1978 Ford Ranger 4x4 - Anticipation

To help get this new forum category jump started, I'll post a few pictures I snapped yesterday of Chris Peterson's 1978 Ranger 4x4 project (Chris is local to me here in the Reno, NV area).

If you didn't catch the article Anticipation, give it a read and you can see where the formal article left off. Chris was awating his EFI 400 from tmeyerinc. Since then he's made a few good advances on his project. Attached are thumbnails showing the 400 installed, his Accusump set-up, remote oil filter, new doors, and new gas tank ready to be installed.

Chris still has yet to finalize the EFI system along with a few other projects including the exhaust system. We'll get him in here to keep you guys posted.

It look like it going to be an awesome truck, very nice.

I love the 78-79 Ford 4X4's. I had 2 Broncos and a step side. I enjoyed them all.

more photos of total rehaul:

















more to come as time allows.

got the doors installed:




and some more engine pictures:



I've had to deal with a bad TFI module (brand new MSD), which I believe also took out the PIP sensor (brand new MSD).

Trying to get the engine to accept a decent A9L efi tune has been fun...especially with the parts goin south so quickly.

I installed an LC-1 with DB gauge to more accurately measure A/F ratio, but the bad PIP means no tuning for the time being.

While removing the distributor to replace the PIP exposed this wonderful sight (this engine only has about a half dozen hours of run time with this distributor):





Oh the joys of quality control/quality assurance.

So, I'm looking at using some of the stock ford distributor parts to orient the shaft and minimize any future wear.

Since this engine has dumps 12" after the collector, I have to do all of my engine work and tuning before 7-8pm (or on weekends), which doesn't leave a whole hellofa lotta time.

I'll update as conditions change.

By looking at the dizzy it looks as if the clearence was not set right with the brass gear. Did you measure it after installing the gear. I am not quite sure on the 400's but on the 302's and 351's require a distance of 3.996 to 4.005 from face of gear to face of dizzy.

What is seen in the pictures is what I received from the machine shop...I had nothing to do with the engine construction. The amount of wear shown is from ~4-6 hours of run time.

Use an OEM dist from a EFI 460 with a steel gear.

yeah, i know about the motorcraft dizzy, but I didn't want to shell out another $170 when I have a distributor that will work (I clearanced the stock 5.0 spacer and installed on the MSD shaft). Before the measurement to the gear bottom was ~4.06", now it's about ~3.94".

update...update...update



the truck does sorta well in the snow...except the engine spins the tires way too easily (4wd does better, but with no lockers, it's too easy to spin two tires).

the exhaust is much quieter with the pipe than with open headers (what?...what?...can't hear ya)

fixed oil pan leak and maybe fixed the intake adapter leak.

to do's:

* minor tuning, but the engine runs rather well (much better than carbed).
* replace the rear springs with alcans to raise the rear 3".
* swap from dana 44 5lug for 8lug and replace the rear 9" with a dana 60/70
* 35"/37" tires & wheels
* canback softop
* shocks

other than that, i'm gonna enjoy the truck.