Ford Ranger cage questions

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

tdrrally — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 09:28:28 -0600

http://www.youtube.com/embed/K4r0LEtBzNE"; frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

trucks and rallying

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

MrToad — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:43:12 -0600

From Craigslist Maine-
Nissan 240sx

JT

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

tdrrally — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:05:57 -0600

i was thinking of using a 5.0 to hold the front end down.

its not a wagon a low rider suv

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

john vanlandingham — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:57:36 -0600

Quote
tdrrally
i do like the wagon version

2 bags of groceries in back and the front end is pointing at the sky and you gotta tap the brakes to get the wheels on the ground to turn..

But nice if you change the rear springs for being a boxy stationwagon..

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

starion887 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:45:39 -0600

Ha ha, I can hear the girl say now...."my dad and boyfiend didn't think it was bad" as you find that the blown head gasket allowed coolant into a cylinder overnight. Hard to say what that means. Are the engines cheap and easy to find? But $350 if it was a decent shell seems OK to me.

Your not serious about the wagon, right?

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

tdrrally — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:59:20 -0600

i do like the wagon version

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

john vanlandingham — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:52:12 -0600

another!
rrn3p-3421344345@sale.craigslist.org [?]
flag [?] : miscategorized prohibited spam best of
1991 Volvo 240 GLE - $650 (Goffstown)

Another!

Great piccie!

Gawddam ANOTHER:

sghzw-3471427616@sale.craigslist.org [?]
flag [?] : miscategorized prohibited spam best of
1992 Volvo 240 GL - $1000 (North Walpole, NH)
1992 Volvo 240 GL, 195,558 miles. Black with tan cloth interior. Has rust and needs some work but runs well, regularly maintained. Before I got a new car I was driving this car to work 70 miles round trip four times a week for four months, but has been sitting for the last month. Has had the timing belt replaced and the alternator was just replaced, had a tune up a few months ago. I have kept most, if not all, of the garage receipts of all the work that has been done on it since I have owned it. Price is firm

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

TronDD — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:41:40 -0600

Why would the headgasket cause the car to stall and not restart?

Tim.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

john vanlandingham — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:39:39 -0600

Quote
TronDD
Volvo 240 just popped up on CL in New Hampshire.

Auto trans and possibly hydrolocked, but $350

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/3563934861.html

Tim.

No they said blown headgasket.

The lurvley Portable TV headlights!!

Headgasket is cheap and while its off you chop the head 060". and a K cam.. YeeeeHar!

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

tdrrally — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:34:13 -0600

i do need a new truck,lol

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

TronDD — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:11:58 -0600

Volvo 240 just popped up on CL in New Hampshire.

Auto trans and possibly hydrolocked, but $350

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/3563934861.html

Tim.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

Aaron Luptak — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:33:09 -0600

Quote
Neronymous
What would you suggest as a good rwd platform that is cheap to buy with the intent to build it up?

just imo-

if I'm building a car, it's going to be one of these three:
volvo 240
merkur xr4ti
fox body mustang

all three with a 2.3 turbo engine, WC T5 trans, Toyota rear end.

fox body seems like the cheapest way to go. but it's probably going to be a good bit more expensive if you want one that came with a turbo from the factory (ie. SVO). If you're ok picking up a plain jane 4cyl and adding the turbo later, these things are dirt cheap.

aside from the ever-present unibody strength concerns, the big issue I see with the fox is the rear suspension. I know the Hurst/Utecht mustang used the stock layout and they said it was ok, but just recently on SS I saw Hurst saying the suspension travel was limited. I think it could be a kick-ass car with a long 5-link setup, and that's not exactly rocket science, but it's still a big fab project - especially for someone like me whose fab experience consists entirely of zipties and bending small bits of aluminum.

It seems like the merkur has the most out-of-the-box potential. Your only option is to get one with a turbo, doesn't seem to need any major fabrication to make the suspension work well. Don't know if John's supra diff mounting stuff is bolt-in, or if it needs some work, but it still seems pretty straightforward.

the volvo probably has the best build-it-as-you-go potential. the stock rear suspension doesn't seem to be terrible like the mustang's. not rare like the merkur.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

TronDD — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:21:37 -0600

Just leave the door wide open, why doncha? Asking what's a good, cheap RWD platform is how you conjure the devil around here.

