got the project underway so i'll start my build thread. this is planned to be a BUDGET build, but i dont know if it will end up that way. anyways heres what i started with.

my first truck 1995 ranger 3.0 V6 2WD. it was hit by a tree last january. body work will be done after the engine swap is complete.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/ranger001Medium.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/ranger002Medium.jpg

this is my donor truck i picked up for a steal. interior is stripped but the body is in good shape. i'll be taking the whole front clip alond with the 8.8 and swapping it on my 95
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/029.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/030.jpg

i picked up my 302 from a 1995 GT with just over 100K on the clock. got it complete with all accessories for $500
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/100_0286.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/100_0283.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/100_0284.jpg

got the engine torn partially down for inspection. waiting on a compression tester to see if it will need to be freshened up before i install it.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/100_286.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/100_0288.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/100_0287.jpg

sucks about the tree man, but that's a great looking Ranger you got for the swap!

nice motor too :thumbsup:

got my parts list ready for christmas/birthday coming up. i should have all the parts by the end of december.

heres what i'm planning on buying
F303 cam
TFS valve spring kit
Edelbrock performer RPM intake
MSD Streetfire Ignition box
oil filter relocation bracket
oil filter adapter
ARP intake bolt kit
ARP head bolt kit
Patriot Tri Y headers

sucks about the tree man, but that's a great looking Ranger you got for the swap!

nice motor too :thumbsup:

thanks. i'm trying to sell the 3.0/auto from the 95 and the 4.0 SOHC auto 4WD combo from the 01 but havent had any luck yet. if i can get rid of those i should have enough to finish the build

same motor i used in my swap. i used the stock headers with a lil bit of frame trimming, also had to ac bracket and the frame near the compressor.

BTW.. Dont use the heater tube that runs under the intake, its a big PITA. Just use some hose

did a leak down test tonight and it looks like a valve job will be needed. there are a couple of intake valves not seating up as they should. 5 out of 8 cylinders seem to be good and the 3 problem ones all seem to be intake valve problems.

prob gonna tear the engine down and hone it out and throw some new rings in it just to be on the safe side.

this will prob be the last of the 302 progress till after the new year. gonna work on cleaning everything up and getting both the 3.0 and 4.0 pulled from the trucks. hopefully the 8.8 will be swapped before the end of the month. my birthday and christmas should supply me with some nice parts

picked up a nice C4 this weekend

freshly built with just five 1/8 passes on it. full manual valve body, trans brake, deep aluminum pan, 2800 stall, B&M quarter stick and a trans cooler

all for $650

Nice find. Post up some engine pics when you get the work done to it.

got a little work done this weekend

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/100_0311.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/100_0310.jpg

finished this up a few min ago. waiting on the Fore diff cover to come in and then it will go under the Ranger!!!

Hope your gonna change that oil. Looks like it's mixed with water.

nice work, curious though. Why not use the 01? It looks like it's still in better shape than the 95.

looks like he's in NC i would have to assume its because of our OBDII required inspection the 95 is not required to have one while the 01 is

nice work, curious though. Why not use the 01? It looks like it's still in better shape than the 95.

If you would actually read the thread he says why.

Hope your gonna change that oil. Looks like it's mixed with water.

oh yea. the drain pan was full so i didnt dump it. i still have to get a new pinion seal and the Fore diff cover so i'll be raplacing it when the new cover goes on. i wont be using it till after all the parts are in.

Haha, tree hit the truck, not the truck hit the tree.

