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View Full Version : 95 Ranger - Back to my youth



splatranger95
12-14-2016, 09:41 AM
Alright, so Im not that old.... Im 28... But Ive had this truck since I was 16 and its been through a whole bunch of stages. Started as a bone stock 95 ranger with a 2.3L. I dropped it 5/7 put on some very 90s billets, ended up with a turbo stroker 2.5L with 475ish WHP. I loved that little truck drove it everyhwere like that, even in the snow through college. Well, about 4 years ago I decided to build a pro-touring type truck with it. I hate calling it pro-touring, but thats what I want it end up as. Reliable, cross country, comfy, and be able to autocross it some.

I was working at Honda in Columbus OH at the time, got the project going, then moved back home to Michigan and got a job at Ford as a powertrain calibrator, through the move and getting married the truck got pushed aside for a bit. Now Im back at it, and since Im to the point where the details are going to matter, I figured Id move my build over here and hopefully get some pointers.

So heres what I started with in 2012
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Ill throw up a few progress pics along the way, but basically the truck is now a Full 2x4 tube frame, Mustang II IFS, MN12 IRS narrowed 3" with custom arms, QA1 coilovers, sitting on HRE 595 wheels. Powertrain has gone through a couple changes, but Ive ended up with a 2.4L Turbo Volvo 5cyl with a TR3550 trans. (using a T5 for mockup as the case dimensions are basically the same and I had one sitting aroung)

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And here is where we are today. Last night I made bed mounts, cut some holes in the bed for my shock towers to clear, and slapped the bed on. Ill be making a fuel cell cage this weekend.
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And this is kinda what it will look like when done.

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splatranger95
12-14-2016, 10:02 AM
Im having trouble deciding what to do on a fuel cell cage though. I want as much usuable bed as possible, so that means under the bed it goes, but I really hate how low its gonna hang. Anyone have and cool ideas? Have issues with smacking the cell ever?

Twentyover
12-14-2016, 07:28 PM
I've been eyeing the 5cyl engine in my wife's S60- what bellhousing are you using to connect to the RWD transmission?

splatranger95
12-15-2016, 06:41 AM
its a Volvo 960 6cyl bell with a deeworks.ca T5 trans adapter.

splatranger95
12-15-2016, 06:47 AM
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Better pic

LowFast
12-15-2016, 08:06 AM
Cool project, always have had a soft spot for the Ranger.

DrFraZZy
12-15-2016, 10:17 AM
Subscribing! Cool project!

rentedmule
12-16-2016, 04:35 AM
Great project! How easy is it to mod a stock 2wd ranger for handling? I see a lot of s-series trucks and even a few dakotas in auto-X but I don't think I've ever seen a ranger. I've always wondered why.

splatranger95
12-19-2016, 05:50 AM
There are some rangers out there but not as many as S10s. Im not entirely sure, as there are plenty of suspension parts out there to outfit one for autocross. This truck is clearly far from stock HAHA

nathankershaw
01-04-2017, 07:01 AM
Are you still using the Volvo dual mass flywheel?
What's your clutch setup?

Awesome build!

Protour_Pinto
01-04-2017, 08:43 AM
Its nice to see another small truck here getting the full spa treatment!

splatranger95
01-06-2017, 06:24 AM
Are you still using the Volvo dual mass flywheel?
What's your clutch setup?

Awesome build!

No im using a single mass flywheel from a Volvo 850R. I just need to get a clutch with a 10 spline hub

I finished my fuel cell mount. Hangs kinda low but with a skid plate, hopefully Ill be ok. My jsprings are soft, so Ill gain a few inches when I swap those.
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Also putting in a new core support for the updated front end.
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And with the bed mounts finished, this is kinda what the end product will look like.
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splatranger95
01-11-2017, 05:45 AM
My oil pan showed up, waiting on the pickup tube which should be here today, then Ill start measuring to shorten this pan up for the 5cyl. Its the 6cyl RWD pan since they never made a 5cyl RWD.

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