Thread: 1992 Mercury Ranger

Say Wha??????

Ya I wanted something different. Bare with me here.

Backstory:
Couple years back I had picked up a fairly clean 92 2wd Ranger extended cab. Main purpose was to use the 4.0L engine in the Bronco since I had cracked the second set of heads.

So I had this shell I was going to sell the cab and make a trailer out of the box and frame to kinda match the Bronco but with the rising gas prices I needed something better on fuel. Found part of a 97 ranger with a running 2.3L and swapped the engine into the 92. Couldn't get it to run after trying to swap the harness/sensors from a 92 2.3L.

Found an 89 BroncoII with a decent running 2.9L and figured this would be an easy swap. 2.3L went into the scrap pile. Installed the 2.9L with a clutch and M5OD from a 4.0L. Got it running and gave it one major tuneup. So with the 2.9L and M5OD and 3.09 gears I've been pulling a solid 27 MpG mixed driving. If it was all Highway I could get 30 easy.

So now that I have a base to go on I got to thinking, as I can't leave it stock. Too boring being stock.

Time to start collecting parts. Now the thing was How did I want this to look. Being 2wd street truck I wanted it low, flashy, and agressive, with go to match.

For the GO:
Since dabbling with boost on the Bronco I wanted to revive the project and searched on turbo 2.9L applications. 90% of what I built for the Bronco's 4.0L would work on the 2.9L. Found a guy in Sweeden that was pushing 460 Hp on a wheel dyno, and started asking questions. Granted I wasn't thinking that extreme, but if I could get 300+ I would be stoked. Picked up a bunch of engine parts like lifters and gaskets and such. Bigger injectors and an intercooler. Went to DIYfuelinjection.com and bought a Megasquirt kit.
Assembled the Megasquirt kit.


Flashy:
Looking around for paint ideas I came upon the old 90's SCCA trucks. This is how the truck was originally going to be built but since ditching the 2.3L idea. I wanted to keep the paint idea, so I have the enamel paint and Just trying to get the bodywork complete to paint it.


Low and Agressive:
Wanted to static drop and give it some aggressive style. Since I was going for serious power I want it to hook up. Was looking into how big of a tire I could get out back, with being different than the other trucks out there. Decided that I was going to go with a 33" AT tire out back. Matching smalls for the front. Now there are not too many companies that have a 33" and a 205/75 within the same model line. But settled on Firestone Destination AT's.

I liked the gearing I have for the fuel milliage so Wanted something similar. Worked out to around a 3.90 gear. I have an axle with 4.10's already in the Bronco and it's welded. Done deal. Going to use that. Now for the low part. There is a 3" difference in radius height between the front and rear tires. I already did a shackle flip to level the truck out.

The new setup would have to work out to about a 5" total rear drop to keep it level. Not low enough for me. Back to the drawing board. Picked up a set of 3" drop beams for the front, so now on top of the 5" drop out back I need to go another 3" to make 8" drop.
On CAD I designed an axle flip setup to drop about 6.25" with just a flip, now with the shackle flip I should get my 8". Talking to a couple guys that are dropped 8" out back and it turns out I need to run a C-notch. Back in CAD to design a monster C-notch.

Here is a photoshop of how it will sit with the 33's out back.


Style:
Something had to be done to make it different from all the other dropped rangers. Looking on FleabaY I saw they now have LED lights for the second gen rangers and they looked pretty Gay. Thought about doing sealed beams instead of the stock lights. Just need to build a bezel to transition the new light to the stock trim. I had a pair of square lights from my Bronco, since converting to round. But they were too big, and would look awkward. Searching around I found that 1998 Blazers had a sealed beam option and the light was much smaller. Picked up a pair of the Hallogens.


With changing the lights I wanted yet even more styleing change. Thought why not badge it a Mercury Ranger/M-100.



Got the Grill and tailgate skin finished.



Now with all these parts in I'm trying to find the time to get some of this stuff done and get it installed.


