I would do a polished upper intake no problem
go OCD all over that SOB

The ranger is running and it runs perfectly!
Engine was filled with Valvoline syntec blend and a Motorcraft 820s filter.
Trans pan was installed with a new Motorcraft filter, added 5 quarts of STP mercon V.
Filled cooling system with 3.5 gallons of pre mix
Battery was brought up to full charge and installed
All new power steering fluid
We added fresh fuel, some Stabil to the fuel tank and pressurized the fuel system. Checked for leaks
Then the time came, you know the time that causes me to lose sleep each and every time I build a truck, time to start it!

bumped the key and she came to life!!
Takes about 3 seconds for the vaseline to clear off the injector nozzles and then she smoothed right out.....I use vaseline to seat the injector O rings
The 4x4 is shifting, 2wd, 4 hi and 4 low with the dash switch.
She has run through a few heat cycles now, burped the cooling system, and adjusted the trans fluid level. She took 13.75 quarts of mercon V....that means we got all but about 1 quart out of the trans before we re installed it.
She sounds AWESOME

The transmission was rebuilt and came from a 99-01 Explorer, so it has later model wiring harness for the internal shift solenoids. After getting a Solenoid A circuit failure code (p0750) I knew exactly what was up. Luckily the carpet and seats are already out.
We had to change the wiring plug on the side of the trans from the 94-97 style 4r70w to the 98-01 style. This involves moving a few pins around and eliminating two of the power feed wires.
We also swapped the DTRS to the older 97 style since I knew that would cause issues with the ESOF system. You see in 98-01 the DTRS went digital, in 94-97 they were analog so our GEM module and PCM are expecting to see analog signals.... The trans is now outfitted with the 98 -01 style solenoids and wiring and the 97 analog DTRS

Also build some exhaust, this truck has a very recent flowmaster 40 series muffler, so we retained it. I built a intermediate pipe to scavenge the two banks together before they go into the muffler.
2.25" pipe into 2.5" "Y" pipe back into the muffler then out with a 2.5" turn down well in front of the rear axle

Then we built a rear driveshaft. We shortened a RWD explorer shaft by 3" and used a conversion U joint at the trans slip yoke. So far so good....we will get some road testing done in the next week or so after the interior goes back together

Ordered new tires for this rig, 4ea 285/75/16 and I bartered with my stepson for the mount and balance (he works at tire place). I traded him some black ranger jump seats and a OHV power steering pump for the labor :)

Truck is getting 05 ranger tail lights and 05 ranger side mirrors, these are OEM parts.
I plan to drive this thing for a couple of weeks just to make sure its perfect, title is now in my name.
Ranger will then get a full detail, carpet is being steam cleaned, paint will get cleaned, sealed and waxed.

This truck will then be for sale!! She will be posted on a few PNW area craigslists and some other for sale rags....also parked out on a busy street with for sale sign
Sad to see her go but we have already moved onto the next build, a 99 4x4 Ranger getting a 4.0 and 5 speed......

Had to re pin this plug, sorry no pics of the before and after but I have the charts that show differences between early 4r70w and late


Front 97 F150 driveshaft installed with new Spicer conversion U joint:


Here is why you want to run Kooler Kleen through your coolers and lines BEFORE you install to your transmission, this is after the lines have already been cleaned, coolers drained and lines cleaned out with air. Then I hook up the cleaner and run the can through. This is what came out

It runs black as night for the first few ounces then starts to run clear, then finally you turn the can upside down and flush with just air.

Exhaust "Y" pipe, scavenging the two V8 banks together after the primary cats and downstream 02 sensors before they head down a 2-1/2"" pipe into the Flowmaster 40 series muffler




Fabrication is my favorite word
Rear driveshaft fab! I have built many driveshafts over the last five years or so, most of them front shafts. Well they always work out so well we decided to try our hand at doing a rear.
This is built with a jig on a flat fabrication table keeping everything plumb and true
here you can see the 3" removed and the tack welds in place. I final welded it and coated with paint yesterday. Now she is in the truck ready for some road testing


This was a 2000 Explorer 5.0 RWD shaft that is now 48.75" (removed 3") from U joint center to U joint center and fitted with a 97 F150 front slip yoke.


fingers crossed!!
Waiting on new ball joints, new front brakes and sway bar links. 
Then we will be installing a Explorer live axle to remove the Ranger vacuum hubs.
Once interior is back together, front end is done and new tires are on, the truck will be road tested (on and off road), then we will get some video


Anyone in the market for a super super clean V8 98 Ranger 4x4? :)
This truck was garaged its whole life and babied, it shows. Then some kid found a huge water puddle and destroyed his engine
Now she is back and better then ever!!

Last edited on Thu Nov 28th, 2019 11:17 am by 410customs

There will be pics!
She is going through detail exterior and interior. We shampooed the carpet yesterday it was 22 degrees at the car wash, hung it up next to wood stove to dry

I restored the headlights/ corner lights with some buffing polish and several buffer wheels, came out really nice.