$500 seems really high for an engine... Especially one that needs freshening up.

well not considering that he can sell that FEAD for an easy 200...

update

got the 8.8 and spool in the truck today. slow turns are VERY different but everything else isnt too bad. i did a couple of burnouts in front of the house today just for fun

[QUOTE=saleengt2001;2229025]slow turns are VERY different /QUOTE]

wait til you get on some wet roads and corner at 25+ :rotfl: "ass-over-teakettle" is a good way of putting it

My buddy put a spool in his V8 S-10. He was leaving a car show and thought it would be cool to get a little sideways. It was cool for sure, his axle snapped and his truck went slidding across the parking lot throwing sparks everywhere while his wheel and axle went the other way. It snapped right at the C-clip.

got a TON of parts today. best christmas i could ask for!!
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/christmas1.jpg

also i just picked up this with some extra christmas cash and one hell of a sale
http://www.livernoismotorsports.com/prod_imgs/img-397-large.jpg


got some header bolts and a blaster coil as well

everything for less than $380. the nitrous kit alone retailed for $430!!

should be here in 2-3 days

picked up an explorer full length console today for $20. it needs a new armrest but i can live with replacing that for the price!!

It looks like you had an awesome christmas! Whats the part number on the nx kit?

got a TON of parts today. best christmas i could ask for!!

Is that a 20 gal cell? i went with a 20gal. cell and put it between the frame rails. and had a 3" long 1 3/4" pipe welded on the side about 4 1/2" down from the top on the left side so that i could still use a stock filler-tube (i had to shorten the tube a bit but then clamped it over the pipe)

Nitrous Express (NX) 40040-10

late christmas presents from ME to ME!!!

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0108-1.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0109-1.jpg

Now that's a Merry Christmas!

Now that's a Merry Christmas!

and a happy new year:lol::lol:

(this was yesterday 1/1/10)
got some work started on the truck today. today i went to the shop and removed all the interior excluding the seats and dash. surgery will begin as soon as i can find a reasonably priced roof clip. i'm hoping to have the old roof off next saturday and have the new one on and finished up by the end of the month.

more progress from this week, the heads are getting finished up and i decided to have the engine gone through. it is all at the shop waiting to be rebuilt.

i also picked up an explorer full length console and a pair of grey leather bucket seats for $50. seats are nasty but i need something b/c the 60/40 bench wont work with the new console and i need the console to mount the B&M quarter stick shifter in! i will eventually end up with some nicer seats (maybe corbeau) after the truck is up and running

found a roof clip from a u pull it junk yard for $175. i'll be going out next saturday to cut it off

things didnt work out last weekend as the truck i wanted the roof from had been crushed already.

i did get a nice pair of explorer leather buckets and the full length console for $80.

i got a roof today for $275, sold the 3.0 and now i have a fun weekend of pulling the 3.0 out ahead of me.

pics will be up in a few days with the progress

made some good progress this weekend.

this came to the shop on friday
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0147.jpg

then i spent yesterday in the shop
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0149.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0150.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0151.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0152.jpg


then brought her back home
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0154.jpg

more progress pics from today

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0157.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0158.jpg

Xterras were NOT made to tow another vehicle!!!! i couldnt get over 55 mph. good thing i only had to go 12 miles

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0159.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0163.jpg

rear glass and extended cab windows removed

remember how it looks now. you wont see it like this again!!!

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0161.jpg
empty engine compartment
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0162.jpg

this is one of the reasons i bought the truck when i was 15. my name is Ben O'Neill
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0168.jpg

trans tunnel stock
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0164.jpg

fixed to fit the C4 bellhousing
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0165.jpg

everyone says to use a hammer, but i prefer this method
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0166.jpg

this is how it looked by the end of the day
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0167.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0170.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0169.jpg

It's looking good man!

Looking good. Post lots of pics when you cut that roof off and weld the new one on! I want to see this.

Looking good. Post lots of pics when you cut that roof off and weld the new one on! I want to see this.


will do!:quagmire:

Did you cut the seam off or just use the air hammer and flatten it out?? Either way it looks good man.

Gerry

i made 5 cuts in the seam and them used the air hammer to flatten it down. it looks like it should have come from the factory like that!!

Cool, I'll need to remember that trick in a few months.... :).

got the windshield out tonight. what a PITA!!! theres glass EVERYWHERE in my interior!!!!

made some good progress today.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0189.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0190.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0191.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0192.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0193.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0194.jpg

I would totally screw that up if it were me. Lol. I'd end up having to make filler pieces from cutting the posts too short or something. Lookin good so far!

