I have recently came upon a pair of 2.5 ton rockwells that will be going under my 88 Ranger. I'm trying to get a good background on these before a tear into them, are there any good places to get some info on them? I have decided to go 3 link in the rear and a 4 link w/track bar in the front, steering will be full hydraulic. From looking under the truck, it seems my best bet will be to toss the TTB engine crossmember and build a new one higher up in the frame, no big deal. From what i have been finding there are lots of problems with axle wrap and leaf springs. I won't be swapping for a little while yet, I'm doing a full rebuild on the axles as well as detriots in both. I'm just curious to see if anybody is running rockwells on anything, what you used, where you bought parts and so on. I'm pretty early in the planning stage now so I have a good amount of time til any fab is getting done. Thanks for any help.

Matt

just a few things i know about them are you are going to have to have alot of lift to clear the diff since they are toploaders, (if you dont say goodbye to your oil pan) also it may be kind of hard to run 3 link with them also because of the toploading diffs.

4 link front and a trac bar?

How else would you keep the axle from moving side to side without a track bar? I still haven't rule out radius arms and a track bar. No 3 link in the front it will hit the oil pan for sure.

Matt

4 links aren't straight... they are triangulated

thats what keeps them located.....

The ultimate Rockwell thread:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=313836&highlight=rockwell+tech



Now someone check out my 5.0 wiring post and tell me if I am going to see exhaust smoke or electrical smoke.:flipoff2:

Trinagulated 4 link keeps the axle centered.

www.usa6x6.com would be a good place to start for rebuild parts if you need any

curious why you talked of links and then spoke of leafs.... or were you just adding those to the list of things to toss when the axles go under it?

Friend of mine in KY has a rockwelled ranger w/ full exo cage on it. If you need any info I can see if I can get him to post up.

Never did think of the triangulated 4 link, I was thinking more of a stock dodge or jeep style at the time. It would actually be rather easy to do a 4 link with the increased axle width. I have lots of measuring ahead.

Matt

Friend of mine in KY has a rockwelled ranger w/ full exo cage on it. If you need any info I can see if I can get him to post up.


Please post some pics! I am working on a very similar project.

its hard to get the pan hard to get over the center and still flex good so just make a xx lVl suspension and the way i got over the toploader is chopped off the frame in front of the engine and put 2x4 box till i could clear the crank pulley with d-shaft and made my motor sit 4" to the pass. side instead of driver side. post pics

That is a nice collection of Rockwell stuff. The idea I came up with is very similar to Cj Lagos' revised setup. I still have quite a bit of time til this all happens, so I have lots of time to think on it. Thanks for the help.

Matt