The 2006 side mirrors are installed
The 2006 tail lights are going on, the 3 bulb to 2 bulb adapter came in the mail, $20!!
Tires are shipped, front end parts will be here tomorrow

Both doors have been gone through, cleaned and lubed window tracks, door latches and firmed up the door open handles. Everything works!
instrument cluster has been removed, I need to move the tachometer wire from the V6 position to the v8 position and replace any bad bulbs.

This truck had HID headlights and fog lights, I removed all that wiring rats nest and returned it to stock, we will use high quality silvania bulbs instead of HID.

front end is torn down waiting for new explorer live axle setup

Truck has seen two coats of wax already, deep cleaner wax to remove all oxidation. Large stone chips were picked clean, cleaned to bare metal, cleaned, dried and then several coats of touch up paint to bring them up to the same level as stock paint

All black trim is being treated with mothers back to black. The front bumper is being prepped for paint, the grill and front bumper will be color matched. Rear bumper is already aftermarket and in very good shape.

This 98 is cleaning up really really well
I'm very happy with this truck!
Next week tires then I get to road test!!!

06 power mirrors


Shop is a little dirty right now please forgive but this gives you an idea of whats going on here


there is a silver sport trac way on the other end also getting a 5.0 so right now we have 3ea 5.0 conversions, one in each bay

1998 paint doing very very well


stone chips fix


bulb converter:

Last edited on Sun Dec 1st, 2019 10:51 am by 410customs

Last edited on Sun Dec 1st, 2019 02:23 pm by mhoward

Last edited on Sun Dec 1st, 2019 01:22 pm by 410customs

okay some updates on "top dollar Ranger" she's getting closer. Paint on this truck is 22 years old and although it cleans up nice she needed some help. The hood and roof were the worst, some sort of tree sap, brake fluid, something. Most of it comes off with a good tar remover, cleaner wax. The hood had a bugshield YUCK and it wore through the paint, so we made a nice strip of bedliner as part of our rehab.
Front and rear bumpers also got the treatment

front bumper sanded down to remove all rust and rock chips, then cleaned soap and water, wiped with acetone, then finally paint with duplicolor bed armor
You can see the restored headlights too








similar for the hood front lip


Grill and wiper arms were also treated and re painted



Interior is going back together very nicely, I cannot believe the 98 interior is this flawless






I stripped out the 98 tail light wiring harness and modified it to incorporate the 5 wire to 4 wire converter and the 06 tail light sockets then re installed, the new tails look so much cleaner.


from 3 plugs down to two:


completed harness

all connections soldered and heat shrink of course.

Next onto the tachometer, when you switch from a v6 to a v8 you have to move the tachometer ground wire in the instrument cluster so it will read the correct RPM







The instrument cluster was also carefully cleaned inside and out while it was apart. The transmission gear indicator needle was also adjusted to be dead nuts accurate


We are fitting this truck with 2007 side steps too, much fabrication is required to make the brackets work. These will go a long way to help hide the exposed frame rail from the body lift.

front end goes together today with many new parts, the tires will be here tomorrow!!!

Last edited on Wed Dec 4th, 2019 09:28 am by 410customs

more updates, tires are here!

AS the interior goes together we are fixing many things. The Ranger door panels have the typical vinyl sag, not going to cut it for this interior so we fixed them.
This is just one example of the kind of detail this build is getting.
Door panel before:


Some foam was trimmed, the vinyl cleaned and stretched, then clamped in place and glued in place using E6000 hobby glue




Just like every single other part the door panels are being re furbished completely before re install.

Now time for the Explorer live axle swap to delete the Ranger PVH
First up we snagged some knuckles wheel bearings and CV's from a 96 4.0 Explorer I have here with only 130K miles
All parts were cleaned and lubed before install. 
New parts are Pro Forged ball joints and sway bar links, all new brakes.
The front end is together and ready to rock the new 32.5" tires





Proforged stuff looks pretty good, time will tell




and finally the new 285 75 r16 Dirt commander MT's!!

Last edited on Sat Dec 7th, 2019 12:01 pm by 410customs

Last edited on Sat Dec 7th, 2019 12:12 pm by 410customs

Thanks fellas!!
I have all the brackets from the 05, thank you for the offer!!

The 98 body is different and the rear brackets from the 05 would not work, so we had to fabricate.
Its over now, all parts are welded and painted. We sanded the side rails down, removed some crappy red reflector stickers and now today will paint the side rails.
This 98 is just about ready for picture day and a windshield, tires should be mounted early next week.
Then finally ROAD TEST!

On to the next one!! a 99 Ranger 3.0 with ALOT of needs.....getting a 4.0 and 5 speed from a 97 Explorer sport

door panels all refurbished and cleaned up
Repaired arm pad vs non repaired pad, no more sag!!


Had stepson 1 (16 yr old) detail and clean all day




Paint repair/detail well under way


front bumper, grill, lights, hood all done


SHOP DOG! (her name is Ranger big shock I know, best mutt you could ever get, part shepherd, part lab, all awesome!)

Pair of black Rangers
Running boards almost done

Last edited on Sun Dec 8th, 2019 11:21 am by 410customs