Ford ranger NC 4x4 thread

Mudd_Shlinga

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Anyone here wheelin' the classic ford ranger on this forum? Chime in with your specs/builds/pics/etc. . Jeep owners also feel free to pipe in with why ford sucks and what not.

1994 ford ranger XLT 4.0 v6 4x4
150,000 miles
electronic push button transfer case
A4LD auto transmission
3.73 gear ratio
 
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brengl1942 said:
How about a Jeep with a '93 Ranger/Mustang engine? I kept the good part of the Ranger :D
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I’m a Ford guy…so no Ford hate from me. Just a pot shot at our resident magazine famous @Jody Treadway who rolls in a FFR and is a croc rocking fanatic.
 
The nice thing about a Ford is that they went ahead and circled the problem.
 
Lol flip flops are the proper 4x4 attire in most cases i think. Can't complain though, shes been going strong for the 3 years i've had it, and $2,500 for what was a top of the line truck in its heyday was a good deal, these things are dirt cheap today. I plan on getting either a D22 or D21 Nissan in the future.
 
Mudd_Shlinga said:
Anyone here wheelin' the classic ford ranger on this forum? Chime in with your specs/builds/pics/etc. . Jeep owners also feel free to pipe in with why ford sucks and what not.

1994 ford ranger XLT 4.0 v6 4x4
150,000 miles
electronic push button transfer case
A4LD auto transmission
3.73 gear ratio

View attachment 370642
Click to expand...

Make sure to keep the A4LD cool. If you don't already, add an external cooler. The push push button case, and matching auto hubs are fine for street use, but undoubtedly will fail when you need it most. You can still get manual hubs and conversion kits from the after market, not as convenient, but I tortured my 94 explorer with 33's and generous skinny pedal. I never bounced the thing on rocks, or did anything more than Uwharrie, but there were several times tires where off the ground, and I drug axles through the mud, and even bottomed a time or three.

I'd suggest swapping in an explorer 8.8, disk or drum will give you 31 spline axles, disk has a built in axle retainer. I don't remember exactly, but if you don't have them, swap on the knuckles from a 96 or 97 ranger and get the advantage of bolt on dual piston calipers.

if you haven't yet, check out www.therangerstation.com for RBV specific forums and tech library. If you can sift through the nay-sayers and bs-ers, it's not a bad place with a lot of RBV specific knowledge.
 
fordwheelinman said:
Make sure to keep the A4LD cool. If you don't already, add an external cooler. The push push button case, and matching auto hubs are fine for street use, but undoubtedly will fail when you need it most. You can still get manual hubs and conversion kits from the after market, not as convenient, but I tortured my 94 explorer with 33's and generous skinny pedal. I never bounced the thing on rocks, or did anything more than Uwharrie, but there were several times tires where off the ground, and I drug axles through the mud, and even bottomed a time or three.

I'd suggest swapping in an explorer 8.8, disk or drum will give you 31 spline axles, disk has a built in axle retainer. I don't remember exactly, but if you don't have them, swap on the knuckles from a 96 or 97 ranger and get the advantage of bolt on dual piston calipers.

if you haven't yet, check out www.therangerstation.com for RBV specific forums and tech library. If you can sift through the nay-sayers and bs-ers, it's not a bad place with a lot of RBV specific knowledge.
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Does this community enjoy gladiator movies? Asking for a friend.
 
Do you mean Rangers are classics or the vintage 94'?

My old girl now derelict. Robbing axles and sold the 4bt i bought for her.
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We have another "Hope" . I still have Ford WANTONS and another 302, C4 combo in the corner.....or a 351M, C6, 205.......



I digress.....I need to get the 302 YJ together.

I like Fords. I like Ford engines. LS swapping a Ford is sacrilege in my camp.:D
 
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This was my gateway drug. Bought it as a parts truck for my DD and things kinda got out of hand. It went through a couple stages, but this was the day I sold it to a friend.

It was 250k mile original 4.0, on its 2nd A4 rebuild, 5.13s, welded disk 8.8 in the back, aussie in the front, warn locking hubs, 6" bronco II front lift (soft) and SOA in back, and 3" body lift.

cleaned.jpg


This was when I enjoyed it the most. This was the 3" body lift and 2" front springs with AAl and shackles in rear.
 
orange150 said:
I’ve had the idea to find and daily a mint first gen explorer. Not sure why as I didn’t really like them when they were common.
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Because they are freaking awesomeness and damn near indestructible. I'd still have mine if I had potentially fried the electrical system by running it flat put for an hour in the mud with a fried alternator that was putting out 16 volts.
 
fordwheelinman said:
Make sure to keep the A4LD cool. If you don't already, add an external cooler. The push push button case, and matching auto hubs are fine for street use, but undoubtedly will fail when you need it most. You can still get manual hubs and conversion kits from the after market, not as convenient, but I tortured my 94 explorer with 33's and generous skinny pedal. I never bounced the thing on rocks, or did anything more than Uwharrie, but there were several times tires where off the ground, and I drug axles through the mud, and even bottomed a time or three.

I'd suggest swapping in an explorer 8.8, disk or drum will give you 31 spline axles, disk has a built in axle retainer. I don't remember exactly, but if you don't have them, swap on the knuckles from a 96 or 97 ranger and get the advantage of bolt on dual piston calipers.

if you haven't yet, check out www.therangerstation.com for RBV specific forums and tech library. If you can sift through the nay-sayers and bs-ers, it's not a bad place with a lot of RBV specific knowledge.
Click to expand...
I know all to well what you mean bud. The original owner who I bought this from had the transmission replaced by the selling dealer at around 35,000 miles in about 1999. I don't have an aftermarket cooler or anything but I was reading just today about how that it is a good idea for these prone to overheating a4ld trannies. I've had an inkling that the one in it now may be on its way out as well, but then again, it shifts very good, always at about 2800 rpm and goes through all the gears on its own. The only thing making me think it's got a problem is the trans fluid has a bit of a bad smell to it. I would tear this car apart and get everything little thing in the right order but I live in an apartment complex where the parking lot has a ridiculous slant, making even oil changes a complete pain in the ass. Some of the things i have in mind are: new spark plugs/wires/coil (i think was done around 50,000 miles last) but they're kind of a pain to get out. Also, coolant flush, maybe trans fluid change?, add a new front bumper and new fog lights since i smashed the old ones, and remove the bed liner and install some hooks for hauling dirt bike around. My plan is to have all this done by the end of the month or a little later and I will go to unwharrie with the wr250r and truck for some camping in the summer.
 
VortecJeep said:
Apparently Ricky Craven smokes crack!


View attachment 370661
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yikes i think that was the first year for the a4ld. Would pay $10,000 and not a penny more! 1994 was the last year for a4ld which is maybe why the one i have lasted 120,000+ miles! Apparently, if the one I have in it it ever goes out, you can just switch out the steering column, bolt in the manual, and switch out the cup holder area like legos and it will be no different from a factory manual.
 
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