Grind Hard Unveils Outrageous Desert-Scouting Vintage Ford Ranger
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The gearheads at Grind Hard Plumbing Co. are not just a group of friends that make crazy cars and motorized contraptions. The wild vehicles produced by self-taught mechanical wizard Ethan Schlussler and ace videographer Edwin Olding are an alternative automotive universe. It all happens in their madhouse Idaho garage-workshop.
We recently posted about Grind Hard’s Honda-powered, hot-pink Barbie Mustang Power Wheels - opens in new window or tab. and its customized turbocharged BMW E36 rally pickup. Well, Schlussler and Olding are at it again. The Grind Hard crew took a hardworking classic 1990 Ford Ranger and turned it into a six-wheel off-roading monster.
Grind Hard displayed “The Mod Monster” at the inaugural New York Auto Parts Show - opens in new window or tab. on April 14. The build was featured along with other Re-Concept Cars that demonstrate the power of parts and accessories to turn existing cars into something entirely new.
A Pre-Runner on Steroids
The modded Ranger is the kind of transformation that has Grind Hard’s 1.4 million YouTube subscribers - opens in new window or tab. giddy for more content. Moreover, it shows how car builders can take advantage of eBay Motors’s nearly endless supply of unique parts and accessories.
The Mod Monster is based on a used Ranger previously outfitted for duck hunting. The truck had a large front bumper allowing hunters to stand on the vehicle while riding. Schlussler and Oldin appreciated the vehicle’s practicality but were eager to put their spin on it.
The first move was to find a stock grill piece, a custom-built front bumper, and one-piece headlights to clean up the truck’s appearance. The pair was going for a pre-runner look. A pre-runner is a vehicle that off-road racers use to scout the condition of the course before a race. It needs to be able to survive the harshest desert conditions.
Well-Lit Going Forward or Backward
Grind Hard added pre-runner fenders and light bars - opens in new window or tab.. One of their favorite additions is a set of pod lights installed on the back of the truck.
Think of these pod or spot lights as powerful illumination for braking and reversing. We wouldn’t be surprised to catch Grind Hard speeding zooming backward along winding trails near their hometown of Sand Point, Idaho.
Schlussler said:
We're building things that have never been built before almost every day, and that requires a massive variety of parts. Some of them very rare and hard to find. That's why we get our parts from eBay Motors. They have the largest inventory of new and used parts and we can always find what we need.
Notable parts used by Grind Hard for the modded Ranger:
Learn more about the New York Auto Parts Show - opens in new window or tab. and the parts that went into each build.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.