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Over the last week or so I painted my fender flares and wrapped my sub enclosure with black vinyl. It was my first time attempting to do vinyl wrapped extruded graphics. What do you guys think of the extruded "4 x 4" logo on my speaker box?
Today I hydrodipped the lid of my center console. Now that I've got the hang of it, I plan on doing the radio surround and the instrument cluster. What do y'all think of my hydro dipping?
It looks like you did a fine job.
Many would object to using the flag in a high wear location.
It's kind of like sewing the flag onto the seat of your pants or making mud flaps out of the American flag.
I get the freedom of speech angle so we needn't go there.
Tons of kits available. A quick look online produced lots of of them.
Aside from care and cleanliness during the process (which is too much for some hobbyists) I'd bet the biggest challenge would be obtaining a vessel for the water large enough for the emersion of the part.
I watched a 3 minute video which was most informative.
Besides prep, priming and painting a base color, you need to buy a pattern, buy activator and obtain the watertight vessel mentioned above.
All in -sandpaper, paint, primer, pattern, activator, tank, (clear coat?)- I'd bet ~$75.
Cut down a Sub Box to fit behind the seats of a 2 door Cab, and still have some rearward movement in the seats.
No-Name Sub Enclosure, cut it up to fit behind the seats in a Standard 2-door Cab.
Still needs some Felt added as a cover and a little sanding but it fits for now.
Added Tweeters to the Windshield Pillars, the first part of my Audio upgrades.
Getting the truck ready to send to a pro for a complete new Audio System based on the Alpine iLX 207 Head Unit.
Wanted Apple Car Play and was told this IS the Unit to have, hoping for the best.
The Tweeters are the first step, pulled the Radio and cleaned up the area, still to go over the interior but clean it one day, dirty the next, one of the problems living in SoCal.
Here is the new Radio Bezel.
The electrics that used be mounted in the Bezel will be mounted under the HVAC Control Panel.
I am building a new panel to fit in around the Cubby area.
Cubby will go too.
Been cut for the Double Din, molded and painted, then Hydrographics were applied !
There are matching door section too, they wound be put in place until the Power Windows are installed.
It looks like you did a fine job.
Many would object to using the flag in a high wear location.
It's kind of like sewing the flag onto the seat of your pants or making mud flaps out of the American flag.
I get the freedom of speech angle so we needn't go there.
I never thought of it that way. It wasn't meant to be disrespectful, quite the opposite in fact- it is to show my patriotism There is a flip up arm rest (not pictured) that installs just above the piece that is hydro-dipped. The Stars and Stripes won't serve as an arm rest. Hopefully that settles any potential misinterpretations. However, I know you can't please everyone. Thank you @Georgeandkira for pointing that out.
I didn't find it to be difficult at all, it's rather easy to be honest. I watched a couple of "How to hydro-dip" videos on YouTube. I think the key is in the prep. Thorough cleaning, etc. I think my piece turned out pretty good, and that was the first time I had ever hydro-dipped anything.
As for cost, the film*** and activator were ~$20 each on Amazon. I got a can of flat white paint+primer and a can of semi-gloss clear coat for ~ $15 @Home Depot. I had the other things like sandpaper, masking tape, and large rubbermaid storage bin. So @Georgeandkira estimate of $75 is accurate.
***For $20 I got enough film to do my radio bezel, center console, and trim piece around the interior door handles.
@Scrambler82 Looking good! I like what you did with the sub enclosure. I have an identical box to yours, but I hate the way it looks so store-bought, so one-size-fits-all. The mod you made makes it look custom built. I might try that on mine. I just added tweeters too. I think they sound better when mounted like yours. I was worried that my dogs would knock them down, so I did a flush mount.
@Scrambler82 Looking good! I like what you did with the sub enclosure. I have an identical box to yours, but I hate the way it looks so store-bought, so one-size-fits-all. The mod you made makes it look custom built. I might try that on mine. I just added tweeters too. I think they sound better when mounted like yours. I was worried that my dogs would knock them down, so I did a flush mount.
When I saw your Tweeter install, I thought that would have been a good way to mount my Tweeters, I guess the grass is always greener in the other Ranger.
Yours look clean, out of the way and if they sound good... then its a Bingo-Bango... it works.
I don't have a large dog so I'm not worried there, I just remember my Wife's Passat, the system was a Fenton, it had a great sound. The thing that popped out to me was the Tweeters, they were mounted on the dash next to the windshield and they put out some nice sounds. That is the I decided I wanted Tweeters and I wanted them on the dash... somewhere. The only place I liked the lo of them was the windshield pillars and once the system is in place I can talk about the sound.
The Enclosure, two things... I used a table saw to keep the cut even and smoother than a Circular Saw, AND don't rip rah pics out or apart once you have cut the notch, the piece cut out from the notch can be flipped to fit back in place, after the covering has been cleaned off.
