White Rhino - Ranger

[WHITE RHINO]

This build is a continuation of my original build started in 2003 and it has evolved over the years. The original thread at the link below has 326,000 views.
https://bit.ly/37VVnjh

Original first post:
Well I've been getting alot of Pm's with questions about my ranger so i decided to finally post up my build up. It all started off with a $400 88 ranger STX regular cab long bed. I lifted it 6"s upgraded the axles a little then i met some new buddys that all have crawlers. So i decided to ditch the TTB front for a HP full width Dana 44. I bought a 44 off of craigslist for $200 with all the cast wedges on it. I was going to run them with stock radius arms, bushings, and coils but i decided i wanted to flex a lot more than that. I Plated the stock arms grinded them down so i could sleave them with 2" 1/4 wall DOM extended them around a foot and got currie HD johnny joints. made the cross member/t-case skid in a few hours got pre-bent Blue torch 1 3/4 DOM shock hoops welded all that crap on. I got a great deal on 14" 2.0 fox air shocks so i was pretty much ready to flex. I scored a massive deal on 8 lug outers/ 5.13's/detroit/ recentered H1 double beadlocks/6 38" TSL radials half tread/high steer/ heimed dom tierod/ Eaton 14 bolt rear end with disk brake conversion with 5.13s and lincoln locked all for around $1200 I decided to stick with leafs in the rear and picked up some 63" chevys for $50 and inboarded them and made some shackles.




Update As of 6/23/2020:




Current Specs:

88 Reg Cab Ranger Frame
90 Extendo Cab
2.9 Liter V-6 (fancy)
Rear radiator
Mitu Trans 5-speed
Stubler Doubler BW1350-1354




Front End:

88 High Pinion King Pin 60, 5.13's, Welded, Plated Knuckles, HighSteer, 35 Spline Yukons with Yukon Hubs
3 Link up front (2" .25wall DOM with 1.25" Heims for links and panhard.
2.5" SAW Airshocks with Tri-Nitrate Coated Shafts
PSC Full hydro. Double ended ram, P Pump



Rear End:

63" Chevy Springs, Redrilled
Eaton H072 with Discs. Shaved/Trussed/Modified housing, welded, 5.14s


Cage/Tube Work:

Full Exo around Cab, all of the tubing is 1.75" .120wall DOM.



Wheels/Tires:

44" Pitbull Rockers
Performace Cryogenics Recentered H1 Wheels, Trailworthy Fab PVC Inserts









the beginning:

the mud days:

went to the early 90's front clip:

Then 1 Tons 44" Pitbulls etc.

 

[WHITE RHINO]

Recent 2020 Updates:

After about 7 years of sitting in my friends field the old Ranger needed some love. I moved to Texas in 2019 and finally had it shipped out. My buddy Mario cleaned her up for me and added the front clip.

So I was tired of the exhaust poisoning me from the holes I cut in the floor for the cab swap, on a regular cab frame. I got a little happy with the sawzall, but my plan is not to basically raise the floor boards in the open areas below, to make it easier to work on. This will also set me up for either flat bellying or an inevitable V8/Atlas combo in the future. I'll also be redoing the janky shifters while I am at it.

The interior has always been annoying to me as I used to work on everyone else's crap and never my own so I didn't bother doing anything inside. My plan was to start at the back of the cab and work my way forward. Access panels will be added in the shifter area and also by the top t-case support. The t-case shifters have always been a pain and the front case was usually stuck in low due to the stock shifter set up. Once all of this is done, I'll work on making a dash and after that working on the wiring. I picked up a 12voltguy panel on FB marketplace a few months back, but I am very colorblind so we will see how it goes.

Cut out the old rusty dash tube and cleaned it up. Plated each side of the cab and remounted it.

welded the cab to the cage because fuck it.

Test drive was successful although drive flanges on concrete suck

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[WHITE RHINO]

The clean up continues:

Lighting and sound deadening added

The front axle was in decent shape, but I pulled it apart to rebuild. No cracks or sign of any stress on the plated knuckles

Decided to paint the cab and wheels:

 

[Gravy]

Following this build for awhile. Glad it's still going.

 

[bobbywalter]

note.....this build is based on the best thing that ever happened to the known universe. everything else is for the gheys. except pro.

 

[WHITE RHINO]

note.....this build is based on the best thing that ever happened to the known universe. everything else is for the gheys. except pro.

Thank you sir

 

[WHITE RHINO]

Paint and clean up is pretty much done. I just need to paint the cage/tubing.

 

[speed bump]

I really enjoyed watching this build. Glad it made it over here

 

[rattle_snake]

Dope.

 

[FordTuff4x4]

'Murica

Looks killer! Great job breathing new life into this build.

 

[WHITE RHINO]

Thanks guys

 

[Proeliator]

Whoa! Talk about a blast from the past. Enjoyed seeing this post and the updates, keep on keepin' on

 

[WHITE RHINO]

A few updates as I continue to clean the ol' ranger up.

Cut out the janky exhaust and made a new set up

The flywheel stripped some teeth off so I pulled transmission and t cases. Resealed, painted and reinstalled. New clutch, flywheel, clutch master and slave as well. Cleaned up the inside of frame and painted everything including bottom side of new floor boards.

The front tube work has always been missing triangulation and I was worried that the pan hard would rip off at some point so I threw some new tube up front.

While I was at that, I added a few gussets

The winch plate was super bent from all the suck down action over the years. It shouldn't bend anymore.

Next up is limiting straps and bumps stops. Probably will just do poly bumps as I cant justify air bumps at the moment. After that I need to paint all the tubing.

 

[Loki89t]

Ranger is looking good, always one of my favourite builds. Good to see it still around.

 

[WHITE RHINO]

Thanks man. More updates

 

[Sterlingfire]

Looking great man!

 

[WHITE RHINO]

Thanks man. The ol' rainja deserves some clean up

 

[Snowracer]

all the updates look great and love that you still have this rig and keep making it better

 

[WHITE RHINO]

A few updates


Rear skins are done:

Tailgate is done:

Cage is fully painted now:

 

[KrustyTJ]

Pretty sick ranger cool to see made it over here.

 

[rattle_snake]

Nice work on fold down tailgate/ beer support platform.

 

[WHITE RHINO]

Outside for Halloween

Center console

Spaceship Dash is complete

 

[WHITE RHINO]

Lost my throttle body cover so I made a new one

 

[WHITE RHINO]

iphone photoshoot

 

[Dirtyjed]

Bump for the gheyst rig ever built

 

[WHITE RHINO]

Remounted the steering pump, as the mount has always flexed, and caused belt squeal. It works way better now, and no more noise.

 

[WHITE RHINO]

2.9 for life! Pulled the upper intake, cleaned throttle body and manifold thoroughly. New sensors all around. Then I pulled the fuel manifold and injectors, cleaned the manifold, and replaced the injectors. While I was at it I replaced both valve cover seals and did some painting. It runs 1000% better now.