Project Mini me

[Mackadocious916]

Had to use a spring compressorr to get it in..

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Passenger side rear done...

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Didn't realize all the after pics were so shady...

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I realized earlier all my calculations were off. I thought stock tire size was 29", but it really was 205/75/15 which is really 27" so with 4.88s stock, I may need lower gearing than 5.13 with 32/33s to keep speedo right like the 5.38 or 5.6xs... we'll see.

 

[Mackadocious916]

Back at it yesterday....

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This time ifs... pretty bald tire...

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My front diff is greasy, need to get to the bottom of if it's an oil pan or timing cover leak...

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Making a mess....

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More carnage....

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Much more difficult getting the springs back in after spacer on top in the front. One of the spring compressors exploded into my left index finge, but other than being stiff no other injury....

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Of course I got it the next try, but I had to angle grind through the threads of the spring compressor and sacrifice em to get it to work. Ifs spring much stiffer to compress. The points of the compressor you put a socket or wrench on were behind the spring, so I had to cut it apart. I will buy another spring compressor at harbor freight today, to likely sacrifice in the same fashion. I can see another way of making it work except dropping lower a arms and trying to floor jack them back up into place, which sounds rough....But I got this biotch in...

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Bought two of these at AutoZone so the front struts would be new like the back shocks...

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[Mackadocious916]

Got the front right wheel in loose. Still gotta do the under hood strut top part but ran out of time/daylight...

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Tried to camouflage the undone pass side front. Need more spring compressors...

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The only decent night pic/after

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So I still need to do passenger side, driver strut top bolts, and alignment, if price is right may re balance wheels.

 

[Mackadocious916]

This was how I cut the spring compressors...

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The front tire was flat and needs air so I had to leave the jack there for now, but ran out of time. Still gotta do struts bolt on top of wheel well, but due to extreme camber -after lift - gotta use camber bolts or notch the struts before it sits right, but mostly done minus the alignment..

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And I still got the 2" body lift....

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[Mackadocious916]

I had pulled the side moldings but still need to use Stoner products tarminator to get the rest of the goop off.
I also had went to the recyclers and had bought a used ps rack as I thought that was where the leak was coming from. But now I don't know. I'd pit the rack In before the alignment if so. Probly need to steam clean it to see where the leak/ (s) are coming from.

 

[Mackadocious916]

So here is stock

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And where I am at now...
See the camber is way off. I got it in there stock bolts. I got two camber correcting bolts but may need four. Or possibly I slot the upper strut hole and two is sufficient... but then I will need alignment. I bought a used lower mile steering rack, but now that may not be the leak, so would wait until after fiximg that situation, to do the alignment ...

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Also got the trim moldings residue off....

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Took about four hours both sides rubbing by hand....

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[Mackadocious916]

Got the struts all worked out, bolts tightened, and camber bolts in. Still need an alignment but steering rack seems to be leaking , so gotta handle that first.... also body lift...

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Today I want to spray paint the spare black (one day roof rack as well as its chipping in areas), and put back in factory strut and sway bars.

But I got side tracked and pulled the trigger on the jk mid length bumper...$240

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]

 

[Mackadocious916]

I took her for a quick spin and the tires rubbed really bad like a paddle wheel against tin, had to do a five point turn to get her back in the driveway. May need some 32/9.5/15s vs the 11.5 or to install the body lift.....

 

[Mackadocious916]

On a side note, in the spirit of, I went down to buy some Guiness beer for a Black and Tan, went to four places, three were out and the last only had stout not draft. Guess it's a Modello St Patrick's day. Cheers

 

[Mackadocious916]

Got the spare sprayed black yesterday while my girl was bbq'n....

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The hardest part was dismounting the tire, cuz a wasp/hornet/ yellow jacket must have liked the pattern of circles on the spare and made a home out of it. Had to get a few turns and when he came out run...lol

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You can see the roof rack chip areas in this pic.

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The jk bumper...

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Tried to get some teaser pics, but couldn't get the bumper to balance on the jackstands due to the angles...
This'll have to do....wonder if it would fit the rear with stinger removed???

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[Mackadocious916]

Got the sway bar loosely back up in there, but couldn't complete the re- install as I misplaced one of the end link grommets... Also got some of the bumper trimmed.... Teaser bumper pics

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Found this chart on the ranger forum.....

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I really want some gears like this but looks like haven't had em since 06...

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Seems like the most challenging part of this build will be finding low gears (lower than 5.13)
89 2dr 1.3 carb 5spd had 5.62
91 4dr 5spd 5.38
Hard to find!

 

[Mackadocious916]

Spent 3-4 hours grinding and sawzall the font bumper so I could mock up the front bumper. Still some clearance issues, but getting there... The 2" body lift will let me see about final trimming and what hits/ what fits...

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Still got room to move it back but want to body lift her first...

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Once I get her lifted and bumper trimmed and tucked up in position, should look good.

 

[Mackadocious916]

Started the body lift around 1pm yesterday.
Forgot to take pictures until this point....

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Was able to get the front 2 14mm without having to remove the whole head light assembly...

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To this...

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This was about step 42/110ish on the low range off road instructions...

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I tried the do drivers side, then go for passengers sidbut, but it didn't work so had to go after the front to rear method...

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Then to the back...

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Had to put tranny and transfer case in neutra to make sure when done it will shift right...

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The"llow light" of the day was when trying to jack the vehicle body up higher then 2" to get spacer in, the whole truck came up with it, so itt became a pita.. well I had to stack wood on the jack to get the body up high enough, the wood shifted on the jack, and the truck came down and the wood slid off the core support and intoo the fan, then it pushed the AC condenser into the radiator, which then caused a slow constant coolant leak out. Smh.

So all of that will need to be replaced, which sucks, but at that point in time, i was just happy to get the first "puck" in after struggling for a few hours. Tried the side to side method unsuccessfully so then did front 2 then rear 2, then in front of back wheel 2.

All I have to go and do today are in back of front wheel 2 pucks then put it all back together. I will have to fix the coolant, rad, condenser, fan issue another day. (I hope I can just pick n pull the whole assembly)

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First spacer/puck in!!! victory pic... at one point I thought the lift wasn't going to work and I would have to put her all back together stock (the instructions were for a generation earlier model, but pretty much the same)

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This was my set up for doing the rear two passengers side... had to do one side loosely then the drivers, then go back to the other side again for positioning.

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Alot of work for two inches of lift, but needed as the 32s were rubbing too bad and would be un drivable without it. I may be able to go 33s now with some more fender well trimming?

 

[Mackadocious916]

I got the body lift in for the most part...left the grill off until I fix the radiator, condenser fan cover situation... 2" suspension lift 2" body lift...went from 27" stock tires to 32" (could possibly fit 33s) can't wait to see how the bumper will look...

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[kickdeez]

Interesting build. Looks like you're making some good headway. But it seems like a lot of work just to move your truck in and out of your garage. Why not just use some of these: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200430521_200430521 and a come-along?