Jason's wife's Ranger (2nd Phase) :)

[Mirage775]

those are really sharp wheels! i like that they do not have the fake beadlocks!

Agree about both! I hate those fake beadlocks that are on my current Method Racing wheels... Water would also not drain at all, it would love a little puddle between the "beadlock" and the rest of the wheel...

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[Mirage775]

Updated pic from last night. It looks like the start of a dragster, LOL!

Also, took a pic of the new 285 A/T's

 

[Mirage775]

It was almost 115* w/heat index today and I was trying to let it cool down before I started, but over the last 4 hours, I sweat my ass off, just like the 8.5 hours at work today... :/

Anyway, about 5PM this afternoon, I decided to go ahead and lift the front. The disassembly was super quick, but the installing of the RC 2.5" lift was a PITA!

Here are some random pics:

Both side sway bar links popped out during this process... Getting them back in was a nightmare....

I hope it settles some, because right now, it's roughly 39" from floor to bottom of the fender flare lip on all 4 corners... I do have some 1" rear blocks coming Monday, hopefully, that I'll most likely have to install.

I bounced it a few times, then back it out of the garage and bounced it some more and it looks like it settled a little bit, but hard to tell in the dark?

So, we're debating on keeping the fender flares on or removing them and adding something different? I sort of liked these when it was lowered, it gave it the whole wide-body look, but I think they're too much for the lifted life? Removing them, rather the nut they are mounted too, is not going to be fun...

The EGR Baseline ones we ordered the other night, look almost like these Air Design ones and they're textured Black and she doesn't like them... I like the Bushwacker OE-Style Flares, but man are they proud of them! They're so damn expensive for what they are...

I can also now say, that with this small lift, it's even a little bit of a jump for me to get in and out of the cab now, LOL! I have those steps, but after this, the wife will definitely need them! Plan to install them Monday or Tuesday?

I'm still taller than the highest point at the roof, so maybe after the tires and 1" rear lift, it'll fit into our house garage fine?

More changes coming to it, soon:

Put the OEM Intercooler back in
Put the OEM Air Cleaner box/filter back in
Remove the aluminum engine cover
Remove my Air Design Fender Vents
Install Lariat Black Appearance Pkg Fender Vents
Remove my Raptor Grille/Lights
Install Lariat Black Appearance Pkg Grille w/o lights
Install Custom Grey FX2 bed decals
Install Hood Stripes
Install Side Body Stripes (maybe)?
I'd like to put the crash bars back in, but unsure if the new setup will let me do so?

I'm pretty sure she's going to like it raised up over the lowered phase.

 

[Mirage775]

We decided that the Bushwacker OE-Style Flares would look the best, so we ordered them

 

[Mirage775]

Been working so much on-call this weekend, I haven't had a chance to upload this pic...

Eibach 1" lift blocks came in yesterday, so I may try to install them within the next 2 days? Wheels and tires are going to have to wait till the weekend, as I ordered 4 new TPMS sensors this morning, from American Trucks. I hope to get everything installed by next weekend.

Hopefully, tomorrow, I'll get the new power steps installed and attempt to do some other stuff to it. Shouldn't be too long, before it'll be finished? This is much easier than lowering it, LOL!

 

[Mirage775]

Been raining most of the day, but I started working on the ole Ranger about 12:30 today. Go Rhino boards, rather the wiring, took the majority of the afternoon to install...

Motors and boards installed.

Had to tear the interior apart to tackle the wiring....

Finally got them finished and working. These stupid magnets that you have to stick on the door and jambs was pissing me off, but it all works.

Demo of Steps working as they should

It came with 4 LED lights too, so installed those as well.

I removed the Roush CAI, the aFe Power Big Mouth Snorkel and the Aluminum Engine Cover in order to put the OEM ones back on. I need to find another rare Lariat Engine Cover??

I bought one of those items that hitmen use to strangle people, but used it on the sticky fender flare mounts, to make removal much easier!

Been 2 years since I've seen this spot! Ranger looks completely different now, LOL! We should've bought an FX4 to begin with....

