2004 6.0 NV4500 Tahoe

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Dantheman1540

Dantheman1540

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My truetrac is sitting on front porch

I actually bought something different that was on sale.

4.0, 5speed, 4x4, 117k miles for $1350. It’s a regular cab short bed which is fairly rare to find with the 4.0. My taco is soon to be for sale and this will replace the spot in my fleet for a cheap better truck.

Definitely want a trutrac for the Tahoe still but it’s gonna have to wait.
 

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Tonyrodz

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I actually bought something different that was on sale.

4.0, 5speed, 4x4, 117k miles for $1350. It’s a regular cab short bed which is fairly rare to find with the 4.0. My taco is soon to be for sale and this will replace the spot in my fleet for a cheap better truck.

Definitely want a trutrac for the Tahoe still but it’s gonna have to wait.
Seems too cheap. Everything mechanically checks out ok on it?
 
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Dantheman1540

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Seems too cheap. Everything mechanically checks out ok on it?

Normally I would say yes that’s too good to be true but…. It’s from a neighbor who I’ve bought a lot of stuff from in the past, a 96 ranger, my car hauler trailer, a Kawasaki 4wheeler, and I’m sure some other stuff I’m forgetting. He’s been a family friend forever and he recently retired so all he does is buy and sell junk as a hobby. He picked this truck up for $500 with a bad motor. He got a low mile motor out of an explorer with a one year warranty for $500 and will swap it in for $350. The interior is pretty wrecked in the truck, it’s a two owner and the first guy owned it until 2021 when some kid bought it and ragged it until the motor went. But for what I plan to do with it which is leave it sitting in my yard for 25 days out of each month and then occasionally drive trails with it or pick up parts and lumber, it will work fine. I have a super hardon for these little 93-97 rangers and a RCSB 4.0 5speed 4x4 is kinda the holy grail.

I already bought some Kenda 32” MTs for it and a set of crown Vic steelies so it will not have the wide stance of the current wheels. I hate wide, I prefer tall and skinnies tucked inside the fenders for the most part. The truck is currently straight popped so I got a set of 2019 mustang GT mufflers for free and welded them in line. I’m throwing a basic seal kit at the motor while it’s out (swap won’t be for another week or two). Gonna clean the oil pan out and inspect what I can. Also going to free the header bolts because I’m pretty sure I’m gonna throw a set of $249 long tubes at it, they help me delete the EGR and at $250 it’s cheap as fuh. My buddy has the same headers and no it doesn’t make the 4.0 feel ballsy like an LS but it frees up some valuable engine bay space (the manifolds are hella chunky) and his 4.0 actually sounds pretty damn good.

Future plans are a 2000+ FX4 level 2 Rear end, that particular model has a trutrac style lsd and 4.56 gears. Gear match the front and throw a locker in it as well. A buddy is sending me some manual locking hubs he has in his parts stash, the current ones are always locked. Possibly do a manual shift T case in the future as well. These trucks are such beasts on trails due to their size I can’t wait to take it out.
 

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pwtr02ss

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My brothers friend had a "Splash" with a 4.0 and 5 speed. It had a 4:10 gear, with some kinda post-trac, bolt ons, and a shot. That thing ran like 8.xx on some nitrous (I don't recall the exact time but it was faster than the bolt on 5.0 mustangs at the track). If I'm remembering right, they hit it with 150 a time or two and it held together. This was back in like 97-98. They were still in high school. My brother graduated in 98, I was 11, so that gives you some reference to why I cant remember the exact details

It was red, lowered, and draglites with skinnies on the front and 10s on the back. 2nd dump it'd spin through 3rd gear. I think he sold it and the kid wrecked it. My brother had a 93 sonoma at the time. 4.3, 5 speed, gear. Lowered on some 17" centerlines. Those are some cool trucks back then.
 
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Dantheman1540

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My brothers friend had a "Splash" with a 4.0 and 5 speed. It had a 4:10 gear, with some kinda post-trac, bolt ons, and a shot. That thing ran like 8.xx on some nitrous (I don't recall the exact time but it was faster than the bolt on 5.0 mustangs at the track). If I'm remembering right, they hit it with 150 a time or two and it held together. This was back in like 97-98. They were still in high school. My brother graduated in 98, I was 11, so that gives you some reference to why I cant remember the exact details

It was red, lowered, and draglites with skinnies on the front and 10s on the back. 2nd dump it'd spin through 3rd gear. I think he sold it and the kid wrecked it. My brother had a 93 sonoma at the time. 4.3, 5 speed, gear. Lowered on some 17" centerlines. Those are some cool trucks back then.
Mini trucks get me harder than wood ****** lips.

I never even considered trying to make power with the 4.0 and do not plan to even try. I just want it to run reliably and do 70mph. Running 8s would be crazy in a ranger.

This will be my fourth ranger and the first with the 4.0 OHV engine. I’ve always had the terrible 2.9 or 3.0, they are total trash! I was hoping to find a 2.3 5 speed but they come with awful axles Dana 28 front and 7.5” rear. The 4.0 has the legendary 8.8 and the much better Dana 35 TTB front. I actually like the TTB suspensions a lot since it will never see “big” tires I’m not worried about killing them. Plus the 4.0 OHV only makes 160hp and 220twerks.
 

pwtr02ss

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Mini trucks get me harder than wood ****** lips.

