death of the Ranger

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v8ranger
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death of the Ranger

Post by v8ranger »

I saw in my paper yesterday that they have now stopped making the Ranger as of 12/16/2011.. Its the end of an eara... Its to bad they never changed the looks of the Ranger much over the last several years... I think thats what killed it...
1986 Ranger with 1990 5.0 HO roller motor
Ported GT-40 heads
Duel plane air gap intake with 750cfm Holly
Paxton SN93 Supercharger with 3 1/2" pulley.
8 to 9psi of boost??
T-5 trans
Large tube shorty headers
Stock posi rear end
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cgrey8
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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by cgrey8 »

There's a multitude of things that killed it. But this has been in the works since 2009. In fact, back in 2007, it was said that 2009 would be the last year of the Ranger, but when prices of gas shot up, it was believed the Ranger would make a come-back over the F150. That limped production along a few more years, but it wasn't enough to save it. Instead what happened is the F150 just got more fuel efficient. You can get F150s with more power, more space, and better fuel economy than the V6 Rangers.

Why couldn't they have done the same things they did with the F150 to the Ranger? No reason. But they've been starving the Ranger of "new stuff" for years and basically giving it no respect. If they had any desire to make the Ranger respectable, you'd have factory V8 versions as well as SVT versions of the Ranger like Chevy and Dodge have done with their S-series and Dakota. Dodge made a 5.9L R/T Dakota from the factory. But Ford was, for some dumb reason, never willing to do anything that would mess with the sales of their precious F150.

Add to that Ford absolutely refused to make a Crew Cab Ranger here in the states. Both Toyota and Dodge make Crew Cab versions of their small trucks, but not Ford. But they make them for Mexico. Here's a 2012 Crew Cab Ranger:
Image

The Ranger, fortunately, isn't dieing completely. It'll be quite alive in other countries around the world. It just won't be here. But if Toyota, Chevy, and Ram start kicking Ford too hard, it'll be back. But it'll probably never be a Twin Cities made vehicle ever again. My guess is Ford will be gradually shutting down more and more factories across the US. And building more and more in Right-to-Work states and in Mexico to get away from the Unions. But due to labor laws, they cannot "replace" a factory in a union state with another somewhere else with the explicit intention of transitioning from one to the other. For that to happen, a fair amount of time must pass between the building on one plant and the closing of another. If the Ranger does come back to the US, my guess is it'll be Mexican made, at least for a while.
...Always Somethin'

89 Ranger Supercab, 331, ported GT40p heads w/1.6RRs, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, ported Explorer lower, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', 8.8" rear w/3.27s, Powertrax Locker, A9L w/Moates QuarterHorse, Innovate LC-1, James Duff traction bars, iDelta DC Fan controller

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plowboy34
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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by plowboy34 »

cgrey is correct, the only thing that killed the Ranger here in the US is the simple fact Ford did not want it to outsell the F-150. In my opinion they cut off there own foot to spite there face. The Ranger sells like crazy in other countries where they make the crew cab. My thought has always been if the Ranger would be the #1 selling vehicle why would Ford care which one it was as long as it was a Ford. Also there is no way another vehicle will ever be the #1 seller as long as the F-150 has been. It's a record that will stand a long long time if not forever. Ford lost multi millions of $$$$$ in my opinion just to keep there #1 status......just crazy in my opinion..... :?: :?:
Dirt is for Farming....Asphalt is for Racing

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cgrey8
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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by cgrey8 »

Here's an article about it:
What the end of the Ford Ranger says about working in America

From the article...Ford is expected to sell more Rangers in it's final year than Mustangs, yet the Ranger needs to be discontinued.
...Always Somethin'

89 Ranger Supercab, 331, ported GT40p heads w/1.6RRs, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, ported Explorer lower, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', 8.8" rear w/3.27s, Powertrax Locker, A9L w/Moates QuarterHorse, Innovate LC-1, James Duff traction bars, iDelta DC Fan controller

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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by v8ranger »

Now that crew is sharp.. If they would sell that here I think it would sell like hot cakes... If they dropped a V8 in that it would make it even better, or that other new eco boost engine and that truck would sell fast.. At least I think it would....
1986 Ranger with 1990 5.0 HO roller motor
Ported GT-40 heads
Duel plane air gap intake with 750cfm Holly
Paxton SN93 Supercharger with 3 1/2" pulley.
8 to 9psi of boost??
T-5 trans
Large tube shorty headers
Stock posi rear end
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carvinmark
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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by carvinmark »

I just found this on Face book, not sure about this one.

321198_10150473351458824_66789443823_10584515_626317019_n[1].jpg
321198_10150473351458824_66789443823_10584515_626317019_n[1].jpg (16.61 KiB) Viewed 9457 times
88 Ranger short bed, 5.0 HO, T5, 9", My driver, Thanks guys for your help
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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by cgrey8 »

The new turbo charged Ecoboost V6 is the "upgrade" engine in the F150. It literally is an upgrade from the V8 because it increases both power and fuel economy. And yeah, that's the engine I'd want to see put into a Ranger even if it is a V6. The exhaust comes out the center of the engine since the air goes in where the exhaust normally comes out on traditional engines. They did that so they could mount the turbo(s) in the valley of the engine to be water cooled. Very nice design...

