My new truck...(a few pics...56k be warned)

[Shadowscion]

The truck I posted asking about laws about a few weeks back...

It is a 1977 Bronco frame and 302 5.0L engine, with a 1985 custom Ford Ranger body on it. Dual exhaust, headers, c4 automatic. The exhaust is...interesting, looks like pieces from different systems welded together...haha, nice shiny tips though. Basically everything was rebuilt a few years ago according to the man we got it from. Engine, front end, suspension, all the good stuff. I know its not really a Bronco anymore...but its still one cool looking truck(or so I think). Also it has the Bronco name plate on the body...shhhh.... :-$ most people won't notice it's a ranger, but you guys can probably tell. This is my first vehicle(I am 17).

There were not many problems that we found. Most of the ones we did find were electrical and those are being taken care of. The fan blower motor was stuck, but we fixed that and now it works well. Theres no choke, but we are going to see about getting an electrical one. It needs a little body work around the common places for rust. The rear left fender is the rustiest part on the truck. There is a bit on the underside of the left door and in the door well. And then on the rear right fender there is somoe surface rust. I plan on fixing all this next summer.

There is no power steering because it was removed by the previous owner, but I have all of the parts he took out. We plan to put that back in though. The steering is also a little strange, seems like I am constantly turning the wheel to keep it straight, but it doesn't pull to any one side.

It also needs a new return spring on the carb or something. It idles high, and the spring is not strong enough to pull the pedal back after releasing it or going into park or neutral. When going into park or neutral the RPMs shoot up and the gas pedal has to be pulled back.

Pictures...





Video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0Vz3ghVEkY

In the video the high pitched whistling noise is annoying I know. I guess its something to do with the alternator frequencies with the stereo system. Some non resistant thing or something. But we are rewiring the stereo this weekend so I will see what I can do about that. There is also a whistling noise that comes from the engine itself, no idea what that is, I think it has to do with the fan. I will get a video that goes into more detail soon. Also....if anyone out there has a good ear, can you tell from the video what that screetching noise is when it its about to kill and then I hit the gas? You can hear it good at around 1:20 in the video.

All in all I am very satisfied with this truck, especially considering what was paid for it, which I wont reveal. It was a steal, though, I'll say that much.

I need some help with the power steering. If anyone is familiar with this I'd appreciate some information. I have pictures of all of the components that came off of the truck when the power steering was removed. I am not sure if this is all of them but it was what came with the truck. I am guessing that the steering box that is on the vehicle right now has to come off, and then the power steering linkage replaces that?

[jrrdw]

You should put a 490 cid in it.
Looks like you even got the engine bracket, start turning bolts, lol.
Yes you have to change the steering box. The problem i see is getting the end header bolt to line up through the steering bracket and header at the same time, looks like you have a longer one there. I would loosen all the header bolts on that side (drivers), and then give it a go. Any further questions, feel free to ask.

[Shadowscion]

490 would be a bit overkill lol. Power isn't my problem. 220hp in a truck this size is plenty. I'll go check out what you said about the header tomorrow, too dark to do it right now. Thanks

[mtronic]

awesome "truck" in Australia I'd call it a ute now you can mount a sweet cannonon a turret on the back

[mark.f]

I don't think you'll be fooling anybody into thinking that's a bronco. As far as it goes, though, you probably have a better truck than a bronco anyway.

Looks like the former owner was quite the "truck buff", or at least he thought he was. The 302 Windsor V8 swap is fairly common as far as Rangers go. A good site to see examples of these things would be http://www.therangerstation.com.

It looks as though he wanted all that extra power for off-roading as well, which is stupid considering he still has the automatic transmission. What kind of rear and front axles does he have one there?

Anyways, my truck is just plain wimpy compared to that beast. 8) '96 Ranger with 4-banger, blue body, and 14-inch wheels. I'm gonna be replacing those as soon as I get new tires, though, because I can't find LT tires for them anymore and I don't want to be moving down the interstate with a four-wheeler in the back on passenger rubber. I think Ford's 2.3L is probably the best engine for non-offroading and normal towing, (think small flat-boats and four-wheelers). Especially when combined with a 3.73 rear axle.

