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Gage Jackson Tribute build

Hey all, I know this isn’t the new member section, been lurking a while and have made a few posts. I wanted to make a post about my son’s 2009 Ford Ranger I am slowly rehab/restoring. Gage is my son, he was murdered by friends/roommate in March of 2019. He was 19. The case is still unsolved. That being said, my Pops and I are building his 2009 Ranger 4.0 4wd XLT the way he talked about building it. Little background about the truck; he purchased it from one of my customers in 2017. The truck was a an ex New York state/county truck I believe. My customer had purchased it for his son. Both boys physically beat the crap out of this thing. The body work will be last for sure. My son drove this truck around for around 3-4 months with a cracked thermostat housing, which led to both heads being blown. The engine was toast, and I honestly didn’t have the motivation to rebuild it. I purchased a reman for it along with a ton of other parts. As of this typing I already have the new engine in but I have snapped a few pics along the way. I have quite a few plans for this truck and hope to have most, if not all the mechanical part of this project done throughout this year. So far I have cleaned, rust treated, and coated the under carriage of this truck, along with the engine replacement. I also cleaned and painted the engine bay. I also purchased an M90 supercharger to go along with this build. The boy wanted more power and we couldn’t decide between a V8 swap or modding this 4.0. So far I have JBA headers, brand new OE style cats and an MBRP cat back exhaust. Also slightly upgraded fuel injectors in anticipation of the S/C. So here we go......
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...f04b5d008.jpeg
The engine yanked on 11/6/2020
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...4818069cc.jpeg
The boy and the truck Summer 2017, 😢rip son.

This truck was a slight rust bucket, but I don’t really have the room to yank the bed and cab, so I did what I could in my driveway in front of one of my garage doors.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...23b42f69d.jpeg
Rats decided to make a home in the engine valley.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...b3e82d78f.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...1744e22eb.jpeg
Was going to rebuild this hunk of rust, but decided against it.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...80e7198a5.jpeg
The sludge this thing had in it because if running so long with water in the oil. I have never seen such a thing.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...6202caf6b.jpeg
To think I replaced this water pump for him in 2018 and see this is just crazy

This boy has had this truck up to the rockers in mud. This truck needs interior work, it’s all been ripped apart. It needs most if not all chassis and suspension bushings and bearings, wear parts etc.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...ebc8cfa6e.jpeg
More engine bay
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...f81b0c4b3.jpeg
This whole front end was smashed in
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...d4f639128.jpeg
New hood and fire wall insulation
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...bf2cb8bdc.jpeg
Smashed something with the tow hook. Need to yank that there out
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...be6b58671.jpeg

Little start up vid. Only cranking prior was two days earlier to prime oil. No intake manifold, injectors, or plug wires connected
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I'm sorry to hear about your son.

This is a great way to remember him and you've got a great start!

Update: Finally have a supercharger adapter kit on the way, thanks 245Ranger. Going to start basic, with the 3.5 psi pulley. I will upgrade the pulley, injectors, and maybe add water/meth in a few months.