You have all seen what I've done/am doing to my Ranger in the photo/Video thread. Also what 46yblock is doing.
Just wondering what everyone else it doing/has done to their Ford. Photos would be nice also.
Tell us what you've done and how you liked the results. Did you lower/raise your Ford?
If so how did you like the change. Put on a new air filter, a "performance " muffler? Was there any change in performance?

Maybe I am 'old school', but I have always been a minimalist and prefer the oem lines and equipment.

All to often adding performance parts imo, just exposes a weakness that has to be addressed.

I like the SVT concept, quiet understated look, packaged with a well engineered performance driveline and suspension.

My Ranger?, almost completely stock. And when it is time for a replacement part, quite often I turn to stock parts as opposed to aftermarket except in cases where it enhances without the chance of reduced longevity.

What you see as a weakness, I look on as a compromise made by the factory to please as many potential customers as possible.
Problems arise when people haphazardly slap on the latest trendy gizmos, without bothering to do any homework on how it will effect their ride.
Something I call the "everybody's doing it" approach. I admit I've suffered this malady on more occasions than I care to admit. Hopefully I know better now.
If you do the homework and select the right parts, you can achieve the goal you're are looking for. Maybe just as good as a Roush or Shelby.

While some "SVT" vehicles are nice. With many all you get for your money are badges and graphics.
Or you pay top dollar for something hundreds or thousands of others have.
If you can get one at all. If you're satisfied with that, fine. I'm not. I much prefer building my own.

My Ranger has been "enhanced" by the changes I made. IMO I've added pieces that make driving it more enjoyable for me. I like the way it looks.
I like the audio system I had and I'm sure I'll be even happier with the new system. Especially after the sound deadening quiets down the cab. A major issue for me.
While I was very happy with the ride and especially the handling with the 2"-3" drop I had. I foolishly let someone talk me into trying a 4"-5" drop.
While that might be OK for some, that are more interested in looks than function, I didn't care for it at all. So I put the truck back to the stock suspension.
Which I'm also unhappy with. As soon as I finish the interior and a few other things, I plan to bag my Ranger. As for "without the chance of reduced longevity" is concerned.
Just what sort of "longevity" are you looking for? Over the last 50 years I've modified many autos. Of that bunch I have kept 4 that were run for well over 125,000 miles.
One for 215,000. After they were modified. Again if you chose the right combination of parts, there should be no problem with reduced longevity.
If anything some aftermarket parts will far outlast OEM because again compromise and price are not the same issue for aftermarket manufactures as it is for the automakers.
I'm talking about well made, name brand, parts here. Not the J.C. Whitney knock offs. I've tried those and while they have their place, I keep coming back to the old saying.
"You get what you pay for."

I cant disagree with anything you said at all.

As a note, my last Ranger (a 91 4.0 5-speed), the transmission (5-speed) locked up going down the highway at speed tearing up quite alot. I ended up sending it to truck heaven at 247,000 miles. The motor was still tight and had no major repair on it at all, and due to the fact that a replacement tranny and a few other trashed parts in that event was just too expensive, I opted to buy a 2001 4.0 5-speed Ranger Edge 2x4 as a replacement.

She has barely been broken in yet at 86K. :thumbsup:

I have a 94 ranger, I bought my truck brand new with 4 miles on her and have had her ever since. Over the years I have lowered and raised my truck way to many times untill finally I just put an air ride system on it, frame sits about half an inch off the ground when down and about eight inches off the ground when up. I am happy with the ride of the truck but it will be better when I put a four link on the rear end.

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"Foolish man give wife grand piano,
Wise man give wife upright organ."

I've got a '01 SuperCrew...4.6 V8. I've put air-ride on her, SVT & Streetscene body parts & skirts, keyless tonneau cover, reprogrammed computer, Cobra exhaust, intake kit, throttle body spacer, and some billet on the outside & inside. She had 7 miles on her when i got her and now she's sittin' at about 240K...never a problem, best vehicle i've ever owned.

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...... BRIAN ......

Nothing. Plans ????
Maybe someday flows that came off of Ol Blue, a K&N after that ???

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Down the two lane blacktop.
Oldskool Is Kool :thumbsup:
Ford Man From Way Back



Check out: hotrodhotline.com for my pictures.

