ranger mods - General Ranger Discussion - Welcome To Our Ford Ranger Forum

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mhoward
Hey look ~ they ~ bounce!

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Hold-over name back when customizers would delete the bumpers and form a filler pan out of sheet steel. They "rolled" it on an English Wheel to form the steel to the desired shape.

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2003 Ranger Edge / Extended Cab / Flareside / 3.0L FLEX / 5r44e Auto / 2WD / 8.8 LS 4:10 / Sonic Blue Pearl

So many mods... so little time...

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Posted: Mon Jan 8th, 2018 06:27 pm

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black06xlt
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you sir are exactly correct

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Posted: Mon Jan 8th, 2018 06:36 pm

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Hails from the land of rust!

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Well ok then :)

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Posted: Tue Jan 9th, 2018 01:16 pm

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Scrambler82
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Here's the mod list: Other than the first three, all the rest have no order.

1) Grill'E', Blk Tubes, just waiting for what type of Lettering !
2) Go full Power in Doors, Windows, Locks, and maybe an LED Locked Indicator.
3) Seat Covers, Terry's Covers from the other Site, Red Center Panels, a slight spin off from an FX4 Design.
4) Off Road Lights, waiting to convert Slim Lites to LEDs.
5) Wiring High Mounted LED Turn Signals, mounted on Back Rack but no wiring YET !
6) Wiring New Bed Light, KC Backup Lights mounted on the Back Rack.
7) Water Graphics, Radio Bezel, Door Switch Panels, Cup Holder. Waiting to hear back from Graphics Guy. Thinking "Heavy Brushed Steel" pattern.
8) Projector Headlights, waiting for feedback from Headlight Conversion Guy. I think I know what I want but as usual it is all wrong !
9) New Carpeting
10 and 11) Stereo, looking to buy a Pioneer Unit with Backup Camera, Apps, Blue Tooth, etc., any suggestions ?! Also the Speakers... have um, just waiting to buy an updated Head Unit !
12) Gauges, I have a few Digital Gauges already, and as usual, my mind thinks on a larger scale than my available cash, time and effort level.
13) Triple A-Pillar Gauge Mounting.
And the list gos on, all I need is time, grandchildren take priority !

AND the "piece de resistance" and these are more of a "WANT TO DO" not a waiting MOD:
X) a Diesel engine, preferably a Cummins R2.8L TDI, I KNOW, Wishful Wishing ! There's mounts, transmission/Transfer Case, rear axle mods, maybe even frame mods !
XX) D44 Front Solid Axle

You guys asked for it and I am ready to start AGAIN ! The Barn should have the electrics finished in a week or two, then there is the air system, no to complicated. Then I can start working on the Ranger... they don't call me the Procrastinator for nothing, too many things to do, did I mention the rear patio !?! Lol !

Ltr...

Last edited on Tue Jan 9th, 2018 01:21 pm by Scrambler82

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Ltr,
2003 EDGE, Std Cab, Steppie, E4 Red, 5sp, 4x
5" SuperLift, 33" x 12.50 x 15"
Hurst Shifter
Mod'd Backrack to fit Steppie
Front and Rear Bumpers by Custom 4x4 Fabrication, OK; now Mike's Welding and Fabrication.
Working on more Mods, just need more time, longer days would work !

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Posted: Tue Jan 9th, 2018 01:51 pm

30^th Post

JAMMAN

Owns A Torsen

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I'll let you know in a couple weeks on #10:
https://ford-rangers.com/forum56/453.html

And I believe we have #12 covered also:
https://ford-rangers.com/forum38/454.html

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00 XLT 4WD RCSB 3.GO! JalapeÃ±o
01 XLT 2WD RC Steppie 3.0 auto Silver
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Posted: Tue Jan 9th, 2018 03:21 pm

31^st Post

Hails from the land of rust!

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Cool list, especially the Grill'E' :q :brute

I'm particularly interested in your number 3 though, may i ask what price you're getting, as he/she quoted ~$480 for two seats, which is crazy to me :(

Also curious on the water graphics, might look into trying something like that, but would like to see your idea.

