Todd's 1970 Ranger Updates

[toddspeed]

Purchased a 1970 Ranger, 2wd, lwb, p/s, c6 auto. 91k orig miles, 1 owner.

Has manifold leak and exhaust leak.
Needs a seat recovering.

In the planning stages for a mild upgrade:
Holley 4150 series 650cfm carb
Edelbrock Performer Intake
Flatout Group gaskets
Stan's Tri-Y headers
HEI Ignition

Looking forward to getting started - parts on the way!

[sargentrs]

Let the fun begin!

[toddspeed]

I knew this was gonna snowball into something bigger!

I'll be most of the way there, might as well do the cam and timing chain (never undertaken anything this in depth) since the timing chain/gears probably stock with the nylon. Hard to find much info but this Comp kit seems like it has everything I need with the 268H cam (supposedly like the RV cam), springs, seals, chain/gears, break in lube, and lifters. Looks like it would all still work for the 390 upgrade down the road too.
COMP Cams High Energy Cam and Lifter Kits K33-224-3 - SummitRacing.com

I just called Stan's and they want ~$300 to add ceramic coating to their p/n 222-Y $534 Tri-Y's!

Called a local place (near Summit in GA) that does lots of headers and they only want around $200, so I will go that route. Didn't plan on spending this much on headers....ack. But seems like the Stan's are really good and come with a ball/cup style collector for zero leaks.

I have a complete gasket set coming from Flatout Group - they recommended gaskets over Right Stuff or another make-a-gasket RTV, and promised a solid seal.

[popeyes71]

Sounds like your doing some homework before you tear into your project. Have fun with it and keep us updated.

[toddspeed]

Picked "Red" up today from the Seller...started off OK but a tire blowout after 3 miles (on new rubber no less) in the dark was a bit of a shock. No prep for the 90 mile ride home: No jack, spare tire was flat.....fortunately seller came to the rescue and got us back on the road. Rest of the trip to issues...can't wait to get the work in progress.

Carb, HEI, Flatout Gaskets, and "How To" book show up tomorrow. Stan's headers were ordered today. Not a lot to be done but still exciting nonetheless!

Found out there's already a dual exhaust installed, so that will make up for the tire bill. Hoping there are some additional upgrades I haven't found yet. The power steering is a nice touch (dunno if it was standard on the truck), but power brakes are now high on the list.....wow what a workout to stop this beast!

[toddspeed]

A lesson on how not to inspect a truck:

The seller (selling for his ill father in-law) told me before he even opened the hood to show me the engine last weekend that it had an exhaust leak at the manifold. So I just did a quick visual on the "manifolds" to make sure there weren't any major issues...didn't really think much of it as it was in my mind already that I was going to put on headers.

So I get the PB blaster out to start soaking bolts and see if I can get them loosened up, and as soon as I hit the first bolt I realized the truck has long tube headers already installed!

But talk about a DOH moment , I just ordered the Stan's headers yesterday and they already shipped them. So I'm out some shipping costs but at least not the full amount.

Either way, I will have to pull the headers, get the flanges fixed (I can see where they warped), and paint em up.

Unexpected cost - I have to buy a new set of tires. The one that blew out is not replaceable, it was a Winston brand! I had to look it up, and it's a Cali company that went bankrupt in 2002. The tires don't look bad (not dry rotted visibly and the tread is 80%), but clearly with the one blowing out they are junk. The upside is that it confirms more and more the mileage on the truck is accurate at 91k, as do some of the oil change stickers I've found showing around 2k miles per year for the last 4-5 years. So I think I will go with BFG's because they have been a big supporter of my racing in the past year

Off to spend money at LMC...

[toddspeed]

Went to the Pull A Part today and found a shiny almost-new Draw Tite hitch on a 67 for $30...wasn't much left on that truck, can't imagine why someone didn't pull the $200 hitch off....part number tags were still like new and shiny black paint on an otherwise rusty truck stuck out like a sore thumb. Score for me! Glad I took my impact though, those bolts were on tight! One bolt I couldn't get off, and I forgot a breaker bar. Had to use an old steering shaft from who knows what vehicle as a breaker bar, got lucky and the bolt broke loose.

Gonna me MIA for the next week - heading to COTA for a race.

[toddspeed]

This week's progress includes replacing power steering pump brackets, installing the F600 dash (w/delay wipers, oil press sending unit, tach, vac gauge), a little cleaner/wax on the top to shine it up a bit, installing the new speaker and Sony radio, and finishing up the new exhaust system:

BEFORE


AFTER

[sargentrs]

Absolutely stunning! Great work.

[toddspeed]

Today's fun - filled the leaking diff with fluid. Rechecked the header bolts.

Removed the fuel filler neck to replace the cracked body seal and neck hose. PITA to remove the old hose as it was very stiff. The neck came right out and the new stuff went in easily, but I decided to strip and paint the neck. Add 2 days to project for prime/paint/dry

Got my new cargo switch, came up with a plan for the install of the cargo light, but still a little wussified on the concept of cutting the sheetmetal.

Ordered new seat upholstery. Spent 4 hours online last night doing research (keeping in mind I did seating as an engineer in Detroit for F series trucks, also did the steering wheels and airbags) only to discover that ACME is the supplier to LMC/MAC/etc for the upholstery. So I did a ACME p/n search and found it on Amazon for $30 cheaper than the other places. SCORE!

[sargentrs]

Good for you! That's an amazing F600 panel. Is it chromed or painted? Still trying to decide what to do with mine

[toddspeed]

it is chromed - I sorta want to paint the face of it black like some I've seen....

If you've got a non-chromed one I think body color would look good - along with metal door panels and dash pad delete.

[sargentrs]

It looks great. I'm going with a really bright red inside and out and afraid painting the panel the same color would be little.too much. The gauges I've selected are black with white letters so I'm not sure how that would go. We've got a really pretty platinum silver powder coat where I work so I may go that route. Sorry to hijack. Now back to Todd's incredible project!

[toddspeed]

Got the fuel neck painted today and ready to install tomorrow when paint cures.

Surveyed the wiring for the trailer connector - have a plan but need supplies - will wrap that up tomorrow.

Got the new washer pump from LMC. Hooked it up and nothing. Hmmmm what's changed? Ahhh the new delay wiper setup...something must be amiss. No power to pump. Double check connections at delay switch - hmmmm there's an empty slot where wires should be....don't see any loose/cut wires - WTF? Jump on Fordification and revisit the tech section and do a search as well....find out I have an 80's delay switch and move the black/white wire to the lime green connection and BINGO!

Never would have figured out the washer pump problem without this site!

And as my "side project" sold a ton more stuff from the parts truck...guy came by today and picked up the bed - he drove over with his bed off and we dropped the new bed right on - he was pretty stoked! He has a crew cab dent.