I never even considered trying to make power with the 4.0 and do not plan to even try. I just want it to run reliably and do 70mph. Running 8s would be crazy in a ranger.

This will be my fourth ranger and the first with the 4.0 OHV engine. I’ve always had the terrible 2.9 or 3.0, they are total trash! I was hoping to find a 2.3 5 speed but they come with awful axles Dana 28 front and 7.5” rear. The 4.0 has the legendary 8.8 and the much better Dana 35 TTB front. I actually like the TTB suspensions a lot since it will never see “big” tires I’m not worried about killing them. Plus the 4.0 OHV only makes 160hp and 220twerks.
I too, am I fan of the mini trucks. I haven't driven my s10 in like 2 month. May drive it a day or two next week.
 
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Dantheman1540

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I too, am I fan of the mini trucks. I haven't driven my s10 in like 2 month. May drive it a day or two next week.

I’m very upset that my favorite bird who happens to peck at wood is censored.

You need to get that little dude out and save some mpg. I’ll be thrilled to get 17-20mpg on the cheapest most watered down 87 I can find
 

pwtr02ss

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I’m very upset that my favorite bird who happens to peck at wood is censored.

You need to get that little dude out and save some mpg. I’ll be thrilled to get 17-20mpg on the cheapest most watered down 87 I can find
Having slightly more than 100hp, automatic, and leather is hard to give up on that hour long commute each way.
I still haven't put that damn wide band on either lol
 

Tonyrodz

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Normally I would say yes that’s too good to be true but…. It’s from a neighbor who I’ve bought a lot of stuff from in the past, a 96 ranger, my car hauler trailer, a Kawasaki 4wheeler, and I’m sure some other stuff I’m forgetting. He’s been a family friend forever and he recently retired so all he does is buy and sell junk as a hobby. He picked this truck up for $500 with a bad motor. He got a low mile motor out of an explorer with a one year warranty for $500 and will swap it in for $350. The interior is pretty wrecked in the truck, it’s a two owner and the first guy owned it until 2021 when some kid bought it and ragged it until the motor went. But for what I plan to do with it which is leave it sitting in my yard for 25 days out of each month and then occasionally drive trails with it or pick up parts and lumber, it will work fine. I have a super hardon for these little 93-97 rangers and a RCSB 4.0 5speed 4x4 is kinda the holy grail.

I already bought some Kenda 32” MTs for it and a set of crown Vic steelies so it will not have the wide stance of the current wheels. I hate wide, I prefer tall and skinnies tucked inside the fenders for the most part. The truck is currently straight popped so I got a set of 2019 mustang GT mufflers for free and welded them in line. I’m throwing a basic seal kit at the motor while it’s out (swap won’t be for another week or two). Gonna clean the oil pan out and inspect what I can. Also going to free the header bolts because I’m pretty sure I’m gonna throw a set of $249 long tubes at it, they help me delete the EGR and at $250 it’s cheap as fuh. My buddy has the same headers and no it doesn’t make the 4.0 feel ballsy like an LS but it frees up some valuable engine bay space (the manifolds are hella chunky) and his 4.0 actually sounds pretty damn good.

Future plans are a 2000+ FX4 level 2 Rear end, that particular model has a trutrac style lsd and 4.56 gears. Gear match the front and throw a locker in it as well. A buddy is sending me some manual locking hubs he has in his parts stash, the current ones are always locked. Possibly do a manual shift T case in the future as well. These trucks are such beasts on trails due to their size I can’t wait to take it out.
You could always buy some cheap junkyard seats for it.
 
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Having slightly more than 100hp, automatic, and leather is hard to give up on that hour long commute each way.
I still haven't put that damn wide band on either lol
Uhg your lazy!

You could always buy some cheap junkyard seats for it.
I actually got a free set of 2015 mustang seats with the mufflers. Not sure if they will fit but worth a try.
 
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I've gotta swap out a front o2, I'll put that on then. Prepare for multiple questions...
Just do it half this thread is clogged with you saying you will :rolleyes:
You got a 50-50 shot they'll fit.
If not they were free so idc I’ll trash them lol. I actually don’t know if the the seats in it are bad there’s big sloppy camo seat covers Over them.
 
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Tires came today and they look really good for $170 each. They are 255/75/17, I wanted 255/80/17 but I couldn’t find any decent tire for under $250 in that size and an inch isn’t a big deal to me. (Someone better use this setup).

Got the wheels rattle canned and ordered these center caps. Gonna cut one set to fit over the manual locking hubs, and hopefully not go to the er like I did last time I cut center caps.
 

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iamdub

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I actually got a free set of 2015 mustang seats with the mufflers. Not sure if they will fit but worth a try.

I bet they'll fit just fine. Remove their slider assemblies and bolt the Ranger slider assemblies to them. Might have to drill a couple holes, maybe even weld a tab or two.
 
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I bet they'll fit just fine. Remove their slider assemblies and bolt the Ranger slider assemblies to them. Might have to drill a couple holes, maybe even weld a tab or two.

That’s what I was thinking, they didn’t come with a center console and one seat had the side airbag deployed, but I should be able to stitch that up fairly well.
 
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Got her washed and ceramic coated including the wheels. I really need to do something about the roof, gonna call some vinyl places tomorrow.
 

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