I'll post more as I get stuff installed and get deeper into it.

hahahah awesome! im excited to see this! subbed!

those mercury badges will fool alot of people! interesting build for sure....

I don't like the sealed beams. Doesn't ad anything and makes the truck look older than it really is.

Got the other light sorted out. Now just need to make the fiberglass fillers.



Since I was painting I threw a bit on the front to get a better idea since it will be almost all black up front anyway.

Here are some of the other parts I have waiting.

3" drop dream beams.


Axle perch


Spring plate


Monster notch side plate.


Here is a 33" mounted at current ride height. Made the spring brackets so they move the axle forward 1.25" to center up the tire.


Going for this kinda look.

get this done already!

Should be able to get the suspension, bodywork and paint done by the fall. The turbo stuff will happen over the winter.

Still need to get the Bronco back together and on axles by the winter.

Hope my buddy Jon comes through with the rear arches and I should be ready to start knocking out the bodywork and get it painted.

Headlight setup with the cardboard inserts.

Getting ready to make molds. Naturally the molds will need some body work. But I'm OK with that.

Couple small updates. Got the bezel molds glassed.




Bought a 255 Lph fuel pump. and a Vortech FMU.

Tires won't be here till December so I'll put some old tires on. when I get the axle stuff set up.

Picked up all my bolts for the rear shackles, and hardware for the C-notch.

Noticed that one of the fuel tank straps was rusted bad and is now half hanging there. Bought new ones just need to install. Would like to get the fuel pump and install then when I drop the tank.

Going to start comming together quick.

Waiting to hear back about the rear wheel arches, so I can start on the lower body work.

Have changed my mind about how it will be painted and I should be able to start painting soon, just need to touch up a couple spots on the hood and roof.

White top and black bottom with a Yellow stripe divideing the two.

Hood will have a black center section and a yellow stripe divideing the colors.
Similar to this, with white steel wheels.

Drop Beams installed lastnight. Got the alignment close so I can drive it. I may chop the coils down a bit to adjust the camber. Brakes now work and I massaged the fenders a tad so the tires don't rub. The beams were off a 97, so I got the upgrade to the twin piston calipers.

cool build!. Have you decided what to do with your radius arm pivot boxes? i had a bagged ranger a few years back and i ran your beams. But my limiting fctor was always my pivot boxes/radius arm cross member.

The stock rad arm brackets work fine. I put new bushings in them. Only going to lower another 1/2-1". The beams came off a truck that was lowered 5/7. I haven't touched the alignment cams. If I don't have too, I won't. I adjusted the toe however.

Not planning to lay body with this thing just yet. Just want it a bit lower. Going to start on the rear next weekend. That is if it's not raining. Lots to get done on this thing. Getting second wind and wanna get this thing together. Been collecting parts all summer for it. Just waiting for the last of my turbo parts, so I can start on that.

Chopped 3/4 loop from the coils

Installed a 255 lph fuel pump. Put the new fuel tank straps on.
Gave the truck some color.

wheels

hood

Chalk one up for another megasquirt user!

Those computers are AWESOME(especially for the price)

AND Boost? This thing will be BAD ASS!

Have a couple deals going to get a couple 2.9L's to play with. Trading a 5.0L for a 2.9L, and I have another 5.0L and AOD that I'm trading for an 87 parts truck that has a running 2.9L in it. There are some other parts I can rip off the parts truck, when I get it. Since doing alot of work to the Merc, I've noticed a bunch of rusted parts that NEED to be replaced. They are about as bad as the rear shackle hangers.

I was going to use the MS, but I messed something up with the assemby and I cant get the tune uploaded. Megatune won't connect to it. Picked up a Vortech 12:1 FMU kit. Also have a 10:1 recalibration kit in the mail. Also waiting for a set of 30 Lb/H injectors. That stupid China fuel pump is giving me grief. It doesn't self prime if run out of fuel. It really sucks ass. Found a guy selling a Walbaro 255 pump locally and picked it up. Next time I have the box off I'll swap the pumps.

