Replaced the upper and lower control arms (and ball joints), sway bar links, and tie rod ends a couple weeks ago, recranked the torsion bars to level it up, and got an alignment. The guy at the alignment shop that did mine had a stock 2000 Ranger and about fell over when I pulled up lol. The alignment would've got done much quicker if I didn't spend so much time showing it off and answering questions, but I don't mind.

I also noticed this past week that my voltage gauge was reading low (around 11V) no matter if I was idling, driving, or just had the key in the on position. I had been planning to do the Big 3 upgrade soon and already had the parts I needed, so I figured now would be a good time to get it done in hopes of getting my issues solved. I spent a couple hours this afternoon working on it, and my volt gauge immediately jumped to 14.3V when I cranked it up. I plan to add my aux fuse box for most of my accessories this week or next weekend.

Took it out for a cruise after I finished up with all the wiring this evening and took a few pics. One is in the photo contest

 

YES! Two E4 fixes in one week!

 

We aim to please

 

The parts search has begun!




Also took a quick video of some WOT action leaving work the other day. One of these days I'm going to have someone take a good video of it in action, but this'll do for now. And yes, that is the tires chirping when I hit 2nd gear.

 

Yes! Don't forget the driver's side hood hinge and the hood latch.

 

I've unfortunately been mistreating the truck lately, as it's been sitting in the garage for the last month. Since the weather was nice and I didn't have any plans today, I figured it would be a good time to get it fired up and go for a cruise around a nearby lake. Then the wife and I took it out to a buddy's house out on another lake.





Couldn't help but take a few pics next to this abandoned bar I found.

 

About time it got to stretch it's legs.

 

Looking good!

 

No kidding. I've been a bad owner lately. Felt good to get it out on the back roads again.

Thanks!

 

Good to see the truck out for a rip. What's next on the list?

 

Let's see.....

Find the rest of the parts I need for the front end swap
Paint the bed cap
Get the fender flares put back on, even though I'm getting used to them not being there
Mount and wire the light bar (also going to do some work on the center console at the same time because the switch is going to mount in it)

That should be enough to keep me busy for awhile, especially since nothing is really a big priority. It's all cosmetic stuff at this point. After that (and after some house projects are done), I can start saving up for "Phase 2"

 

Let's hear more about this "phase 2" lol

 

Can't let out too much just yet. It's still in planning and subject to change.

 

Don't feel bad, I'm a terrible truck owner too.

 

It's very easy for me to be one when it's not my primary vehicle. I couldn't afford the gas if it was

 

Preview pic of the first Ranger-related work I've done in awhile...

 

Ummm....Update? Pls?

 

Lol, it's sitting in the garage begging me to do some electrical work on it (troubleshooting the parasitic drain, installing the aux fuse panel, repairing the 3BL, light bar install, other misc wiring).

The flares are on though, so I guess I can update with a picture of that later when I get home.

 

Gotta love electrical gremlins.

Not sure what stage you're in as far as diagnosis for the drain, but an easy way to find it is to set a meter in current mode (the higher the scale the better) and one by one, pull and reinstall each fuse until you find the affected circuit.

 

That's exactly what I plan on doing once I bring myself around to actually working on it.

 

Yeah, I know that feeling. It's all about getting started

 

I'm probably gonna be done with my SAS before you even get started on getting yours dailyable

 

^lol, He's right you know.

 

It's already dailyable, it just has to be every-dayable or else the battery dies. lol

 

As promised, here's the "update" of my truck sitting in the garage begging to be worked on. The result of kids and a job that pays well but also makes you work a lot.