[Shadowscion]

Yeah I will probably take the Bronco emblem off and put on a Ranger one when I do some restoration next summer. No idea about the axles. Today we got a new air filter and that stopped the whistling coming from the engine. My guess is that the burn hole in the old filter was causing it...lol. Took it on the freeway for the first time today, really bumpy, but it could have been the road. The mud tires probably had something to do with that too.

[Novacastrian]

I don't think you'll be fooling anybody into thinking that's a bronco. As far as it goes, though, you probably have a better truck than a bronco anyway.

Looks like the former owner was quite the "truck buff", or at least he thought he was. The 302 Windsor V8 swap is fairly common as far as Rangers go. A good site to see examples of these things would be http://www.therangerstation.com.

It looks as though he wanted all that extra power for off-roading as well, which is stupid considering he still has the automatic transmission. What kind of rear and front axles does he have one there?

Anyways, my truck is just plain wimpy compared to that beast. 8) '96 Ranger with 4-banger, blue body, and 14-inch wheels. I'm gonna be replacing those as soon as I get new tires, though, because I can't find LT tires for them anymore and I don't want to be moving down the interstate with a four-wheeler in the back on passenger rubber. I think Ford's 2.3L is probably the best engine for non-offroading and normal towing, (think small flat-boats and four-wheelers). Especially when combined with a 3.73 rear axle.

You obviously know more about trucks than i do, but i had to comment on leaving the auto transmission in.
I know a guy that owns a 4wd mod shop and he swears by auto's for full on off-roading, like rock hopping and such. Says that a clutch would be fried.
Just my 2 cents

[Shadowscion]

Meh. I can drive manual, but I have enough other things to worry about.
Also, I am looking for an aftermarket hood with a single scoop that will fit the 85' Ranger. If anyone has any ideas please share, thanks.

[jrrdw]

Try ebay for a pre-built scoop. Or you could find a old riding mower hood cut it down to were you want it, and pop-rivet/screw/weld it to your truck hood then fiberglass in the base clean primer then paint. And you built it yourself.

How did that power steering line up?

[Shadowscion]

We have not messed with the power steering yet. Might try tomorrow. Do we need to raise the car up on jack stands?

[jrrdw]

We have not messed with the power steering yet. Might try tomorrow. Do we need to raise the car up on jack stands?

It makes it easier to get to the steering box bolts if you jack up the drivers side and take the front wheel off. Yes support it under the frame with jackstands.

[Shadowscion]

Alright, it will have to wait then. Our jackstands are at my grandparents house. The steering is fine as is, stable at high speeds and all, I will just have to build some armstrong muscles xD

[jrrdw]

Tech tip: Get rid of that open element air cleaner! In the long run, they can be engine killers. If you want a preformance air filter set up, go with a K+N set up. Other wise get a stock set up, it will do a better job then those open element type.

[ShowNoMercy]

And while your working under the hood, with your steering why not get some new headers? With the steering pump off you should have plenty of room and new headers will give you like 28 some RWHP.

[Shadowscion]

I didn't know you could have that type of intake setup on a carbureted vehicle. But if you can I guess I will try to find one of those cold air intakes. Yeah I thought about getting new headers and I probably will at some point. The problem is, the exhaust is all home made it looks like. Its like welded to the frame and what not lol. I will get some pictures to show what I mean.

edit: Actually now that I went and had a closer look its not welded to the frame, just the holding hooks at the tailpipe are welded which wouldn't be hard to remove. Probably get a full exhaust kit. Anyways, looking for a job atm and once I get some money rolling it I won't have much else to spend it on other than this truck. Anyone have any ideas for paint schemes?

edit2: hows this? http://store.knfilters.com/search/produ ... rod=E-1040