Oh, our custom FX2 bedside decals showed up yesterday. She wanted Gray accents/stripes

 

[Mirage775]

Took the Ranger for a shakedown drive this morning and after about 10-15 miles, the suspension settled and is now sitting perfectly even. But, I believe I'm going to lift the back an additional 1" for a slight rake.

It's so filthy!

Also, getting new wheels, tires and TPM sensors installed this coming Saturday It should look a lot better and ride a little smoother too!

I need to sell all the suspension and body panels!

 

[Mirage775]

Got all the adhesive off from all the Air Design panels and now I have purple spots, where I had to put Adhesion Promoter on, in order from the flares to stick better... Bunch of people are saying different things, but since I have a clay bar and spray, I'm going to try that... If that doesn't work, I'll order some 3M Adhesion Remover?

 

[Doc]

Got all the adhesive off from all the Air Design panels and now I have purple spots, where I had to put Adhesion Promoter on, in order from the flares to stick better... Bunch of people are saying different things, but since I have a clay bar and spray, I'm going to try that... If that doesn't work, I'll order some 3M Adhesion Remover?

Try WD-40, It’s a good adhesive remover, if not try lacquer thinner .

 

[9zero1790]

goof off is good at killing the sticky left on spots

 

[Mirage775]

goof off is good at killing the sticky left on spots

No, that's not what it was. I took a pic, but unsure if you can see it on camera? It's the liquid adhesion promoter, that I had to apply before installing some the Air Design panels.

I decided to use my Adam's Swirl Killer Polisher, Blue Pad, and Compound. It worked for the most part, but I might have to do some touch up next weekend.

After all that cutting and buffing, I decided to finally fix the bedcover (had the parts for over a year, but never got around to fixing it).

I also removed the Air Design Fender Vents and installed the Eibach 1" Blocks.

Drove it around the neighborhood to see if it settled anymore, then stuck it in the house garage. Well, the antenna's close to hitting the garage door draw bar... If my wife stays off centered before pulling into the garage, she'll miss it, but I might modify the roof antenna for the hell of it!

So, these are the stripes we're thinking about buying:

Decals are pricey for what they are, but we believe they'll look good with the new wheels?

 

[Mirage775]

This morning, before the sun came up, I decided to get outside and work on the truck before it got super hot... Well, let's just say, it was already hot AF at 6am...

Bushwacker OE-Style Fender Flares came in yesterday, so I installed them first thing today. I think they provide 1.5" coverage?

Next, I bought a Lariat Black Appearance Pkg Grille from @BettaRanga and installed it this morning too.

Lastly for today, I gave her a much needed wash/detailing and removed the air-dam off the bumper, as well as the Putco Lower Grille Insert. I need to find an FX2/4 Skid Plate...

I ordered all the Stripe Kits last night, that I posted the other day, in Avery Wet Install, Charcoal Metallic, hoping it'll match the wheels?

This morning, she decided she wanted grille and tailgate letters, so I ordered those, also in Avery Wet Install, but in Blossom.

Lariat Fender Vents are supposed to be here today, so if they actually show up, I'll take care of that! And tomorrow morning, new tires are getting installed! Then, I'll need to get it ready for an alignment within a couple of weeks!

This has been so much easier than the lowering phase was and I should've just bought a 4x4 to begin with...

I'll update the pics tomorrow, with the new wheels/tires

 

[Hickesy]

Jeez, you're a busy man

 

[Mirage775]

Jeez, you're a busy man

Yes, we're fortunate enough not to have children, except the 4 legged furry ones, so I'm usually always busy with something... There's so much stuff I want to do, I just either don't have the time or I forget about it... Anyway, I'm trying to finish her truck, cause she will be off medical leave soon and have to start driving it again. It'll be done in a few weeks

 

[sal33n]

I've already removed the Pedal Commander and re-tuned it to 87, instead of 93, as she doesn't "need" the performance I liked!


I removed the Roush CAI, the aFe Power Big Mouth Snorkel and the Aluminum Engine Cover in order to put the OEM ones back on.

I'm curious, why bother removing the tune, Pedal commander, CAI, etc.? Seems like extra work for nothing. If she doesn't "need" the performance then just keep her pedal commander in a lower eco setting.

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