Well its not a Ranger but it is a Ford. I dubbed my new truck, Smokie since it is an erl burner.

to refresh the members memories i have purchase a gently used 1988 F-350 Custom 4x4 with the 7.3L IDI N/A diesel, ZF HD 5 speed transmission, BW1356, Dana 60 front and Sterling 10.25 rear. it has 3.55 gearing with a limited slip in the rear.

Due to being a custom is came sans headliner, cargo light, map lights just has a rubber floor, ****ty vinal "buggy" seat but the key element...AIR CONDITIONING. that was the deal sealer for me...

When i bought it it had a camper shell, running boards, stock wheels w/ pizza cutters and true 2 1/4" exhaust with small (and by now burned out) glass packs.

Mods so far are:
Removal of pappy appearance items
Adding 16x8 white wagon wheels with no name 285/75/16 MTs
Removing the "soup bowl" in the intake w/ new filter
Installing a clotch 92-96 F-series bench seat in place of the vinal POS
New style dome light with added map light wiring

Also picked up some 92-96 F Series/BKO paddle mirrors to replace the western style. Gunna turn up the injection pump soon and play with the timing via the glow plugs. also going to try to fab up a ram intake of some sort. for the appearance side im gunna go with a black billet grill with some off-road lights behind. throw on the F-SuperDuty tow hooks i was gunna use on my 93 F150. Also would like some 315/75/16s and a front AAL. then eventually im gunna turbo it with a custom set up.

ill have pics tomorrow...

 

that sounds bad ***, and you know someone was gonna say it.

 

i totally dropped the ball on this one didnt i.

nothing really has changed but i added some 315/75/16 ProComp Xtreme ATs:




just about a month ago i tore into the stereo side and installed some bumps...
Alpine CDA-
Alpine MRV-400 amp
Infinity reference 6 1/2s in the doors
Infinity reference 6x9s in boxes behind the seat

then, 2 weeks ago i tore the top end apart and...
Installed new Beru glow plugs
G (stock turbo) injectors
Return line kit
CDR valve
Fuel filter w/ built in water drain

and did some other work like...
Removed the sway bars for more flex
Replaced the pinion seal and fixed the loose nut
Replaced the transfer case seal
Rebuilt the rear drum brakes from the backing plate out
New speedo gear to correct for tire size change
Wet sanding and buffing the lights









next on the list is a full treatment to syn fluid in the trans, diff and transfer case. also gunna do an oil change and use a powerstroke filter (one qt more capacity), install my pyrometer and turn the pump up a hair. also have a line on a higher capacity air cleaner lid for a bigger filter for more air. als gunna try to fix the irratic tach and paint the wheels and rear bumper.

then its time for some Bilstien shocks, front add a leaf, different dash, switch the interior to gray, install the 92-96 mirrors, install the new rear sliding window and make up a filter station to burn waste motor oil.

 

i would love to find a nice old diesel truck like that one

 

Runnin 3.55 gears in that thing? eesh, I know its got the power.. but hows the gas mileage? lol

 

i dunno, to many hills around to actually care to get decent milage. this tank may see 15 mpg...