The Front wheels are a 15 x 6.5. Not sure if I mentioned I had to recenter the rear 15 x 8's. The standard 4.00 BS would not have worked with the 33's out back. Rear wheels are now a 5.75" back space. the 2 on the right.

Started the stripe on the side



Picked up a 2.9L I can get started building on.



Got my Vortech FMU and recalibration kit. Also got my 30 Lb/h injectors yesterday.



Got lots to do. Wish it wouldn't be raining right now.

Got a bunch of little things painted over the weekend.

So what kinda prep are you doing before paint? What grit and such? it doesnt look like you primed anything. Reasons?

Scuffed it with a red scotchbright pad. Some places got sanded with 260. This isn't going to be a show stopper. Just a quick paint to get it into solid colors. Just enough to make it look decent, and not look like a piece of shit jaloppy.

It's a daily driver, and I don't expect the paint to last forever.

One day I'll restore a truck and do it all the right way.

just a red scotchbrite? and no primer? You'll be lucky if the paint doesnt flake off

Why is primer needed when the base is already good? If it flakes it flakes, I have paint to do touchups.

i really like the hood, i can't wait to see how the rest of the truck looks. it's crazy looking at the first pics then the most recent ones.

it promotes adhesion and makes an even surface for the paint. but seeing as you didnt even care to fix the rust holes leads me to beleive you dont care if it looks like shit.

Originally Posted by XJRunner

it promotes adhesion and makes an even surface for the paint. but seeing as you didnt even care to fix the rust holes leads me to beleive you dont care if it looks like shit.

Seriously dude?? Get bent!

Looks great Joel.. haters gonna hate...remember you're the one with the badass one off glass....

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Just don't get it? Why say it's gonna look like shit? It looks 200 X better than what it did.

All the bent rust parts I have replaced with clean straight parts. I have not painted over any rust on the body. All those spots I have cleaned an Prepped. Still have some metal I have to cut out and replace. That's what's stopping me from painting the lower half right now.

The winter's here are killer on vehicles. Why would I want a $2000 paint job on a truck that is goona get used as one?

If you only saw my wifes 2007 civic! She follows behind loaded gravel trucks and she wonders why there are stone chips on the hood, or busted fog lights. My 6 year old drives his toy cars down the sides of the car. Also have had the BBq slam into the quarter panel because my son though it a good idea to tie the Golden retriever to the BBQ.

I stopped caring about how perfect the paint is long ago. I paint to have solid color, and easy touch up. If you came over and Keyed the side of my truck I would laugh and pull out the putty to fill the scratch and thin out somemore Duplicolor and spray the area.

i guess that makes sense. I'm just used to cars that I work on at work. But I can see where your comin from. BTW I like the headlight idea, if you could find some H4 housings in that size and put HIDs in it I think it'd be sweet

Got the axle pulled from the bronco.

Now if I plan to do some welding on the tailgate I may as well do it right. Its been bugging me and it didn't look right.


Sent from Satan, using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Copykat

Here are some of the other parts I have waiting.

3" drop dream beams.



Spring plate




Here is a 33" mounted at current ride height. Made the spring brackets so they move the axle forward 1.25" to center up the tire.

what kinda tire is that?

Originally Posted by hondarider23

what kinda tire is that?

Very worn out BFG Mud King

Start of the tailgate redo....


Here is a quick shot of the front with the white steelies.

Originally Posted by Copykat

fuck salt

I know. It was early spring when I parked the bronco in the shop. No snow yet but I'll blast a couple gravel roads and it should knock most of it off.

Reminds me I need to change the diff oil, after all the welding done to the axle. Prolly cooked some oil in it.

Next on the list is bodywork to finish paint.

Gave the truck a bit of a wash. This is with the 31's on the back, with the 8" wheels.

Utah has that shit too. Can't have anything nice.

I dig the merc stuff. Very cool.