Hello, My name is Bjorn, New here, just wanted to show some stuff I've been doing with my Ranger lately and hopefully get some constructive critisism.

I'm building it for glaciar travel


Putting a 3-link out back, when thats done longer links out front too, Airlocked front and back.
It's only on 35s atm but will, when ready, be put on 38s

Starting with removing the crappy lift springs
http://i38.tinypic.com/33bn2ix.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/25tkqvn.jpg

Cutting out useless crossmembers and putting something more solid instead

http://i37.tinypic.com/54hatv.jpg

bracket for the links

http://i35.tinypic.com/105ti11.jpg

Lower links, a bit on the long side compared to what guys usually use here, hoping for better articulation with those

http://i33.tinypic.com/208tjzd.jpg

test fitting

http://i35.tinypic.com/qzhg1e.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/11t7wi9.jpg

A bit high in the rear but will level out with the bed in place and the extra gas tank
http://i35.tinypic.com/1253nrd.jpg

as this is a low budget project the coils I'm using are the front coils from an old Volvo :lol:
http://i38.tinypic.com/2i8aqhg.jpg

bracket for the upper link, hope it will hold
http://i38.tinypic.com/jpe82x.jpg

The rear almost ready, only missing a shock, the dealer I buy from over in the states went bankrupt so I'm not sure when I will be getting one :rolleyes:

Testing out the flex

http://i33.tinypic.com/dca168.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/2zr2vjn.jpg

http://i37.tinypic.com/20qklzo.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/2s0fh9s.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/14e2c5g.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/30k7x8l.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/2uhpezl.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/2mrv6zq.jpg

12inches of travel out back, like you see on the pics the front almost level :rolleyes: have to get some softer coils out front though I'm not sure what to use

I doubt that upper link mount will hang. Frame mounts for the lowers look a little sketchy too.

Be careful taking out those "useless" riveted in crossmembers and welding something "solid" in there. Some engineer at Ford spent many hours designing that frame. Those welded in crossmembers will eventually crack at the welds or cause the frame to crack. Those frames were designed to flex and those stiff welded in crossmembers will unsuccessfully try to prevent that.

If you dont want the frame to flex, box it from front to rear or put in a full cage.

Not trying to be dick, just pointing out the flaws i see. Otherwise cool to see someone building an older ranger.

Ummm.......
I would seroiusly redo the axle bridge. The two tubes unpiated don't look to be the same material? Also the link brakets you cannot overbuild. Anyways, I'd love to see some one put the Toyota's I've seen on the glaciers on Discovery to shame....

Good first thread....


I like the build

good start, but the rear axle brace, truss link mount will fail - it looks like, well water pipe ? look at a few pics on here ( check out my build in my sig ) is the front lower a single shear ?

all i can say is OVERBUILD - you dont want to rip that link off - you really dont want to rip it off in the middle of noware - snow, ice, frostbite ??

If you are looking to get the ttb to move a little more, try some lift coils made for a jeep cherokee. They dont fit in there perfectly, but you can make it work easily. Much softer than TTB lift coils.

Everyone here will tell you to do a solid axle swap, but for your application i bet the ttb would work just fine.

That panhard bar mount needs beefing up too. You really have no idea how much stress that thing sees until you break a few off the frame. Like many others are saying you just gotta overbuild everything

Sweet Dude! Looks like you are well on your way!! (Can I have a ride?)