I have been doing some work to my 2002 Ranger. The plan is to have a decent rock crawler/camping rig that i can drive every day and still be practical. here is a list of the mods so far and a list of whats to come.

Done so far:
Cut fenders
built flatbed (almost done)
34" LTBs on wagons
muffler outlet just behind the cab

Planed:
Front lock rite
rear lock rite
Bumper with winch
trans, tank, and motor skid plates
sliders
rear bumper with hitch
disconnect swaybar? will this even help on IFS?
Revolver shackles??? its a dd so i dont know?
SAS at some point? maybe?
yall let me know what u think? i will update every so often with pics.

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v168/132/46/55715550/n55715550_33885535_6655.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v168/132/46/55715550/n55715550_33885536_6960.jpg

REvolves tend to uload at the most unconveinant moment possible, so I would pass on them. No sway bar will help flex, but minimaly. And you so should sas that pig.

Sorry for the grammer...im a bit tipsy.

throw a waggy d44 under it, get a exploder 8.8 and you can still have a DD and a decent rig, i wouldn't wast any money on IFS

throw a waggy d44 under it, get a exploder 8.8 and you can still have a DD and a decent rig, i wouldn't wast any money on IFS

it has an 8.8 under it and im not lifting it so no money wasted and i pulled the lock rite out of my old xj so free locker.

I'd go ahead and leave the front swaybar hooked up. Disconnecting them on a SLA/IFS rig does almost nothing. Leave revolver shackles out of the picture. Get yourself some decent shocks that dont limit suspension travel like the stock ones do. Other than that it looks like its headed in the right direction.

I'd go ahead and leave the front swaybar hooked up. Disconnecting them on a SLA/IFS rig does almost nothing. Leave revolver shackles out of the picture. Get yourself some decent shocks that dont limit suspension travel like the stock ones do. Other than that it looks like its headed in the right direction.

Thanks! The revolvers i guess arent worth the chance. What shocks should i go with? i was at AAP yesterday and they have some bilstins* for like 150 a set but i figured i would need to special order some due to lenght issues?

SAS inboarded 63" chevy's in the rear

I would steer clear of the Revolvers as already stated, they can land you on your lid if your not carefull.
It usually depends on the rig, how much disconecting the sway bar really helps. I have seen this trick work wonders on some veichles and do nothing on others, give it a shot, but remeber it is still IFS.

The 8.8 is a great axle, light weight and fairly stout.

Looks like it will be a fun project, I love seeing newer body styled rigs chopped and rebuilt:D

Does it have the 4.0L? Auto or manual?

Yeah, pulling the front swaybar does help a lot on those trucks, they're stiff as fawk (you'd be lucky to ever see more than 3" flex with it connected, taking it off will double your flex-... to a whopping 6" :eek: )

I would steer clear of the Revolvers as already stated, they can land you on your lid if your not carefull.
It usually depends on the rig, how much disconecting the sway bar really helps. I have seen this trick work wonders on some veichles and do nothing on others, give it a shot, but remeber it is still IFS.

The 8.8 is a great axle, light weight and fairly stout.

Looks like it will be a fun project, I love seeing newer body styled rigs chopped and rebuilt:D

Does it have the 4.0L? Auto or manual?

4.0, Auto, e-case, 8.8 open 4.10s

Yeah, pulling the front swaybar does help a lot on those trucks, they're stiff as fawk (you'd be lucky to ever see more than 3" flex with it connected, taking it off will double your flex-... to a whopping 6" :eek: )


Hows it gonna drive if i just remove the sway bar?

SAS inboarded 63" chevy's in the rear

i see a ton of people runnin the chevy 63s but whats wrong with the stock ones? I was thinkin removing a leaf or two?

Hows it gonna drive if i just remove the sway bar?

You will get quite a bite more body roll in the corners, being IFS it probably wont sway to bad if any at all. Body roll mainly, especially if you put in softer springs.

Just do it, it only takes 10min...Sack up:flipoff2:

i see a ton of people runnin the chevy 63s but whats wrong with the stock ones? I was thinkin removing a leaf or two?

**from the most broad sense***

longer leafs = more flex.

i dig it.

just keep the stock leafs and a slightly longer shackle. with the correct length shocks it should flex just fine.

hell with the sas for now- lock the rear and wheel it as is for a while. i'm sure youll be surprised with what it will do.

You will get quite a bite more body roll in the corners, being IFS it probably wont sway to bad if any at all. Body roll mainly, especially if you put in softer springs.

Just do it, it only takes 10min...Sack up:flipoff2:


Ten4 the sway has to go! and by the way i drove an xj with 6" lift 150lb springs that flexed like a fool with no sway as a DD so i know how to drove a sloppy bitch i just wanted to know if the IFS would do wierd shit discoed. :flipoff2:

**from the most broad sense***

longer leafs = more flex.

