Vintage Service Truck Powered by John Deere Engine: An Enduring Ford Ranger Truck that Foresees our Demise
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You know a brand's iconic when it's the Ford Ranger. Yeah, it's that impressive. We're talking about a truck that's practically invincible and a favorite amongst tradespeople and farmers alike. We're taking a closer look at an unbelievable example, and you guessed it, there's some serious John Deere power under the hood.
Brad Jones, a farmer out in upstate New York, uses this baby as a service rig. But that wasn't always the case. He initially built it back in 2016 as a gas-sipping commuter when he had a long 100-mile daily commute. We're talking a 1990 Ranger that was once a 2WD short bed with a puny 2.3-liter four-cylinder. Brad got it from Craigslist for just $400, complete with a bum fuel pump that he never bothered repairing—he had already set his sights on a Deere engine.
Brad wasn't too fussed about the specific four-cylinder model, so he settled on a 4039T out of an industrial air compressor. That's 3.9 liters or 239 cubic inches, and a turbo helps it push out 120 horsepower in factory form. The engine had 8,800 hours on it when he snagged it, but who worries about that when you know these engines just don't quit?
The big challenge came when Brad wanted to link this beast to a street-legal transmission. He found a suitable adapter from Phoenix Casting and Machining that made the union possible. The initial gear ratio of 2.73 in the stock 7.5-inch rear-end was all about economy, but the commute was short, so he happily adjusted to a 4.10 ratio for better performance.
The engine is mostly stock, but Brad's thrown in a few tweaks to give it a little more oomph. The injection pump is maxed out to ensure there's enough fuel to keep up with the upgraded turbo. The precise power figures are a mystery, but Brad reckons it's now pumping out about 150 horses.
Once Brad hopped into farming and drastically reduced his commute in 2019, he gave his trusty Ranger a well-deserved makeover. He snagged an all-aluminum Reading service bed from Facebook Marketplace, rare as hens' teeth. The utility box being a long bed meant some frame extensions were in order, which Brad built himself. The axle placement was tricky, so he flipped the rear leaf springs, and overall, it all came together rather seamlessly.
"Couldn't drive a two-wheel drive service truck, so I added a beefed-up front axle from a Jeep Wrangler," Jones said. "The rear's now a 8.8 with 4.10 gears." A punchy new 4x4 transmission and a two-speed transfer case rounded out the upgrades. A few custom fab jobs here and there, and now, Brad has a rugged service rig that's still surprisingly efficient on fuel. With its six-inch lift and some meaty mudders, it still manages a respectable 20 mpg or so.
"Overall, the truck does the job," Jones concluded.
And let me tell you, it looks insane doing it.
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[1] Sources:[1] Ford Ranger Details and Specifications: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranger_(North_America)#Fifth_generation_.282019.E2.80.93present.29[1] Industrial John Deere Engine Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Deere_engines#Four-cylinder_diesel_engines[1] Advance Adapters: https://www.advanceadapters.com/
In the realm of automotive, Brad Jones transformed his 1990 Ford Ranger, initially a gas-sipping commuter, into a rugged service rig. This transformation involved transplanting a John Deere 4039T engine from an industrial air compressor, which boosted its fuel economy to around 20 mpg despite the 6-inch lift and mud tires. The finance sector played a role in this transformation, as Brad had initially bought the Ranger for just $400 from Craigslist, and later invested in precision parts such as the adapter from Phoenix Casting and Machining.