Since you guys have "air-ride" systems on your trucks and that's my next major project, I'd like to ask both of you a few questions.
What sort of air ride systems do you have? How happy are you with the system you have? For my Ranger would you suggest a 3 link or 4 link system?
Does it even matter? Keep in mind I'm NOT looking to "lay frame" or even "slam" the truck, for that matter. I'll leave that to you young guys.
I'd be happy with a 4" to 5" drop at rest for looks, and a good-handling truck on the road. I've already "notched" the frame in back, when I did the 4"-5" drop.
So the back will probably accomidate a 6" or 7" drop at rest. I still have the complete "DJM" kit from that drop. So if control arms, shocks, flip kit
or any of those pieces are needed in conjunction with the "air ride" system, I already have them. I know my Ranger will never be a Porsche or Corvette killer,
but I would like something that doesn't scare the wits out of me on the twisty mountains roads we have here in Calif.
I'm mostly just looking for a nice riding, "good handling" truck. So what do you say? IF money was no object, what brand and accessories would you get?

First....i ain't a young guy(almost 42)! I would go 4-link, i built my own. I don't know a specific brand to point you to for your Ranger. I've got mine set up to just set down on the frt bumper & skirts...not a frame layer but, very close! I do have some blocks rigged up so i can spark though....great for tail-gaters! For the twisties a mild drop & larger sway bars(add one out back if you don't already have one) and firmer shocks would benefit you. If you have 16" wheels i'd go to 18s, better for handling. I do like airbags in back replacing the springs to get rid of the axle hop common on pickups.

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...... BRIAN ......

Sorry SCrew. No offense or disrespect meant. All things are relative. To someone that will be 69 in a few weeks, (me) anyone under 50 is young.
My children are 37 and 40. I have a 64 y.o. friend and his 85 y.o. dad still refers to him as "my little boy."

Let's start with wheels/tires. I'm already running 18" wheels with 235/50X18 GoodYear Eagle RS-A's. A tire I feel is a good compromise between performance and longevity.
I have 4 DJM 2" lower shocks. I'm told they are "shock wave" shocks with DJM's logo painted on them. I also have 2 extra air adjustable shocks for the back. Don't recall the brand.
I would classify the ride with the DJM 4"-5" drop kit as harsh, and that's being kind The Ground Force 2"-3" drop kit I had on there before I went to DJM were firm by comparison.
I can live with a firm (but not to firm) ride if I have to in order to get the sort of control I'm looking for. The DJM kit would probably be fine if I was 20 y.o. or so. But not now.
What I'm looking for is BMW like ride/handling. Or as close to it as I can get in a truck.

Ohh man :eek:

Great looking truck SCrew! Tastefully done :thumbsup:

Just pluggin away on my ol' 54 still a long way to go.Replaced the entire brake system lines,shoes,added dual master cyl.Pulled the dash, rewired and replaced the gauges and repainted it.Started rewiring of engine bay,replaced tranny lines and added cooler .I have some pics,but I have a problem getting them to post but will try. Well I tried,same old crap!Pics are in Image Studio and My pictures I can email them but they won't post with "Manage Attachments" comes up invalid file(NOT)

Jeff upload your pics to a site like ImageShack® - Hosting and post them here.

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I have arranged a fixing session with a body shop due to a stupid 20 year old girl who's boobs looked like they were worth more than here car plowing into my Roush F150 without her owning insurance. She wanted to get off the road before the cops came. NO WAY!!!!!!! 50 feet of skid marks before my bumper and it slightly jarred me. I barely felt it. BUILD FORD TOUGH IS NO LIE!!!!!!! Her whole front end got pushed back a foot. And to ease my pain....since its my bumper and tailgate needing fixed, I'm taking a road trip to Michigan to bag a deer. That's what I've to my Ford lately.

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Erik S. (USN HT1)

I also had Jack Roush autograph my passenger visor, RIDES DVD about Roush, and an American flag I asked him to fly. He flew it on 9/11/07 at half mast and took photos for me. Thank you Jack Roush!!!!

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Erik S. (USN HT1)

My flag in Livonia, MI on 9/11/07.

Attached Images

 

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Erik S. (USN HT1)

Very cool Hooker!

bring this back,

to many mods here <<<

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2007 Ford Ranger
-3.5in suspension lift
-32x11.5x15
-15x8 cragars
-to many mods to list

I own a 2005 Ford Focus if anyone has some ideas for mods. Maybe some basic ones to start out with? I'd like to make it a bit quicker, not that it's slow right now! I love the manual trans, zoom :)