Umm dude ranger leafs are like 60"?? and i dont need any more WB thats fo sho

I have a similar rig a 98 explorer sport
slightly different: spring under in the rear and i have the 31spline 8.8 with factory 4.10s running 33s with trimmed front fenders
here is mine http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb8/Wheelin98/DSC00184.jpg

I'm running a Aussie locker in the 8.8 and it was cheap $230 and works awesome. highly recommended
I removed the front sway bar and that helped the ride out alot. and flex was slightly better but still terrible, rear swaybar had no effect on ride/sway but gave more flex
Rides like a quad.
I had cranked the torsion bars to get some more lift. didn't want to spend a dime on the front end. besides getting a set of ranchos. didn't lock up the front cause I didn't want to blow stuff up,

id say you def need a rear locker, sliders, front skid plate ( I smashed up a radiator running the same set up for awhile. also reroute your transmission cooler lines so they don't get mangled as they are very vulnerable under radiator in front.
since your running a flat bed setting up long travel shock coming up through the frame attached the flat bed should be easy.
good start

I have a similar rig a 98 explorer sport
slightly different: spring under in the rear and i have the 31spline 8.8 with factory 4.10s running 33s with trimmed front fenders
here is mine http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb8/Wheelin98/DSC00184.jpg

I'm running a Aussie locker in the 8.8 and it was cheap $230 and works awesome. highly recommended
I removed the front sway bar and that helped the ride out alot. and flex was slightly better but still terrible, rear swaybar had no effect on ride/sway but gave more flex
Rides like a quad.
I had cranked the torsion bars to get some more lift. didn't want to spend a dime on the front end. besides getting a set of ranchos. didn't lock up the front cause I didn't want to blow stuff up,

id say you def need a rear locker, sliders, front skid plate ( I smashed up a radiator running the same set up for awhile. also reroute your transmission cooler lines so they don't get mangled as they are very vulnerable under radiator in front.
since your running a flat bed setting up long travel shock coming up through the frame attached the flat bed should be easy.
good start

Well i was thinkin a front locker but with the crapy 30 i dont know? It would help alot having the front locked even with the rear still open. IDK i dont want to brake my front carrier but maybe that would be the shove to SAS this beast. but i need to get me a 4cyl ranger first. I like the xsploder i wish i had that WB! i have no rear sway but the fronts going as soon as i can get back into my shop.

i have a set of xj teraflex shackles has anybody used these on a ranger? I want to remove the stock block and put them in for more flex.

i have a set of xj teraflex shackles has anybody used these on a ranger? I want to remove the stock block and put them in for more flex.

they will bolt up. i did the same thing with my ranger but with chevy drop shackles

Umm dude ranger leafs are like 60"?? and i dont need any more WB thats fo sho

umm dude... put the bong down. I didn't tell him to switch, he was asking why chevy leaf springs were a popular swap. it's because they are long, flexy, and about as common as a Thai whore in Bangkok

umm dude... put the bong down. I didn't tell him to switch, he was asking why chevy leaf springs were a popular swap. it's because they are long, flexy, and about as common as a Thai whore in Bangkok

who is him? i didnt ask why they were popular and i allready know there flexy i guess but my ranger leafs will flex just as good just wait :flipoff2: well back to the bong

Umm dude ranger leafs are like 60"?? and i dont need any more WB thats fo sho
I don't think that ranger leafs are quite that long, but as for using 63" chevys, you aren't adding any wheelbase, you move the front leaf spring brackets forward.



hick

it has an 8.8 under it and im not lifting it so no money wasted and i pulled the lock rite out of my old xj so free locker.

really no shit, but an exploder 8.8 is 31 spline compared to your 28spline 8.8 and 95+ have disc brakes and ranger leafs are 57inches, the chevy 63inchers are a very popular swap, check out therangerstation.com for info

Well i was thinkin a front locker but with the crapy 30 i dont know? It would help alot having the front locked even with the rear still open. IDK i dont want to brake my front carrier but maybe that would be the shove to SAS this beast. but i need to get me a 4cyl ranger first. I like the xsploder i wish i had that WB! i have no rear sway but the fronts going as soon as i can get back into my shop.

You dont have a D30 up front. Thats a D35 hybrid. D35 jeep carrier replacement lockers dont fit cause the carrier in the hybrid is longer then the standard D35 carrier. sell the locker from your jeep and buy an aussie made for the ranger front.

You dont have a D30 up front. Thats a D35 hybrid. D35 jeep carrier replacement lockers dont fit cause the carrier in the hybrid is longer then the standard D35 carrier. sell the locker from your jeep and buy an aussie made for the ranger front.

