Mercury Ranger?
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 485
Likes: 32
From: Northern OR
Thanks, Stu. Still wonder why they have the torque springs mounted apparently upside down? - also, the question on what looks like extra bracing from the crossmember to the frame rails (on both sides) near the rear of the transmission. - Bob
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,986
Likes: 446
From: Central Illinois
I gave up fighting the pop up ads on that web site to look at the undercarriage. I know that Chuck did not do the restoration, only sourced the axle and misc. parts. How much he consulted on assembly I don't know, but am certain he would have gotten it right if asked. Stu
FTE Legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,955
Likes: 8,387
From: northwestern Ontario
Seller's Notes:
110" WHEEL BASEONE OF THE RAREST PANELS EVER MADE,, ALL METAL LOOKS GOOD, STILL HAS THE REAR SEATS! PACIFIC REAR TAG IS ON THE FLOOR FROM THE FACTORY AUTHORIZED CONVERSION,, LOOKS AWESOME!!! SOLD NEW THIS WAY FROM THE DEALER!!!!! RARE!!!SELLING AT NO RESERVE!!! PLEASE READ THIS: BARN BUYS IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL BE LIQUIDATING A PRIVATE COLLECTION CONSISTING OF 206 CLASSIC VEHICLES THAT WILL BE OFFERED AT NO RESERVE TO THE PUBLIC. ALL VEHICLES ARE SOLD AS IS WHERE IS AND WITH NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
I never knew these conversions existed for the 56 panels, this one looks like a real good survivor
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,986
Likes: 446
From: Central Illinois
I'll suggest this 56 is not a Siebert. And there's nothing in the ad suggesting it's a Ranger. There have been two 53 Rangers previously known about, as pictured, and I learned of another 53 last spring on my trip to Idaho, as yet unpictured. Mark Mossell knew of it by history but had not added it to his log. There is one surviving 55 Ranger, and no 56s. The windows are different than on this 56. There were other coachbuilders that did these conversions besides Siebert. Stu
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 485
Likes: 32
From: Northern OR
Do you think that's another Jeep front axle on that one? I wonder how the track width matches up? I think most of the early post-war Jeeps had 4.88's, but the gears from the Ford would probably fit, as long it was equipped with a Model 41 axle. - Bob
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,914
Likes: 1,196
From: Deerbrook, WI
The window openings on the 56' in the ad that John shared look very two dimensional. It looks like someone just cut some holes in the sheet metal, got some glass to fit the openings, and finished the job off with rubber gasket material. I wouldn't want windows that looked like that in my truck. The true Ranger type windows are much more three dimensional, and would of course, be more more difficult to fabricate.
Jim
Jim
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,986
Likes: 446
From: Central Illinois
You mean on the 53? Could well be a Jeep axle, I don't know. Seems there are as many half tons with Jeep axles as original axles. The one that I was made aware of most recently is the black 56 pickup that was sold from the estate of the Denver collector. Without, to my understanding, having let the buyer know it wasn't the original. Stu
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 485
Likes: 32
From: Northern OR
You mean on the 53? Could well be a Jeep axle, I don't know. Seems there are as many half tons with Jeep axles as original axles. The one that I was made aware of most recently is the black 56 pickup that was sold from the estate of the Denver collector. Without, to my understanding, having let the buyer know it wasn't the original. Stu
- Bob
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Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,986
Likes: 446
From: Central Illinois
That pictured 53 isn't for sale to my knowledge. Mark Mossell told me he found it and its twin out west iirc and documented them for his Ranger registry. I learned of a third last May on my yard tour into Idaho. I got to talking with a yard owner and he brought up that a guy he knows has a black 53 Ranger. Since then I've swapped texts with the yard owner who shared the identity of the Ranger's owner, which I've passed on to Mark. Apparently this newest 53 Ranger was originally owned by the government at the nuclear site in northern Idaho.
Agree that final drive ratio mismatch is a terminal accident waiting to happen. Unless the axle inner shafts are removed leaving only the stubs, i.e. making it a 2wd. My project 52 came to me that way, which speaks to the merits of having spares. Stu
Agree that final drive ratio mismatch is a terminal accident waiting to happen. Unless the axle inner shafts are removed leaving only the stubs, i.e. making it a 2wd. My project 52 came to me that way, which speaks to the merits of having spares. Stu
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,685
Likes: 81
From: Northville, MI
Not that this combination is correct just that few drivers would notice.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 485
Likes: 32
From: Northern OR
Stu, having the Jeep axle with the Warn hubs would be nice. Turning hubs "in-out" is much easier than pulling inner shafts! Pete, the Rangers have a 4.27:1 rear axle ratio, so 4.88:1 in the front would be "bad news." At 30 mph, the front of the truck would be trying to travel at 28, while the rear would be pushing for 32. That would give the driver a real challenge on a slippery road! - Bob
Last edited by 52 4x4; Sep 26, 2017 at 12:08 PM. Reason: Think I had it right the first time!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,685
Likes: 81
From: Northville, MI
Stu, having the Jeep axle with the Warn hubs would be nice. Turning hubs "in-out" is much easier than pulling inner shafts! Pete, the Rangers have a 4.27:1 rear axle ratio, so 4.88:1 in the front would be "bad news." At 30 mph, the front of the truck would be trying to travel at 28, while the rear would be pushing for 32. That would give the driver a real challenge on a slippery road! - Bob
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