:D

Tim.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

Neronymous — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:13:28 -0600

Perhaps starting from scratch is what I need to end up doing. The Ranger does push the front a lot going into turns, even with the suspension changes I made and after dropping the rear two inches to scoot some weight further back.

I'll fall back to a n00b question, then.

What would you suggest as a good rwd platform that is cheap to buy with the intent to build it up? If I didn't mind fwd, I have seen VW's go very cheaply ready to roll...

I phrase it this way because the cars I would like to be driving (such as Tim's Merkur) are something I may be able to afford over time (i.e. by building it as money comes in), but not at the moment.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

Neronymous — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:06:50 -0600

Nice Suzuki! I have an SX4 Crossover, and it's a pretty fun car to toss around. I did a couple of rallycrosses with it, and it was a blast.

John, I appreciate you trying to save me the heartache of spending all of my time and money on something that may never be as competitive as I'd like, as much as I would like to build up the Ranger.

Trucks appear to be hamstrung by weight distribution and the type of frame stiffness it has... or rather, doesn't have. A well-designed cage may help this quite a bit, but the shortcomings remain. However, finding a good 240 to build up is proving to be harder than I at first imagined. Other than that, cars like the Merkur are relatively hard to find (although there are some amazing examples out there), and while the Lada is more in my range, importation could be problematic, and there is my love of rwd/awd...

I like a rwd or awd vehicle. This limits my options, I realize, but there is something about having the power going to the back wheels that I find addictive.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

tdrrally — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:33:37 -0600

i do lean more to the suv side

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

tdrrally — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:32:13 -0600

who said trucks aren't for racing ?

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

john vanlandingham — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:16:55 -0600

Quote
Neronymous
they take rallycross well, but I'm aware I'll probably need better come stage time.

Like a car..

Trucks are all about being a style statement..trucks are supposed to be about moving goods, junk, stuff.
Everything is compromised to accomodate carrying stuff. Crates, firewood, old engine blocks, bricks, plywood.

If you are not carrying stuff like Crates, firewood, old engine blocks, bricks, plywood then there is no reason to drive a truck--which is all compromised for taht...
IF somebody does, its because they want a built-in excuse why they're getting massacreed to death on the stage...

You want to get massacreed to death on stages cause the vehicle is doing things it was never intended to do?

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

Neronymous — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:19:40 -0600

I will definitely get some Ragnarok. Sick shit.

I have the 3.0 Vulcan motor in the Ranger, and the Duratec motor was supposed to be that much more fun, even if it came in the sad Taurus.

Fun and fast can be two different things. Does it react how you like going into turns? Is it predictable? Does it make sexy sounds?

The Ranger is a blast to drive, even moreso since I installed springs (370 up front, stock out back), and Skyjacker Nitro 8000 shocks. They were some of the stiffest shocks I could find, and they take rallycross well, but I'm aware I'll probably need better for both come stage time.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

TylerEstes — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 07:10:38 -0600

Quote
Neronymous
I got into black metal on Mayhem, Emperor, and Immortal, but have picked up on Dodsferd, Gorgoroth, and Trelldom. Always looking for new stuff.

Dethklok is fun, but not black metal. I have some of their stuff, though.

The Ranger build will allow me to proceed as funds allow, plus have some desert racer flair. No tall suspension, mind, but using those trucks and AngryIron as inspiration.

I really like Immortal's "Pure Holocaust" album but not much after that. Dodsferd is good, as well as "Pentagram" by Gorgoroth. Trelldom isn't bad either. Have you heard "Impaler of Wallachia" by Graveland? Great song. I suggest Ragnarok. A lot. [url=

][/url]

And if you're just going to use your Ranger as a stage rally truck and no desert racing, there's no need for a bunch of suspension travel, so no tall suspension wouldn't hurt anything. I'd say stock suspension travel would be good. Stiffen the chassis (seam welding, weld up all the holes, and cage) plus stiffer springs and you SHOULD be okay. Assuming I'm right. Which you shouldn't do. Because I don't know stuff.

