless you go old school with it. I wouldn't want to have to wire it up for sure though on some of these new ones

 

I doubt P.C. Will go the V-8 route... Maybe !

When you guys are mentioning X-Mas tree clips are you talking about the retaining clip for the interior panels ?

If so try these:
Ford Roof Trim Panel & Garnish Retainer-Gray

These are dark grey but there are other colors.

 

my friend just put up a 4 car garage with a lift and with roughly 40k worth of snap on tools, it's finally doable. I doubt I'll do it too lol I'd get as far as building the motor and never putting it in the truck haha

 

Hey you did a great job with the charger rebuild! It's running great!!!

 

I have no doubt that IF you chose to do a V-8 swap it would turn out as well as Bob's did.
What ever happened to the super Charger, did it get installed ?
I have a friend with a Toyota that is SC, nice rig, run so well you wouldn't think there was a charger on top.

 

If you do more of the Sound deadening try Fat Mat, less money and does a great job. I did the complete floor in my truck, still need to do the doors but too many things going on right now. I did do the roof, had a problem getting the head liner panel out so gave up that is on the list too. The Fat!at reduced so much noise I kind of forget more needs to be done.

Ant mat will help but on the floor do as much as possible, the door s can get by with less than full coverage but the floor, back wall and front firewall needs as much coverage as possible.

You need to change the color to black but they are the right ones; less than $10 for 25 Clips.
Try these:
Ford Roof Trim Panel & Garnish Retainer-Gray

YES ! You get one thing done, it feels good and then you see another. The list grows faster than the completed projects. I have a pile of parts that still need to get on the truck but the house is taking top priority right now and then there is the sale of the MA house too.



Last but not least... it is not an age thing, maturity maybe but don't ever give up on your feeling of youth. My wife tells me when I mentally get to the age of twenty she is going to divorce me for a younger guy, ya right.
Enjoy your truck or the sport of rebuilding your truck for as long as you can and remember you don't buy a TRUCK you BUILD it !

 

There's your answer haha. Mike has it under the hood of his truck now because i felt bad having it sit there all rebuilt without use!

 

I still have some of the MurderMat left over. I think I'm giong to lay down as much of it as I can to double up on the floor and back wall before I start putting the interior back together.

Thanks for the link!

My list of things to do is definitely growing at a faster pace than the list of things completed lol. My garage is full of parts just waiting to be put back in. Hopefully the garage will be clean again soon Even though I'm not close to being done, this has by far been the most enjoyable thing I've done with the truck. I've always said I'll never buy one of the customized trucks for sale at the dealership because I want something that I can do to all of my own specs. I don't want something anyone else can just drop a bunch of money on and buy that's just like mine.

 

Torque Monster Explorer 5.0 Headers **New** - Ford Explorer and Ranger Forums "Serious Explorations"®

so if the wait is killing you for your headers check these out!

 

That's exactly how my luck runs! I just paid a $372 deposit on some last week! Those would be mine if I hadn't!