History of the Ranger

[Hot Pepper Red Zeppelin]

So I found this and it's an interesting read but by their accounting the current Ranger is 4th gen?

https://www.cjponyparts.com/resources/ford-ranger-history

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[Traneman]

oh crap, do we need a new website name??

I was wondering where the 5g was coming from.

PS, I tried sending you a message, but won't allow me to do so. Like your Pride Flag.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

So I found this and it's an interesting read but by their accounting the current Ranger is 4th gen?

https://www.cjponyparts.com/resources/ford-ranger-history

Hi Folks,

This is generally accurate. I was around for the birth of the Ranger through 2002. I was behind the diesel option for Ranger as I found the engine at Mitsubishi...proved not very popular because of cost and the fact GM ruined diesel market with the POS 350cid Diesel. Also they fail to mention the unique feature of the electric Ranger...It had a composite pickup box and tailgate. This is the box I used on the Saleen Rangers that we raced in the SCCA as it saved about 125 lbs. The carbon fiber springs did not last because the springs splintered at the axle attachment..The true parabolic carbon fiber spring worked forever, but when the spring had a flat for axle attachment, the spring started to splinter by the u blots and it was decided to scrap the idea... I tried on the Saleen Trucks to get a carbon fiber spring to work, but resorted to a monoleaf steel spring....

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Traneman]

Hi Folks,

This is generally accurate. I was around for the birth of the Ranger through 2002. I was behind the diesel option for Ranger as I found the engine at Mitsubishi...proved not very popular because of cost and the fact GM ruined diesel market with the POS 350cid Diesel.

Cool that you were part of the Diesel. I was a young teenager when the Diesel options was out there for the Ranger then. I was super excited to see the diesel was an option, and when I was old enough to drive, it was gone. :-( . Thanks to the GM Diesel, My parents was part of the mess with their Buick Riveria diesel.

 

[Traneman]

Cool that you were part of the Diesel. I was a young teenager when the Diesel options was out there for the Ranger then. I was super excited to see the diesel was an option, and when I was old enough to drive, it was gone. :-( . Thanks to the GM Diesel, My parents was part of the mess with their Buick Riveria diesel.

Here's a video of the rare Diesel Ranger!

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Cool that you were part of the Diesel. I was a young teenager when the Diesel options was out there for the Ranger then. I was super excited to see the diesel was an option, and when I was old enough to drive, it was gone. :-( . Thanks to the GM Diesel, My parents was part of the mess with their Buick Riveria diesel.

The semiskunkworks project was called the HPC Diesel, High Power Compact Diesel. I had a matrix of some 15 different diesel engines, including Renault, Onan, AVCO etc. Listing the plus and minus of each. The Mitsubishi turned out to the the best fit and almost a slip in to the Ranger Engine compartment...I got the first Mitsubishi diesel in 1982 before the Ranger was in production so being skunkworks, We did not want a Ranger prototype for the first build, so we picked an F150 SWB Flairside manual trans. I also got the Mitsubishi 5 speed manual trans to simplify the install...No adaptor plate between the motor and the trans this way.

It proved to be a reasonable test bed and the performance numbers like 0-60 etc were in our target range, so off we flew to Japan on one of about 5 trips over there to negotiate a deal with Mitsubishi for purchase of the engine...I let the business types negotiate the purchase, I was the technical rep as I was the only one in Ford that had actually installed an engine in a truck.

Our next build was a real Ranger as they were in production, and this build became a bit more difficult as the build activity selected was one that I did not think had the capability and that proved to be true. I would have been better off using my race shop for my racecar... Anyway, we got this vehicle up and running and passed the keys around Ford Management. Thus it became a Go Program! Anyway...that is the back story on the Diesel.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Traneman]

The semiskunkworks project was called the HPC Diesel, High Power Compact Diesel. I had a matrix of some 15 different diesel engines, including Renault, Onan, AVCO etc. Listing the plus and minus of each. The Mitsubishi turned out to the the best fit and almost a slip in to the Ranger Engine compartment...I got the first Mitsubishi diesel in 1982 before the Ranger was in production so being skunkworks, We did not want a Ranger prototype for the first build, so we picked an F150 SWB Flairside manual trans. I also got the Mitsubishi 5 speed manual trans to simplify the install...No adaptor plate between the motor and the trans this way.