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Posted: Tue Jan 9th, 2018 11:24 pm

32^nd Post

black06xlt
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i had a pioneer double din in my truck was not happy with it. i know have a jensen double din best radio i ever bought. i would recommend kicker door speakers which i have or rockford fosgate door speakers which i also have in my truck. the pioneer speakers sound good for about 6 months then blew out. the kickers you can buy at walmart. thats where i got mine from. the rockford fosgates you can get at best buy. neither place had 4 when i got mine is why i have both brands

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1995 ranger splash (pieces)

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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 12:26 am

33^rd Post

Scrambler82
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JAMMAN wrote:
I'll let you know in a couple weeks on #10:
https://ford-rangers.com/forum56/453.html

And I believe we have #12 covered also:
https://ford-rangers.com/forum38/454.html
Thanks, post up what is happening with the new Head Unit and as I posted gauge idea is a good one !

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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 05:53 am

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JAMMAN

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The head unit... I put it in and took pictures and was excited about posting up a how to.

While I was doing it I decided to put in a 97 mountaineer cluster I had, it was natural blue and I had 20SMD led's in it. Put it all together and on the way home I smelled wires burning and the speedo wouldn't work. Was like 9PM and I had to go back to work and swap out the cluster. Kinda killed the fire for posting the how-not-to.

I did upload a couple pics the result was good and before Iput the old cluster back in I slid the big LED's in there and it looks very good too.

Works well with the USB plug I put in the stock "storage hole" that some Rangers have instead of ash trays.

Here is the cluster:

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00 XLT 4WD RCSB 3.GO! JalapeÃ±o
01 XLT 2WD RC Steppie 3.0 auto Silver
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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 11:21 am

35^th Post

Scrambler82
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JAMMAN,

Head Unit looks good, is it easy to use ?

What is the difference between the Mountaineer Cluster and the Ranger/Explorer Clusters ? Is the wiring the same, I know the earlier Clusters weren't wired up the same as the '03 is !

When I started the original Dash Cluster Color Conversation in the '03, I scraped off the back side of the cluster, painted it RED, that went ok, reinstalled the unit; clicked on the lights and WHAM-BAM... the thing is Pink... wtf ! The Defuser built in to the Gauge Faces caused the RED Paint to turn PINK !
Didn't want that, I contacted a guy, I think in NY State, and he makes Ranger Clusters in whatever color you want. I got one with a lot of RED and a Heater Panel with a lot of RED.
The heater panel got installed and looks great, the Dash never got finished, I still have the new panels for the Cluster just sitting there so I cant say if they will look good or not but based on the Heater Panel, I would say the Dash Cluster will look great.
Oh Ya, my Dash Cluster is without a Tach.

Then I went to the Radio and converted the face to all RED SMD LEDs, that looks great but I need a resistor in line to compensate for the high output of the LEDs. With the Dimmer set low and the radio at an acceptable level the dash lights were too low, so a resistor will be my only option.

Back to the Lighting topic, the lighting for my Cluster, I tested a string of CREE LEDs in the cluster housing for approximately 3 hours, with the Gauges in place and the new Gauge Faces, first the faces didn't look bad outside the truck, second the heat was's more than I thought would be a good idea but it was bright, so I started looking at high wattage resistors to check the amount of output, but again, never got them in the truck so never got a chance to really check them out.

I like to check out things like Heat Levels (over time), Brightness, and Coverage before installing them in the truck, takes a lot of the guess work out and reduces the time involved.

Hope the new LEDs in the Mountaineer Cluster work out, I would like to see it installed.

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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 12:11 pm

36^th Post

JAMMAN

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I ditched the mountaineer cluster idea. The wiring was the same, the speedo was actually locked up.

The 97 mountaineer cluster has the door ajar and fuel reset overlays are inverted. So with the door open on the ranger it said fuel reset. I could have changed 2 wires and lived with it but naaaa.

Head unit is very easy to use I only opened the PDF for wiring. It just makes sense.

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00 XLT 4WD RCSB 3.GO! JalapeÃ±o
01 XLT 2WD RC Steppie 3.0 auto Silver
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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 12:31 pm

37^th Post

Scrambler82
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I like the BLUE Lighting, there are some white spots, are they where the LEDs are located ?
Also, did you color the back of the Face or just blue LEDs ?

OK on the Radio, I need a little more reviewing before I buy !

Last edited on Thu Mar 1st, 2018 12:32 pm by Scrambler82

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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 01:36 pm

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Dusten
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No mods. But I want to get a bed cover or canopy for the truck before my trip out east.

