Interior Semi-Tech General discussion of interior for the Ford Ranger.

Just did some modding as a gift...tried something new

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Old 12-27-2007
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Just did some modding as a gift...tried something new

I got an OHC and the auto window modules for a friend last year, but he never had the chance to install them. With him being out of town, for Christmas I offered to install them in his truck.

To make the OHC install easier, at least a little more painless, I removed the headliner from the vehicle. This made mounting the bracket and wiring up things FAR easier than the time I installed my own OHC (the horror, the horror). I can also suggest that the screws used to hold the factory speakers in place work great for mounting the OHC bracket.

Just thought I would pass on the observation on removing the headliner. The ranger headliner is really easy as heck to remove and worth the extra time it takes to remove it to install the OHC with less hassle.
 
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Old 12-27-2007
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uhh, its really not that hard to do it with the headliner in, it just makes a mess..
 
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Old 12-27-2007
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Originally Posted by 5speedin2.3
uhh, its really not that hard to do it with the headliner in, it just makes a mess..
I like to avoid messes...I found this to be a good way to do that.
 
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Old 12-27-2007
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Did you premeasure your headliner? I think it would be pretty hard to get everthing lined up and what not. I did mine the old school way... headliner on.
 
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Old 12-27-2007
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I measured with the headliner in and cut it for the bracket. I then removed it to do the cutting, drilling, and wiring, then reinstalled it.
 
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Old 12-27-2007
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Originally Posted by pastfinder
I got an OHC and the auto window modules for a friend last year, but he never had the chance to install them. With him being out of town, for Christmas I offered to install them in his truck.

To make the OHC install easier, at least a little more painless, I removed the headliner from the vehicle. This made mounting the bracket and wiring up things FAR easier than the time I installed my own OHC (the horror, the horror). I can also suggest that the screws used to hold the factory speakers in place work great for mounting the OHC bracket.

Just thought I would pass on the observation on removing the headliner. The ranger headliner is really easy as heck to remove and worth the extra time it takes to remove it to install the OHC with less hassle.
Yes, some folks prefer it that way. You should do a how-to on the headliner removal and so forth for the folks that do.

I'm just too lazy to remove the headliner...and you know what they say about lazy people: they end up doing it the hard way, lol...
 
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Old 12-27-2007
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Originally Posted by n3elz
Yes, some folks prefer it that way. You should do a how-to on the headliner removal and so forth for the folks that do.

I'm just too lazy to remove the headliner...and you know what they say about lazy people: they end up doing it the hard way, lol...
My first mod EVER John was your OHC writeup...

This was my second OHC install and I just wanted to make it a wee bit easier and make it a better install. The hardest part I think is still getting the slots cuts for the "feet" of the console. The metal clips never work the way I want :(
 
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Old 12-27-2007
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Originally Posted by pastfinder
The hardest part I think is still getting the slots cuts for the "feet" of the console. The metal clips never work the way I want :(
Do you own a Dremel tool? ...with a cutting wheel?

When I did my install (a couple weeks ago), with the bracket held (temporarily) in place, I drilled a hole at the "top" and "bottom" of each slot. I then removed the bracket, placed an old blanket/towel around the opening in my headliner (which I did not remove, thank you very much. ) and used the Dremel to create the two 'slots'. Worked the bracket back into place, snaked the wiring harness into place, and buttoned everything up. The entire install (cutting headliner, installing bracket, running wiring, bolting everything together, and splicing in the other end of the wiring harness) took about an hour.

...including the time to vacuum the interior to pick up the little bits of headliner that littered the carpet during the installation.
 
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Old 12-27-2007
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Originally Posted by turbo
Do you own a Dremel tool? ...with a cutting wheel?

When I did my install (a couple weeks ago), with the bracket held (temporarily) in place, I drilled a hole at the "top" and "bottom" of each slot. I then removed the bracket, placed an old blanket/towel around the opening in my headliner (which I did not remove, thank you very much. ) and used the Dremel to create the two 'slots'. Worked the bracket back into place, snaked the wiring harness into place, and buttoned everything up. The entire install (cutting headliner, installing bracket, running wiring, bolting everything together, and splicing in the other end of the wiring harness) took about an hour.

...including the time to vacuum the interior to pick up the little bits of headliner that littered the carpet during the installation.
It's not a question that you HAVE to remove the headliner, I just found it easier when working on someone else's truck, that's all. To each his/her own. The purpose of the post was to just note how this technique might be handy for some.
 
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