It proved to be a reasonable test bed and the performance numbers like 0-60 etc were in our target range, so off we flew to Japan on one of about 5 trips over there to negotiate a deal with Mitsubishi for purchase of the engine...I let the business types negotiate the purchase, I was the technical rep as I was the only one in Ford that had actually installed and engine in a truck.

Our next build was a real Ranger as they were in production, and this build became a bit more difficult as the build activity selected was one that I did not think had the capability and that proved to be true. I would have been better off using my race shop for my racecar... Anyway, we got this vehicle up and running and passed the keys around Ford Management. Thus it became a Go Program! Anyway...that is the back story on the Diesel.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Phil, thanks for sharing this story!!

 

[Texasota]

If the 2019 Ranger is more accurately the 4th generation, then how did this forum end up with the 5G moniker?

 

[Deleted member 1634]

Hi Folks,

This is generally accurate. I was around for the birth of the Ranger through 2002. I was behind the diesel option for Ranger as I found the engine at Mitsubishi...proved not very popular because of cost and the fact GM ruined diesel market with the POS 350cid Diesel. Also they fail to mention the unique feature of the electric Ranger...It had a composite pickup box and tailgate. This is the box I used on the Saleen Rangers that we raced in the SCCA as it saved about 125 lbs. The carbon fiber springs did not last because the springs splintered at the axle attachment..The true parabolic carbon fiber spring worked forever, but when the spring had a flat for axle attachment, the spring started to splinter by the u blots and it was decided to scrap the idea... I tried on the Saleen Trucks to get a carbon fiber spring to work, but resorted to a monoleaf steel spring....

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

The semiskunkworks project was called the HPC Diesel, High Power Compact Diesel. I had a matrix of some 15 different diesel engines, including Renault, Onan, AVCO etc. Listing the plus and minus of each. The Mitsubishi turned out to the the best fit and almost a slip in to the Ranger Engine compartment...I got the first Mitsubishi diesel in 1982 before the Ranger was in production so being skunkworks, We did not want a Ranger prototype for the first build, so we picked an F150 SWB Flairside manual trans. I also got the Mitsubishi 5 speed manual trans to simplify the install...No adaptor plate between the motor and the trans this way.

It proved to be a reasonable test bed and the performance numbers like 0-60 etc were in our target range, so off we flew to Japan on one of about 5 trips over there to negotiate a deal with Mitsubishi for purchase of the engine...I let the business types negotiate the purchase, I was the technical rep as I was the only one in Ford that had actually installed and engine in a truck.

Our next build was a real Ranger as they were in production, and this build became a bit more difficult as the build activity selected was one that I did not think had the capability and that proved to be true. I would have been better off using my race shop for my racecar... Anyway, we got this vehicle up and running and passed the keys around Ford Management. Thus it became a Go Program! Anyway...that is the back story on the Diesel.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

These are the types of stories I love to hear!! Thanks for sharing! And keep them coming!

 

[Rviator]

The widths are not correct. The Ranger is not as wide as an F-150. See the attached graphic I found which shows the previous gen Ranger, an F-150 and the Current Ranger.

 

[RedlandRanger]

The widths are not correct. The Ranger is not as wide as an F-150. See the attached graphic I found which shows the previous gen Ranger, an F-150 and the Current Ranger.

That is a pretty cool photo.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

That is a pretty cool photo.

Hi Folks,

I agree with Rob, very cool picture! I could not fit a F150 in my garage pulling straight in and this confirms why my Ranger fits when an F150 would have caused me skew the F150 into the RV garage to make it fit. And, more importantly I would have to lose 20 lbs to fit by into my shop by the nose of the F150...Sheesh!

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired.

 

[Traneman]

The widths are not correct. The Ranger is not as wide as an F-150. See the attached graphic I found which shows the previous gen Ranger, an F-150 and the Current Ranger.

Could you do a pix of just the new and last gen ranger?

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Could you do a pix of just the new and last gen ranger?

Hi

Um...if the 4G is behind the 5g...maybe only the mirrors would show?

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Traneman]

Hi

Um...if the 4G is behind the 5g...maybe only the mirrors would show?

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

LOL true.

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