Ok, first a question. Does anyone know what the purpose of this piece is?



I think I'm going to either weld this solid or make a new piece after prying it out when I weld up the holes from the fender flares.

Latest round of work on the truck.

First project, painted the radio bezel.



Sanded down.



Paint.







Done.



2 Errors. First I didn't mask the 4WD selector good enough.



Second.... I had a spot fall off already.



Second project.

Making the tonneau cover more lower profile. Probably way more work than it's work, but hey... it's fun. So far, not much progress.



Ground down the rail.



Plan on getting the cover to sit as flat as possible. We'll see how it turns out.

 

you shoulld just sand down the 4x4 selector some and like nightshade it or somthing.

just an idea. but idk how that'd look.
finished pics of the tonneau?

 

So far that's all I've got done. I'm trying to figure out ways to get the mounts for it mounted an inch lower then they were. I'm thinking best solution may just be to make them in my up coming welding class and TIG weld them. Like I said though it's a work in progress.

 

Should've just removed the switch itself and the indicator....quick buzz with a drill bit on the plastic rivet/melt spots, and it pops right out there. Did you paint the clear chunk that the light shines through to the 4x4 indicator?



But anyway...

IDK if you've seen this yet, but here's a former RF member who's FINALLY ditched torsion bars. I see tons of similarities between his and your builds(ditching bars, going for handling and lower, ditching the flares, etc)....

Generation-Edge.info Forum - Coil over conversion.

Generation-Edge.info Forum - Edge coil over conversion

*It's not perfect yet, but he's finally coil-overed. I believe he changed the angles of the LBJ's too by pie cutting the lower arms so everything's still in check, even with the arms negative(up) now.






EDIT: Nevermind. lol...I see you are well aware of D's little project. lol.

 

Yeah... I may try and find a bezel from the Junkyard for cheap and try it again as that indicator is driving me crazy. Oh well...

Yes sir. I was aimed at those by a friend of D's who is still on this forum. Been in talks with D. a bit on Gen Edge. He's also made customized Uppers as well if you weren't aware, but those are pretty ridiculous... he ended up essentially mounting completely custom Ball Joints that are used in Race Cars. Haha... so yeah... his truck is more or less what I'm shooting for. Except mine is 4wd. His isn't.

Don't think this will be a problem as it's great information, but here's link to his builds:

Customized Upper Control Arms: http://www.generation-edge.info/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9507
Customized Lower Control Arms: http://www.generation-edge.info/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9372
Customized Coilover Conversion: http://www.generation-edge.info/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9685

 

Nick is running coilovers and 4wd, well he was. went to 2wd.

D has some great ideas but all that 3/8" material stacked up is goofy.

 

Crap. Your right. Completely forgot about Nick. Haven't seen good pics or vids of the truck in so long. Plus he's got IRS now. That's just not a Ranger anymore.

Haha... just playing... I know he's busy as hell with his shop... so I'd rather have him keep the place open, then close his doors.

And what do you mean about the 3/8" material? On the Upper or Lower?

 

You didnt notice the 3/8" thick plate that D used to make all his brackets? No one uses 3/8 plate. its just overkill.


Nick is working on getting his truck back together soon at least paint and body panels. Ill get some fresh pics when i take my truck down there this fall.

 

Looks good man! yeller FTW!!

 

It covers the seam where the cab corner and the roof skin are welded together. I don't know about on a reg. cab, but on an ext. cab 2 door, it bolts in. Probably does in your truck too, but you would have to pull the headliner down/out to access it.

 

How did you remove the fender flares any techniques? I removed one of mine and its a *****. lol

 

Basically... I just crawled under each wheelwell with a pliers and squeezed all the little ***** things I could.

Once you squeeze them they should just slide out. There was 1 metal stud on the bottom of each of the front ones that you have to more just slide the flares off, but it definitely helps to have someone helping you (i.e. one guy gently pulling on the flare, while another is squeezing the tabs from behind).

 

Ok thank you I got them off last night wasn't to hard after I did one. I had the gf help me. lol

 

if u havnt sold the flairs yet i will galdly take them off ur hands!! email me at chris84ricks@gmail.com if ur interested!

 

Sorry Chris. Already gone. Sold them like a month ago.

 

lookin good, but i vote we meet up sometime and swap out your 4x4 into my truck, you dont need 4x4 on a lowered truck :P haha

 

Just curious, haven't seen any updates in a while, how's the truck coming along?

 

Figured I'd finally give you guys an update since I've actually been doing some work again on the yellow beater.

I was able to get the holes all welded up on the fenders. Just used my Dad's Millermatic 211 and performed a bunhc of little spot welds over and over again, as to not put too much heat to warp or melt the sheet metal. I just rattle canned sprayed it with primer for now.

Looks like hell, but it'll get painted soon. Right now I'm aiming for all the prep and such Thanksgiving weekend (since I should have 3 full days). I've got all the tools sitting in my dad's garage. Now I just need to go buy whatever paint I need.

I'm also going to be finishing up the Tonneau cover before winter so I can have some storage back there that will get covered from snow, as well putting the new disc brakes on the rear.

And finally, I'm going to be fixing up my headlight issue (hopefully) by installing some HIDs up front. Right now I'm leaning towards these in 5000K Color, but obviously any recommendation you guys have would be appreciated.

Ford Ranger HIDs Ford Ranger HID Kits Headlight Conversions Xenon Bulbs

Pictures and stuff of all the parts and their installs will be coming by the weekend (at least the start of it).

 

I'd check out www.ddmtuning.com, prices are a lot cheaper than that site and they have a lifetime warranty. 5k is about pure white, thats what I would go with.

 

looks great matt

 

Just read through both of your threads man, and i must say i'm impressed!
Loving the yellow ranger... always have been a big fan of the yellow, and the black wheels/headlights just set it off bro.

 

It does look pretty bad, I was you on the freeway earlier this week, better than the holes though...which im running right now.

 

No kidding? I'm frickin' clueless about other drivers when I'm driving. I never notice anyone. Just drive to make sure someone doesn't crush my truck. Haha... but yeah. Hopefully it'll all get done soon.

Thanks for the tip man. I'll check them out.

Really? Impressed by my laziness? Haha... I'm good at starting these things. Horrible at finishing them.

Thanks for the kind words though man.

 

yeah what a piece of crap!

 

what are you going to do to fill those holes? I pulled the stock flaps off as well.