[quote=tdrrally]
in the long run you will be a better driver racing a slow car than starting out with a fast one

190e cossy is a neat ride not the fastest of its day but still good fun[/quote]

I agree. My first two REAL cars were 1999 Ford Tore-Asses with the 24V 3.0 V6. Not slow. Boring, but not slow.
I'd rather have fun to drive and interesting than fast any day. I comute about 400 miles a week and I start at about 4:45 in the morning. If I have a Cossie Mercedes to keep me awake, then life would be just fucking grand. I'm not saying that my 24V V6 sucks, because that's the only part of my car that I like. But everything else is just so boring.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

tdrrally — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 07:04:07 -0600

in the long run you will be a better driver racing a slow car than starting out with a fast one

190e cossy is a neat ride not the fastest of its day but still good fun

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

Neronymous — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 07:01:31 -0600

I got into black metal on Mayhem, Emperor, and Immortal, but have picked up on Dodsferd, Gorgoroth, and Trelldom. Always looking for new stuff.

Dethklok is fun, but not black metal. I have some of their stuff, though.

The Ranger build will allow me to proceed as funds allow, plus have some desert racer flair. No tall suspension, mind, but using those trucks and AngryIron as inspiration.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

TylerEstes — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 06:50:27 -0600

Quote
tdrrally
Dethklok?

No.

And I completely agree with the second half of your signature (and sort of the first half): "Drive what makes you happy. You're the one paying for it."

My DD is fast as balls (but after my new tires it vibrates and shakes like crazy at and after 100 MPH) but boring and I hate it. Hopefully talking this guy a block away from my workplace into selling me this Mercedes 190E 2.3 16V Cosworth that's in his junkyard for a few hundred bucks. And getting it up to "weekend driver and breaking down on the side of the road" condition. And also finally taking home his uncle's Xratty and caging that bitch.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

tdrrally — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 06:43:10 -0600

Dethklok?

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

TylerEstes — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 06:35:09 -0600

Quote
Neronymous
It is! In the years I've used this name on various forums, you are the first person to get it.

It's nice to know that I'm not the only black metal Rally Anarchist. Do you listen to more underground stuff? Like Samrt, Epheles, Vlad Tepes, Satanic Warmaster, Ravensblood, older Taake, Ragnarok, etc.?

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

Neronymous — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 06:30:47 -0600

It is! In the years I've used this name on various forums, you are the first person to get it.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

TylerEstes — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 04:50:28 -0600

Sorry for the completely unrelated post, Jesse. But if your user name a play on the name "Euronymous" from Mayhem?

Good luck with the project.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

fiasco — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:39:10 -0600

I've seen Tim's car. It's worth the price. I sold him his street XR4, as well as the T5 gearbox and a bunch of other stuff for the rally car. Tim's a top-shelf guy, always looking to help you out at a rally.

Shell is good, cage is good, it's not tied to the front strut towers though. Tim wanted to keep it a runner during the build, and the wiring harness and fuse box need to be relocated to put the tubes to the front strut towers. Also, some people would rather sacrifice the shell with a less-rigid cage.

Medcroft's (former) car is probably nicer (only seem pictures of his builds), but this is at least 2/3 the car at 2/3 the price.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

starion887 — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 20:56:02 -0600

And for anyone looking at Tim Chevalier's Merkur, I'll vouch for Tim and his being a straight up guy. He gives a good description of the car and I would take his word as being true. And Don Taylor issuing the logbook should mean the cage is all A-OK. Tim grew up rallying with his dad, and is a long time rally guy. So I would not be scared to get serious about this car.
Mark B.

Re: Ford Ranger cage questions

TronDD — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 20:36:17 -0600

No, because they were never tested to meet DOT safety and EPA emmisions standards. It's possible if the car is over 25 years old going through an approved import agency, I believe.

I've looked quickly when I thought about bringing over a Lancia from Europe. :)

EDIT: Looks like Canadian cars are easier...

Tim.