Intake plates

[Dave]

I had mentioned this a couple of years ago and finially had one done. This is to replace the plate on the Explorer intake, makes it look more stock. Comments?
Dave

[cgrey8]

Where can I get a Ranger V8 plate like that?

At least the plate I have looks like the bottom one in your picture. The earlier plates actually said Explorer V8 which obviously is a dead give-away that the engine isn't stock.

When/if I ever get a 331 built, I'll really want a plate like that to say Ranger V8 or to correctly indicate it is a 331. Other than the tell-tale signs that only the savvy would pick up on, my truck doesn't advertise that it has a V8 in it. In fact, I find that most people, including Ranger owners, don't even realize that Rangers have never had a V8 option from the factory. But when I pop the hood, I don't really want to false-advertise that it is a 5.0L if it is stroked although with reuse of all the stock equipment, I could easily pull that off.

[Dave]

Does it look good or should something change? I like it, just need some input before I go ahead and order 10 of them.
Dave

[cgrey8]

The only thing I can notice is the spacing between the letters is a bit too much. Notice:


Here's the old V8-Ranger logo I drew up a few years ago:

This logo started off as just a RaNGER Logo that I added stuff to and you can tell it isn't perfect either. The bottom of the a and the G aren't quite the same as the picture of a real Ranger Logo. But it still looks authentic. So close enough is good enough. But if you can get those letters scrunched in tighter...assuming the milling machine can do that, then that would get you a little closer to looking like the plate came from Ford.

[cgrey8]

That was an easy fix. Here's the corrected one:

[MalcolmV8]

No fake second and third screw heads on the Ranger unit? I think it keeps things symmetrical looking.

[Dave]

I did think about that but not sure how hard that would be to do. I guess with a CNC, not too hard.
Dave

[MalcolmV8]

Probably piece of cake after making that plate. Did you have a local machine shop do that for you? It looks really good.

[Dave]

The guy is kind of close but you just have to know he is a Ranger lover. He is over on RPS and does all kinds of things.
Dave
http://breyperfomance.shutterfly.com/

[Erics88]

What if you put the 5.0L instead of the V8? Or 302, or even make the V8 a V-8, or bigger font for the v8? Heck, you even have Supercharged put in there! I would be very interested in purchasing one if you start having them made. Very cool idea.

[cgrey8]

I'll be interested in what you come up with...and I too am on board for buying one even as-is. But if you can make it look even more authentic, then that's just better.

[Dave]

Checking on what it would take to add the missing fake screw holes. Leaving it with the V8 as that is more universal. He can do a one of a kind if anyone would be interested. Going to run $50 plus under $5 for mailing. He was going to make ten of them.
Dave

[MalcolmV8]

What about just moving the V and the 8 closer together? Right now they look a little orphaned and on their own. Looks very cool though by the way.

Oh and if for some reason he can't do fake screw heads or buttons in the other spots you could just have him drill holes with bevels like the real two holes but smaller and tap them and just turn in a real screw with a short stub of thread so it's really 4 screws even though only two of them go all the way through and into the intake.

[Dave]

He is going to move the V 8 closer together and add the two missing c'sink holes, not enough to thread so just have to add what ever screw head to match the others and solder or JB weld them in.
Dave

[cgrey8]

What about scrunching the letters closer together to make it closer to the actual Ranger emblem?