As for the Ranger-Stang, people have been doing that for years. But it's definitely a custom thing...nothing Ford or SVT did. I remember back in the early 90s when people used to put Camaro front ends on trucks to make them look like El Caminos. I think they used to call them El Camaros.
...Always Somethin'

89 Ranger Supercab, 331, ported GT40p heads w/1.6RRs, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, ported Explorer lower, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', 8.8" rear w/3.27s, Powertrax Locker, A9L w/Moates QuarterHorse, Innovate LC-1, James Duff traction bars, iDelta DC Fan controller

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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by v8ranger »

cgrey8 wrote: The exhaust comes out the center of the engine since the air goes in where the exhaust normally comes out on traditional engines. They did that so they could mount the turbo(s) in the valley of the engine to be water cooled. Very nice design..
Really? I need to check one of them motors out.. Now you have me intrigued.... I love learning about stuff...
Ya, I cant say I like the looks of the Ranger/mustang. I have never seen one, or even the El camaro...
1986 Ranger with 1990 5.0 HO roller motor
Ported GT-40 heads
Duel plane air gap intake with 750cfm Holly
Paxton SN93 Supercharger with 3 1/2" pulley.
8 to 9psi of boost??
T-5 trans
Large tube shorty headers
Stock posi rear end
cjcnomor4
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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by cjcnomor4 »

The EcoBoost 3.5 has the turbos mounted in the exhaust manifolds and is a typical intake in the valley/exhaust on the outside 'V' configuration. It is a blast to drive. Hard to believe its a V6.The new 6.7 diesel flows the heads backwards. Intake air comes in from the outside and exhaust leaves into valley. The turbo is mounted in the valley. BMW uses the same setup in the M series X6 for their twin turbo V8.
95 2wd shortbed styleside with a 98 mountaineer 5.0
ported GT-40P heads, E-303 cam, Trick Flow Street Heat intake, 1.7 rollers, 24lb injs,155lph in-tank pump, built AOD, 2800 converter, Torque Monster headers, dropped 3/4 on 98 Cobra wheels. Eternal work in progress.
94 Ranger XLT b. 6/10/94 d.3/28/11 300,842 miles RIP
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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by cgrey8 »

Hmm, I could've sworn the Ecoboost V6 was valley-mounted turbos. I guess not...you'd know far better than I.
...Always Somethin'

89 Ranger Supercab, 331, ported GT40p heads w/1.6RRs, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, ported Explorer lower, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', 8.8" rear w/3.27s, Powertrax Locker, A9L w/Moates QuarterHorse, Innovate LC-1, James Duff traction bars, iDelta DC Fan controller

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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by cjcnomor4 »

95 2wd shortbed styleside with a 98 mountaineer 5.0
ported GT-40P heads, E-303 cam, Trick Flow Street Heat intake, 1.7 rollers, 24lb injs,155lph in-tank pump, built AOD, 2800 converter, Torque Monster headers, dropped 3/4 on 98 Cobra wheels. Eternal work in progress.
94 Ranger XLT b. 6/10/94 d.3/28/11 300,842 miles RIP
06 Fusion SEL
11 F150 FX2 SCrew 5.0 Coyote, Custom SCT X3 tune, Roush CAI
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cgrey8
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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by cgrey8 »

Very nice.

The turbos are water cooled though aren't they?
...Always Somethin'

89 Ranger Supercab, 331, ported GT40p heads w/1.6RRs, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, ported Explorer lower, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', 8.8" rear w/3.27s, Powertrax Locker, A9L w/Moates QuarterHorse, Innovate LC-1, James Duff traction bars, iDelta DC Fan controller

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cjcnomor4
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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by cjcnomor4 »

Yep. Through the magic of physics, coolant circulates around the center bearings when the engine is off. Coolant will heat rapidly and rise up the coolant tube allowing cooler coolant to flow in and continue cooling the bearings after shutdown. No idling in the driveway for a minute or two to cool things down. "Thermal Siphoning".If you havent already, google "Ecoboost torture test" and see what they put poor old 448AA through.
95 2wd shortbed styleside with a 98 mountaineer 5.0
ported GT-40P heads, E-303 cam, Trick Flow Street Heat intake, 1.7 rollers, 24lb injs,155lph in-tank pump, built AOD, 2800 converter, Torque Monster headers, dropped 3/4 on 98 Cobra wheels. Eternal work in progress.
94 Ranger XLT b. 6/10/94 d.3/28/11 300,842 miles RIP
06 Fusion SEL
11 F150 FX2 SCrew 5.0 Coyote, Custom SCT X3 tune, Roush CAI
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cgrey8
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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by cgrey8 »

I remember reading the early torture tests of the EcoBoost engines. I vaguely remember something like running the engines WOT for something like 9 hours straight and on a tear-down after that, they found no discernible wear or degradation.
...Always Somethin'

89 Ranger Supercab, 331, ported GT40p heads w/1.6RRs, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, ported Explorer lower, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', 8.8" rear w/3.27s, Powertrax Locker, A9L w/Moates QuarterHorse, Innovate LC-1, James Duff traction bars, iDelta DC Fan controller

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Re: death of the Ranger

Post by MalcolmV8 »

Fords refusal to put out a crew cab in the States year after year is why I sold mine for a toyota.
92 302 Ranger - sold
94 302 Ranger AWD - sold
07 BMW 335xi - tuned, boost turned up, E85 - sold
04 911 TT - to many mods to list. Over 600 All Wheel HP on pump gas - sold
2015 Coyote - daily driver
03 Cobra - 2.3 TVS on a built 12:1 CR motor with ported heads, cams, long tubes etc.
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