Another Solid Axle Ranger Build

[Jeepaholic86]

Although my name is changed, I will continue to update this thread.

Well, decided to update the 1st post with what the Ranger has evolved into. When i bought it, it was May 2008. It was bone stock and i bought it from the original owner. It had around 120k on the ticker, and for being 14 years old, that was pretty good. The truck was in great shape, other than it needing a throwout bearing. I never took pictures from when it didn't have aftermarket wheels, but it had 15" deer hoofs. 1st day i bought it, i installed new wheels.



Then I got the fantastic idea to try my hand at suspension work when i had no fucking clue what i was doing and tried to install a 44TTB from a 93 Bronco into the truck. I also installed a 9". Here is the truck after i "finished" the D44TTB and 9" Swap and added 35's on some GANGSTER polished wheels.



So after driving this unsafe contraption a whopping 150 miles in a year and a half, i decided to have someone who knew what they were doing install a straight axle in it. Went with a 44 high pinion from a 79 bronco. If you are curious on how it was installed, read the fawking build...


I don't like the 93-97 front end on lifted trucks that much, so i decided to change it.


And i bought some ginormous flares to keep the bacon away and a bumper from RLC Welding on here for it and put a winch in it


Then Maaco painted it

[Jeepaholic86]

Then i took it to Moab


Then i put a DD Machine doubler, 37's, new wheels, new headlights, and some more body damage on the old gal


Then I took it to the Rubicon...




And I broke all kinds of shit.

Then I fixed it, and moved to Ky


Then I sold my 37s and dropped to 33s and BGLT rims



Then I said fuck it, and gutted it


Now I'm rebuilding it again


Plans are lose the BGLT wheels, back to a 17/35 combo. V8 poweplant with auto. Rebuild suspension. Rebuild axles. Slick paint job.

Will be mainly a DD with very light trail riding.

[Frozen246]

Out of curiosity was the full width ttb a bolt in swap? I'm doubting it but it would be kinda cool if it was.

[Jeepaholic86]

Originally Posted by Frozen246

Out of curiosity was the full width ttb a bolt in swap? I'm doubting it but it would be kinda cool if it was.

FAWK no. Was not worth it. If your really interested in it, 4x4junkie has the swap done on his Ranger

[Bray D]

Out of curiosity do you plan to drive this thing anywhere other than the mall

[SIKYOTA]

Originally Posted by Bray D

Out of curiosity do you plan to drive this thing anywhere other than the mall

than the mall hahahah.. whats up with ppl and saying that... my brother gives me shit for my truck. but man its a nation wide thing haha

[rstangboi]

anymore pics of how fawking far out your wheels were out of the wheel wells? lol

[br0nc0xrapt0r]

are you doing the sas or is someone else doing it?

[ken75ranger]

That's a pretty heavy set of coils for a Ranger.....

[Jeepaholic86]

All the above posts I would delete, but I can't. So I just have to keep updating from the posts I made years ago.

[Jeepaholic86]

Originally Posted by rstangboi

anymore pics of how fawking far out your wheels were out of the wheel wells? lol

almost 6" on each side

[Jeepaholic86]

Originally Posted by br0nc0xrapt0r

are you doing the sas or is someone else doing it?

A buddy of mine and I are doing it. Keith Loftis of Loftis Motorsports. I dont have a welder or any of the fabrication tools

[Jeepaholic86]

Originally Posted by ken75ranger

That's a pretty heavy set of coils for a Ranger.....

Came off a Ranger.

[redranger4.0]

Originally Posted by Jeepaholic86

Came off a Ranger.

Desert Truck I assume? 300/450 is pretty stiff. 180lbs/in combined rate. I know looking around for my ranger Im going a little softer but Im looking at a combined around 130lbs/in. 450 is also a pretty stiff secondary rate.

[Jeepaholic86]

yep

[DB_1]

I've got 200/250 coils on my 2.5" x 14" Kings and it seems pretty good for trail/crawling. If your getting into the go fast stuff you'd want the stiffer rates.

I have my rear shocks mounted on top of the spring plates, had to make a bed cage of sorts to accommodate the extra length.

[Jeepaholic86]

got the pictures of my Ballistic Fabrication parts. A big thanks goes out to Dave for helping me out with the order. I got the D44 cover, the Ballistic 3.0 joints and the adjustable tracbar mount.




Here is the front axle set under the truck. This was taken a little too soon, as we set the ride height about 20 minutes later. It will be about 2" lower. The rear will be setup somewhat like a prerunner, with the rear shackle flipped and we are going with Bilstein 18" 2.0 smooth body shocks for the rear. I will have to have the springs re-arched because flipping the shackle is going to lower the truck, but the travel this thing will have will be stupid. I will be able to drive fast to the rocks, unlike most of the Jeeps and Yota's out there

[Jeepaholic86]

Went out to the shop this weekend and got a good amount of work completed. The top tubes for the arms are mocked up, and almost ready to be welded on for good, but we needed to square the front end before we could go any further. Looks like i will be getting to get my hands dirty on this stuff too! Keith is letting me work right beside him throughout the whole conversion, and a lot of the stuff we do as a team. I removed the old shocks off the rear and re-welded the shock mounts on. I moved them higher up on the axle to keep from being smashed by the rocks. The Detroit locker is now set in the 3rd member and ready to go back in, and the Ballistic Joints are tacked up to the frame.


The mount and Ballistic joint all tacked up





Here is a look at one of the top tubes. Notice the bend angles. Plenty of room to turn the tires, plenty of room for upward and downward travel. Notice that the rockslider is in the way. They are being cut off and remade later.


The locker ready to go back in.

Here is D sitting on the ground. The front have jackstands, but the this is about as close to ride height as we can get right now.

[Jeepaholic86]

I did get some work done this weekend on it. Found out i had 28 spline axles instead of 31's so i am trying to find a set. The arms are now welded into place and we will begin plating everything this week. I plan on going out there tonight so i will snag some photos.

I also picked up a 96 Exploder V8 AWD this weekend. I will use this truck as a DD until D's motor blows, then take everything from the Exploder and put it in the truck. I plan on taking the dash, center console, engine, trans, ECU and anything else i can use from the ploder.

[DB_1]

Originally Posted by Jeepaholic86

I plan on taking the dash, center console, engine, trans, ECU and anything else i can use from the ploder.

Don't forget about that 31 spline disc braked 8.8

[Jeepaholic86]

its too short. Im going to sell it

[WOOD]

I got a set of 31 spline axles for sale PM me if ya need em!

[DB_1]

Originally Posted by Jeepaholic86

its too short. Im going to sell it

Right, just read your specs again and forgot you were fullwidth

[Jeepaholic86]

If i was staying under the fenders than i would most definitely snag the rear too. I just bought a 89 5.0 hatch so it looks like the ploder may be getting gutted sooner that later I gotta get this suspension done first though. I didn't get pics, i was out running around too late tonight, so tomorrow as soon as i get done with class, i am going to head out there and get the pictures. He finished the lower tubes today and is going to be finish welding them in. They shouldn't be boxed when i get there, but if they are, Im ok with that!

[Jeepaholic86]

Wood, If i were in KY right now, i would definitely grab them from ya. I am actually going to trade all my old Bronco Dana 44 I beam stuff for a set of 31 spline axles on friday. Thanks so much though