Thanks! glad i didnt make that mistake

well i have been searching for a couple days now and i think SAS is the way i need to go. Im going to continue building protection and other crap thats in my budget. I want to start collecting parts to build her up! Well my dad owns a bad A junk yard so axles and other crap is free:flipoff2: But its not a tradition yard everything is newer 98+. I need some advise actually alot. These are my axle options: 14B, Sterling 10.5, Ford 60s and preety much any newer axle. These axles are sporting the good ole Unit bearings!!! but there free so what should i do? Now this is the plan 38-42s probaly bias, Its not going to be a DD BUT i have no tow rig cause it was my tow rig:laughing: so i have to get to the trails and back so beef is good! im thinkin LOW! i dont want to flop. no exo and no tow rig so i will take it easy untill i get a tow rig. now the suspenison is a big concern i see a ton of differnt ways to go about it. I want it done right the first time. no more BS rigs that brake:shaking: what are yall thinkin? my first idea was trail gear toy leafs but i want next to 2-3" of uptravel so that idea kinda sucks. I like the old bronco bushing thing but it aint that cheap when done write compared to other options. well 3 link w/panhard seams good but with the panhard how low can i go? 3 link with a trangalted center wishbone? Trangaled 4 link? ok next what rod ends are ok on the street but still do ok offroad? Poly bushings, JJs, Hiems, ect.. what shocks? Air, coilover, coils? Well the rear is stayin basicly stock for now. I know that its going to basicly suck on road and thats fine i just dont want to fin crash. but it wouldnt be my fist trail rig smash:flipoff2: its a nice truck and i want this thing to be quality. Its basicly my first build on a truck worth more than like 4k so im going to take it slow and be carful. My fab skills are ok but my buddys are really good so he will be assisting me. Thanks in advance! sorry im such a newbie i just want to do this rite! my last build was gay xj on 34s 4.5 in lift all cut up. I jumped it and the suspension and axles exploded:laughing: Jeeps are GAY to Fin many of them

what do yall think about this? it looks simple. less for me to have to fab. how long do these bushings last? will it need a track bar?

1978-79 Full Size Bronco Long Travel Radius Arms
http://www.jamesduff.com/newproducts/newproducts.asp

don't go to james duff go to CAGE. he's they guy that thought up the design. and he's got brackets to make the arms work without having to run the axle C's. as for 98 and newer axles the fords are metric lug pattern so they won't work with regular 8 lug wheels. unit bearings are expensive and tend to wear out faster. leaves are cheap, easy to find and tune, and will flex.

i vote get a DD first then mess with this truck.

wasnt 99 the first year of the metric axles?

Hmm Im thinking it was 99 or 98. Not 100% on the Ranger/Explorer/Sport Trac platforms.

Hmm Im thinking it was 99 or 98. Not 100% on the Ranger/Explorer/Sport Trac platforms.

Rangers were never metric. When did F250's and F350's go to the metric pattern? I though it was 99 which was the first year of the new superduty.

well i have another DD its just a pos. but this thing will get driven but only on the weekends. i know i can get wheels have to get new ones anyways. how often do the unit bearings go bad? i thought they were a non ware item? my ranger only ways 3500 and im thinkin 38x12.5 SXs so those axles arent going to be all that stressed.

Unit bearings are a non service item, they still wear out. They should be good for over 100K if they're not abused.

Good looking truck. If I read your post right all you did to get those 34s on there was trim the front fenders? I'm looking for room to put bigger tires on my '05 Ranger. I don't know how big yet but I can do a little trimming if that's all you did for 34's.

Unit bearings are a non service item, they still wear out. They should be good for over 100K if they're not abused.

Good looking truck. If I read your post right all you did to get those 34s on there was trim the front fenders? I'm looking for room to put bigger tires on my '05 Ranger. I don't know how big yet but I can do a little trimming if that's all you did for 34's.

I trimmed 4" out of them but i didnt need to trim that much for 34s. it will clear 36s fo sho. it looks alright to. just got some paint mixed up so they will be gold asap. u will have to trim the bumper shroud to if its stock.

Im am going to agree with Jam when is comes to the duff arms. I think you would be more pleased with the Cage arms. But both are real pretty pricey and for the cost (if you are able to build them) you could take a little more time and link it front and rear. Im not sure if i missed it in the thread somewhere but what kind of wheeling will you be mostly doing?
that will have a big factor on how you want to set it up.

well i have another DD its just a pos. but this thing will get driven but only on the weekends. i know i can get wheels have to get new ones anyways. how often do the unit bearings go bad? i thought they were a non ware item? my ranger only ways 3500 and im thinkin 38x12.5 SXs so those axles arent going to be all that stressed.

Brother-in-law needed to replace the wheel bearing on his dually after 100,000 if that gives you an idea. As far as tire/axle choices/suspension design, I am kinda in the same boat as you are. Wheelbase is a big thing with supercabs on the trail, 3-point turns get old quick, I am planning on taking close to a foot out of the rear on mine. As for weight, 3,500# sounds a little light, but I suppose it is possible. As for folding the XJ; yeah, they are uni-bodies, they will do that without axle trusses, frame stiffners, and cages when you try to jump them.



hick

Im not sure if i missed it in the thread somewhere but what kind of wheeling will you be mostly doing?
that will have a big factor on how you want to set it up.


Ahhh Rocks