OK three things, make sure you cut the notched/stepped area low enough, mine could have been cut another three quarters of or an inch for a better fit under that lip.
The volume I was looking for was a max of 0.60 cu. ft., I think after cutting the notch and reducing the depth, I have approximately 0.68 or 0.70 Cu. ft.. I don't know if that matters any but I'm thinking it won't.
I'm on to the '06 mirrors todays, hopefully, and when the new Sub arrives I can ship the rig off to the Audio Shop for full upgrade to my music needs.
Ltr
Last edited by Scrambler82; 02-22-2020 at 09:03 AM.
The couple of times that I've replaced my wires I felt a difference. I always replace my plugs at the same time. Did you put new plugs in?
I had just replaced the plugs less than 40 miles ago but did not have the wires, I know should have waited but. Nothing like doing things twice right :)
Sadly I didn't take any photos, but I finally tackled my leaky transfer case rear output seal and rear diff pinion seals today. A few things I learned along the way:
1- be careful what you order from cobra transmission. They had some decent prices on bw1354 rebuild kits and such, but the rear output seal they included was chinese garbage. Wasn't rigid enough, driveline vibes ate it up within days and I had a black rubber+atf ooze leaking at the pinion.
2- the bw1354 has had an atf change every thousand miles since I rebuilt it, this was the third change. Even though the fluid only saw 1k miles and the new parts have definitely worn in by now, the fluid was quite dirty. I can get regular dex/merc at napa for $3 and pennies a quart, it seems like a 10k oci would be very beneficial to these transfer cases. Just my opinion
3-I have picked up a couple tools for working on the ranger, and so far the most helpful one has been the flange installer tool otc 205-495. It's like $25-$50 used and it's basically a threaded rod that screws onto the output shaft where the pinion nut would go. With a little retrofitting and some properly sized PVC end caps, it can be used as a seal installer as well. It fits the output shaft for the front and rear of the transfer case and the rear diff pinion. It also gets those tight new flanges on without having to beat the bearings to death with a hammer. The rear of the bw1354 has a bearing whose race is the magnesium case's tail housing and which is retained by a snap ring. Guess how easy it is to smash that bugger right out while trying to beat a new flange onto the shaft.
Here's something I actually did take photos of, the front end tear down. New suspension and steering gear went in a few weeks ago, and she drives as straight as any ranger can lol.
Got the motor almost in. It was getting dark, and I didn't want to pinch any wires. I already have to replace one connector, due to the new engine remover's overexuberence. For the record, it's a 2.5 going into where a 2.3 used to reside.
Today I ordered a white, 50" inch curved light bar, wire harness (that includes a wireless fob w/ flash & strobe- that oughta' be fun!), and door frame/upper windshield mounts. I couldn't believe it, but the stinking mounts cost just as much as the light bar itself! Other trucks seem to have a plethora of options, however we seem to suffer from Ranger-racism, as there was only 1 novel design available on both Amazon and eBay. Anyway, even with Amazon prime I won't be getting my new toys until Mar 25, apparently due to slow downs associated with the Corona virus. Errr! Oh well, as long as it is actually helping to keep people healthy I'm cool with it. Does anyone else feel like we as a country are severely over reacting to this whole covid-19 situation?
I removed the inner fender liner to access and test the vacuum reservoir in the continuing saga of the P0401 code. There were no leaks in the hidden lines to the reservoir, the reservoir and the check valve held. I did recently replace the gas cap but I don't think that would have anything to do with a P0401.
Jim
Does anyone else feel like we as a country are severely over reacting to this whole covid-19 situation?
Yes and no !
I think the medical and the government are taking things to the Nth degree because they don't know what tot do but the media and the people are taking things far beyond where it is needed. Toliet Paper (TP), give me a break, nothing in the Corona Virus Symptoms is there anything about needing extra TP, people are running when doors open where there is TP and cleaning products, WTF People... we are all going through the same thing !
But I think some of the things we are asked to do are for our own good, but just how far this goes is still to be seem.
Wash you hands often, gargle as often as you think is a good idea, if you go somewhere don't touch your face until you have washed you hands AGAIN, too much as risk right now not to do some of the things asked of us !
I got my Audio System installed but haven't had time to program things or take more pictures.
It looks good and has a good sound, but hoping it will sound better with S-XM Radio in initialized.
I did my first oil change on my ranger! (I just got it in January.) I must say, that was probably the easiest oil change I have ever done. I also got a trailer hitch installed. My particular hitch was on sale so I was able to get it for $120 including installation and everything. While I probably won't ever tow anything with my spectacular 1300lb towing capacity, it is going to be super nice for using bike racks, cargo racks, etc.
The Red Ranger runs. There are two connectors that I still cannot figure out. Where the front 02 sensor hooks into, and a black one by the transmission. I looked again today, I did not get the connector inside the bell housing when I put the trans back in. This is irritating. Finding a 96 ish 2.3 ranger in the junkyard so I can look is proving difficult.
02-13-2020