Im going to put a new deck and speakers in it too. nothing fancy, just an upgrade from stock

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1968 Ford Mustang "Gold Nugget Special"
2018 Ford Mustang GT PP1
1999 Ranger
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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 01:41 pm

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Hails from the land of rust!

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My white fiberglass cover is going cheap :)

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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 02:41 pm

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Scrambler82
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Dusten wrote:
Im going to put a new deck and speakers in it too. nothing fancy, just an upgrade from stock

Hey Dustin,

If I may ask, what is your approximate spending amount for the New Head Unit ?
I have a Pioneer Head Unit, new in box but about four or five years old, maybe six... "another one of the "Great Procrastinator's" Projects that did not come to completeness". It is a good one, cost was over a grand when new but willing to let it go for less. I would have to look up the actual Model Number so you can tell what is will do. I do know at the time Nav was a big thing.

Let me know either here OR PM me.

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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 08:20 pm

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black06xlt
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would love to put a double din in my 92 but theres no room in the dash

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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 08:57 pm

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Tsquare
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Crutchfield has a wealth of information. I have a problem with my CD player not ejecting. Right now it is just an irritation.

I am looking at a Boss BV765BLC DVD receiver with included rear-view camera for $170

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NE ATL
'04 XLT regular cab 3.slo stepside
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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 09:12 pm

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black06xlt
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i have a jensen double din in my 06 i love it

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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 09:40 pm

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Hails from the land of rust!

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T-square, that's a ford issue I had in my Mustang, same XD player, there is a fix for it but I don't remember so you'll have to Google it.

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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 10:47 pm

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Tsquare
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MaDMaXX wrote: T-square, that's a ford issue I had in my Mustang, same XD player, there is a fix for it but I don't remember so you'll have to Google it.I have tried the google foo - no joy. My head unit will play the CD but just will not eject. The fix's are to dis-connect the battery to reset the radio or force removal.

I have a good radio station (X2) and good music in the CD so it is not a high priority. i have lost a lot of my high freq hearing so it doesn't matter much to me.

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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 10:54 pm

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Hails from the land of rust!

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I wish i could remember what the fix was, as mine was fine after doing so.

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Posted: Fri Mar 2nd, 2018 08:13 am

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Scrambler82
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I had an OEM CD-6 Unit, would not eject, it had a mechanical problem inside of the player. I do not remember the actual fix but I do remember it was inside and something had come apart.

I fixed one, it would eject for a while but it did not stay together and went back to not ejecting again; I guess I didn't actually fix it, LoL !

Easiest fix is to replace it with either aftermarket unit or a new CD-6 Unit.
If you happen to locate a Explorer with the Pioneer Unit, take all the speakers, front and rear AND there is an amp I believe it is located Driver's Side Rear. Don't forget the harness. Front Speakers are Co-Axial and they really bring out the highs far better than OEM Standard Speakers, the Rear Speakers, to me look the same as OEM Ranger Speakers but I put them in as a set and they sound good enough. I got a complete package from the JY, the speakers are now being used in my '03 and they sound great with Digital Music but the Head Unit and the amp never worked right, must have had too much weather exposure in the JY.

Since I am on a roll... aftermarket head Units and Speakers are so subjective, I like Pioneer Head Units, maybe the older units were better but I am still holding on, looking at a new Pioneer Head Unit. The speakers I have, waiting to go in will define my future purchases in speakers. All seven of the speakers are Pioneer, selected along with the amp using the Pioneer selection guide on their site, hoping for the best. Most aftermarket Heads and Speakers are better than OEM, unless you get a special OEM Unit.

My Wife's VW came with a Fender System, who made what... I never found out, but it did sound really good. It had quite a few speakers and no matter where you sat the sound was the same.

Before anyone buys a system they need to listen to either one that is already installed in a Ranger or at least in one of the Sound Rooms at a Store that sells Sound Systems. Sound room can be deceptive, the area of the room vs the area of a Ranger Cab tends to throw things off.

OK Im done for now, good luck to anyone buying a new Sound System for the Truck !

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Posted: Fri Mar 2nd, 2018 10:17 am

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Dusten
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MaDMaXX wrote:
My white fiberglass cover is going cheap :)
My truck is a stepside

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Posted: Fri Mar 2nd, 2018 10:31 am

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Hails from the land of rust!

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Balls

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Posted: Fri Mar 2nd, 2018 11:39 am

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Dusten
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Pretty much my thoughts. I think im going to end up buying a truxedo for it.

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