I would totally screw that up if it were me. Lol. I'd end up having to make filler pieces from cutting the posts too short or something. Lookin good so far!


you dont have to be perfect with the cuts. you use part of the old top to make a "guide panel" to position the new top and to weld the two together. i'll post some pics of that later.

i got 90% of the cuts made to fit the new top on finished up. i hope to get the rest done at lunch tomorrow and then test fit it tomorrow night

Oh ok, well keep the pics of how it's done coming.

Looks good so far.

-Mario

more progress pics. it's looking like a truck again!

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0195.jpg
these are the filler panels i was talking about. they are made from part of the old roof clip.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0196.jpg
this way the cuts dont have to be perfect and you have something to weld to

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0197.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0198.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0199.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0200.jpg


i still have some trimming and fitting to do before i start welding and filling everything in. hopefully i will have the top in it's correct place by the weekend

Your fitting windows before its all welded right? sounds stupid to ask but i know ppl that think they are really good till the glass guys come out and .. oh wow.. they dont fit.. had a guy do a cab corner like that ay my shop and i laughed at him for weeks..


BTW what body shop do you work for down in N.C???

Your fitting windows before its all welded right? sounds stupid to ask but i know ppl that think they are really good till the glass guys come out and .. oh wow.. they dont fit.. had a guy do a cab corner like that ay my shop and i laughed at him for weeks..


BTW what body shop do you work for down in N.C???

yes the glass is all going to be fitted before anything is welded. the green tape you see is all measurements i pulled before the old top was cut so i know where everything should be.

i'm at Clayton Collision Center in Benson NC. i'm just starting out in the paint and body stuff, so i'm not the greatest yet. i'm a lot more at home under the hood but i wanted to expand my knowledge and get a better job than what i had before

cool deal.. i started out prepping and now m a full time body/mechanical tech.. Workign at a True 2 Form up here in pa.

Good luck man.. what you plan for paint color?

Now I see what you were talking about with the fillers. It looks good man.

cool deal.. i started out prepping and now m a full time body/mechanical tech.. Workign at a True 2 Form up here in pa.

Good luck man.. what you plan for paint color?

not sure on the color yet. it's down to three choices, the factory greenish blue, satin black or a medium shade of blue. i just cant make up my mind

sold the original 3.0 today for a whopping $150. i finally have a little cash free to work on the truck again!!!

hopefully some progress on the roof or begin engine install this weekend

work looks good so far. why didn't you use the roof off the black truck? were the posts on the green truck bent? why not just do the center section of the roof? looks like a lot of extra work by cutting it in the middle of the pillars. are you putting anything else in the pillars other than the sheet metal filler?

work looks good so far. why didn't you use the roof off the black truck? were the posts on the green truck bent? why not just do the center section of the roof? looks like a lot of extra work by cutting it in the middle of the pillars. are you putting anything else in the pillars other than the sheet metal filler?


the parts truck is a 4 door:(

the a pillar and braces on the under side of the roof were bent on the 95 from the tree, so i had to cut it out. if that wasnt bent i could have just done a roof skin and been finished.

gonna use some thicker filler on the insdies of the cab to weld it up. this is how wrecked vehicles are normally fixed. just dont make a straigh cut with the pillar. the cuts are staggered for strength, that way it wont shear off in case of an accident


http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/SSPX0196.jpg

you can see how the inside is about 3" higher than the outside

looks good bro.

glad to see you are doing it the right way. should go ahead and chop the top while you have it apart!

glad to see you are doing it the right way. should go ahead and chop the top while you have it apart!

EVERYONE has told me that!!

if getting the glass cut wasnt so expensive i would do it!

i know what you mean.

you are already half way there!

ok, got some time to work on the truck today.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0232.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0233.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0234.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0235.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0236.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0237.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0238-1.jpg

nice tan from welding for about 6 hours today

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0239-1.jpg

It's coming along. So do you just use filler pieces and weld them in to fill the gaps on the inside or what?

