Worked some on the rear diff. I was able to complete the gear swap from 3.15 to 3.73. This new, what Ford calls the Super 8.8 is a really nice piece. Appears to be stronger in all the right places. I have a feeling these diffs will continue to gain popularity for future swaps.
One thing I learned is that you DEFINITELY need a case spreader to properly install the carrier.
If competing in EM, try to gear the track so redline in 2nd is around 77-78 mph. You will find that the top cars are geared this way and 4 of the top 5 have only 2 speed transmissions.
In reply to loosecannon :
Thanks for the advice. With this setup I'll only be good to 65 mph. I've been concerned about running out of mph on bigger courses, but most of the venues I've been too are relatively small. I may go ahead and purchase a spare differential with a 3.31 setup.
Those gears are fine if your 3rd gear at redline is around 77 mph. The point is that you want to minimize gear changes and if you can run a whole course in 3rd then that's good. Last year I had different gear cluster in the trans and we started off in 2nd then shifted to 3rd where we stayed for most of the courses.
Afe you planning on keeeping the bed on it? Are you gonna have to cut the bed floor to make it fit?
In reply to Noser7 :
I'll be cutting out the original bed floor. I may later in the year make a hinged aluminum bed cover.
Another weekends work update.
Finished up all the electrical, minus tail lights.
Also worked on the front end. I had to redo the tubing going from the upper tower to firewall. This will give me enough clearance with the tire at full lock, full compression.
Final assembly on the IRS. Added ARP wheel studs.
Mounting the rear end for the last time.
Lastly started cutting up the bed. The plasma torch made quick work of it.
10 mins later....
.....and that's all for now! Installing the bed sides will be a big milestone. I should be in the short rows from there.
That's a lot of progress!
I know the unsprung weight will be reduced a lot, but did you weigh the IRS setup vs the live axle? I'm wondering which one is lighter overall.
In reply to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ :
I wish I had weighed them both. Next time the IRS is out I'll put it on the scale.
One milestone reached for the ranger this winter.....the bed is back on the truck!
I had worried that mounting the bed was going to be a complete nightmare. I didn't have any game plan, just simply to start lowering it on the chassis. All in all I'm quite happy with how it turned out. The "rattiness" of the exterior and "beauty" of the mechanics carried through with the bed installation.
Support work all finished up.
I was able to push the fender panels out with the new support structure and get a good wheel fitment. I'm thankful that the flare re-work will be minimal.
Side view
As usual the 3 ton hoists above me came in super handy. I was able to lift the whole setup and place it on saw-horses for the last bit of work I need to do.
I'd love to think it'd be driving by next weekend, but I'll need to spend some time on the lathe shortening a driveshaft and finish boxing in the frame rails under the cab. I don't want to rush taking the truck off the fixture until it's completely ready. Until next weekend!
This thing is gonna look mean. Need to call it Danger Ranger
In reply to loosecannon :
There's not much Ranger left, Maybe "Deranger"?
Your right. I was looking this weekend at the only remaining, original part of the frame under the cab. I should have probably just pulled the cab and chopped it at the firewall!
In reply to JGRAHAM :
People ask me all the time how much MGB is left in my MGB and I tell them that I cut away all the slow bits and am left with just the rear deck. EM is brutal on originality, ironic that the rules say our vehicle has to look like the vehicle they are based on
I would never have thought of bolting the bedsides to the cab, but aesthetically it works great. It has a very "competent rat rod" vibe about it visually.
In reply to loosecannon :
Your right. I've been keeping an eye on your build and what others have and are doing in EMod. It's seems to be a very "creativity" driven class which appeals to what I like to do.
I hate to even start thinking about another project, but an EM project would be top on the list for me!
I didn't even notice you made it a Ranchero.
In reply to Crackers :
Seems like its more like a "ranger-o"
In reply to rothwem :
I was trying for something like that, but I couldn't type it out clearly enough to not need explanation, so I just went with the above. 
Super legit coming along greeeeaaaat
Last night I was able to spend some time on the lathe. I re-purposed an aluminum driveshaft for the Ranger. I'm far from a skilled machinist, but quite happy with my limited ability. Less than 3 thou of run-out when it was all finished.
Does anyone know why they put cardboard tubes inside driveshafts? Harmonics? Alignment?
JGRAHAM said:Does anyone know why they put cardboard tubes inside driveshafts? Harmonics? Alignment?
Yep, its a damper.
When I worked at Freightliner a lifetime ago, we put cardboard in the driveshaft for noise attenuation purposes. The driveshaft would ring, and th cardboard would dampen out that ring.
On an episode of Roadkill Extra last week, they blew the driveshaft on Stubby Bob and Finnigen says "why is there cardboard inside the driveshaft?".
That's interesting. I can see how this thin wall aluminum might resonant some. If this one has an issue I'll drill a small hole and inject some expanding foam.
You'll need to log in to post.