It's coming along. So do you just use filler pieces and weld them in to fill the gaps on the inside or what?

havent got that far, but that is the plan. some of the gaps are so close i wont need any filler panels but some are close to 3/4". hopefully i'll get some more welding done after work this week.

pulled the interior out tonight. gotta replace the seats and carpet, so this makes it much easier to finish up my welding this weekend.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0241.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0242.jpg


this is what happens when you use an air hammer to keep the driveshaft from hitting. (i had a solid aluminum shaft from a newer ranger in the 95)

there will be a tunnel welded in to make sure the new driveshaft wont have any issues
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0243.jpg

also did a little welding on the drivers side pillars yesterday. they still need to be cleaned up and a little more welding to finish
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0244.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0245.jpg

throw some raamat or other sound deadener throughout the cab while you have everything out. looks good man

if you don't have any seats yet, i have a couple sets of explorer buckets for sale. work look good man.

if you don't have any seats yet, i have a couple sets of explorer buckets for sale. work look good man.


i have a pair of explorer leather buckets. the pass side is great but the drivers seat has some wear.
how are the seats you have?

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/showthread.php?t=261877

if nothing sparks an interest, i can fix your driver's seat for you.

(i had a solid aluminum shaft from a newer ranger in the 95)

there will be a tunnel welded in to make sure the new driveshaft wont have any issues
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0243.jpg





I'll be making a tunnel this month, too. Let us know how your's turns out.

ok i have a TON of pics. the welding of the new roof is officially FINISHED!!!!!!

here's how my saturday went

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0324.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0325.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0326.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0327.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0328.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0329.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0330.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0331.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0332.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0333.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0334.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0335.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0336.jpg

i gotta do a little grinding on the inside welds. not too worried about their looks b/c they will be behind the interior panels.
plan for this week is get some filler on the outside and hopefully have it primered by the end of next weekend.

then it's time to clean the engine bay and spray some POR15 in there:D

The roof looks like it came out good. Kinda looks like you suffered a seizure while makin some of the interior welds. LMAO!! But I guess as long as theres good penetration, who cares. Like you said, it'll all be covered up.

looks good man!

The roof looks like it came out good. Kinda looks like you suffered a seizure while makin some of the interior welds. LMAO!! But I guess as long as theres good penetration, who cares. Like you said, it'll all be covered up.


the welds on the inside dont look too great! i kept burning thru the thin sheet metal so i had to do a small place at at time. they kept overlapping and looki like crap!!! the outside was much easier, most likely b/c i wasnt being covered in sparks while i was welding.

i'm glad that part is over with:loltard:

After all that work, I hate to tell you, the paint doesn't match :(

That was very ambitious, good stuff.

After all that work, I hate to tell you, the paint doesn't match :(

That was very ambitious, good stuff.

LOL, i think it matches pretty well!
i'm going to respray the whole truck back the original color after all is said and done

anyways heres some pics from today. not work done but i got a nice donation to the project.......thanks to the crew at Fore Precision Works!!
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0337.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0338.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/100_0339.jpg

that diff cover starts off as a 45lb chunk of aluminum. it's reall thick and should hold up nicely. now i just have to decide if i want it on the mustang or the ranger...........

Donations? Where do I get mine at. lol

That cover looks sick.

Donations? Where do I get mine at. lol

That cover looks sick.

i did some work for the owners of Fore back when i was at my old shop. they hooked me up with GREAT deals on mustang parts for helping them. that is the last run ever for the diff covers and the retail for $399!!!

more progress. it will be ready for primer on monday. we were out so i left a little early today. there are still a couple of high spots i need to get out but it is mostly finished.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0253-1.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0254.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0255.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj192/BlownPony2001/Ranger%20build/SSPX0256.jpg

great work! maybe we can work out a deal to get my truck painted!