2WD Budget Build......

mp3deviant721 · Apr 4, 2011

mp3deviant's 2WD Ranger Budget Build......

Wassup fellow TRSers. Some of you might barely know me from the posts I make in the "Tailgate" section. Well, you are about to get to know me better. Because I am starting a build thread.

My truck is a 1993 Ford Ranger XLT. Specs are:

- 4.0 Cologne V6
- M5OD 5 speed manual, 2wd
- 8.8 in, 28 spline, 3.08 gears
- No A/C or fancy power options
- Dark Lapis Metallic paint

Pics:

I don't have any completely stock pics, the truck has 15x7 swirly rims painted black on 215/75/15 Wally World specials, custom Wally World fog lights, led DRLs and a tailgate light bar.

mp3deviant721 · Apr 4, 2011

This is the week that I probaly will put in my washer lift, radius arm bushings, and new radius arm brackets. I will also be doing an alignment too, it will be for school credit. :icon_hornsup:

nuclassic · Apr 4, 2011

Plans for the truck?

mp3deviant721 · Apr 4, 2011

I forgot to include that didn't I.

I am going to put a 2.5in lift on it, a 1in lift block for the rear. Fix all the broken parts on it, do a body lift (don't know what amount) after I get the core support fixed and the body painted and rust removed. I don't forsee any major lift kit installations in the near future, thats probably far down the road. I also wanna re-gasket the motor, there's oil all over it, basically do a restomod eventually.

4.0B2 · Apr 4, 2011

ext cab, 8.8, 4.0.. i'm jealous. i want one! lol.

mp3deviant721 · Apr 4, 2011

Yeah. But it's missing a driven axle. LOL.

But it goes like a bat out of hell, so I'm keeping it 2WD. :thefinger:

And plus, 4WD trucks feel clunky and sluggish to me so there's another reason for me to keep it 2WD.

4.0B2 · Apr 4, 2011

um.... you sir have never drove a 4wd ranger w/ a 5.0HO and 5 speed.. lol
even my b2 don't feel sluggish, well maybe that's b/c i got used to the 2.9 and now i have the 4.0

mp3deviant721 · Apr 4, 2011

4.0B2 said:
um.... you sir have never drove a 4wd ranger w/ a 5.0HO and 5 speed.. lol
even my b2 don't feel sluggish, well maybe that's b/c i got used to the 2.9 and now i have the 4.0

Your right about that. The only 4wd's I've driven is a 4.0 with an auto and my other truck, a 2.9 with a manual. That's still kind sluggish. But you really have to get up in the RPMs to get it moving though, not like mine where at 2500 rpm you are already moving pretty quickly. :icon_rofl:

mp3deviant721 · Apr 6, 2011

I got an update!

My washer lift is being installed at school, I'm only doing one side at a time. I am also installing some brand new Moog radius arm bushings. :yahoo:

The driver's side radius arm feels tighter now, I can't wait to do the other side. :headbang:

Truck also looks really funny sitting lopsided. :icon_rofl:

I'll get some pics of the lopsidedness for you guys tomorrow. And pics for during the washer and bushing install for the passenger side as well.

I am also debating on getting a lift for the rear, either a one inch Pro Comp block or Belltech shackles. What do you guys think?

I am also debating on moving the LED DRLs I have to the space above the indent of the bumper and moving my fog lights to under the bumper where my lower air dam used to be.

Ranger Sport Honduras · Apr 6, 2011

finally!!! looks good man, and i cant wait to see the stuff ur gonna do to it.
dont forget the pictures!

Grey_04 · Apr 6, 2011

imho go with the Belltech shackles

mp3deviant721 · Apr 6, 2011

Ranger Sport Honduras said:
finally!!! looks good man, and i cant wait to see the stuff ur gonna do to it.
dont forget the pictures!

Yeah. Surprised that I started a build thread?

Them pics you speak of are coming tomorrow. Stay tuned. :headbang:

Oh, I forgot to add that I have a 2nd gen STX center console in my hands. I still gotta clean it and paint it black, but will eventually find it's way into my truck.

I'm also kind of surprised that nobody has asked me about the 2nd gen sitting in the background of the first two pics.

mp3deviant721 · Apr 7, 2011

As promised, here are pics from my washer lift install on the passenger side.

Here is my truck, all tilted to one side. It isn't noticeable in these pics, but if you were there, you'd notice it.

Another angle:

Stack of washers:

I'll explain this later:

Comparing the factory bolts to the new ones:

Radius arm waiting to go back in:

^That goes in here:

Getting ready to weld the stack of washers:

All welded and ready to be painted:

All painted and ready to install:

Installed. This is where I had some problems on the other side. I got all confused about how it would work, but after talking to ForOffRoadDriving, I had figured it out myself. The nut that is holding everything together is the but that holds the old bolt in the axle beam. Underneath that is two 20mm washers and the old washer that was against the radius arm. Then goes on the stack of washers. The next pic is the stack of washers that I put in the middle of the bigger washers to center the whole thing. That's where the JB Kwik Weld went.

Another angle:

The small stack of washers as how they looked before the big washers were installed:

Another angle:

This is the other side, I need to redo it to match the passenger side.

Can't forget the newly installed radius arm bushings:

Random pic

Results:

I still need to tighten stuff all the way down and redo the driver's side yet, so I still won't have it for awhile.

I do have one question though,

Does this look right?

The second and third coil on each side is really close to each other, it makes a clunk when I go over a bump. But my shocks aren't connected either, I will try to see if it will make a difference with the shocks connected.

superds · Apr 7, 2011

How thick did you stack those washers? Seems like quite a bit.

I would go with the shackle lift in the rear. But the picture of it in the parking lot doesn't look too bad the way it is without the rear lifted.

mp3deviant721 · Apr 7, 2011

superds said:
How thick did you stack those washers? Seems like quite a bit.

I would go with the shackle lift in the rear. But the picture of it in the parking lot doesn't look too bad the way it is without the rear lifted.

1.62 in. 9 washers at .180 in each. I'm kind starting to regret it, I might actually take it back apart and take a washer off each side. Everything on the front end seems stretched to the limit.

And at this point, I am really starting to think about a lift kit again, this actually just seems like too much of a hassle for a couple inches of lift. I guess this will do me for now, as I was getting sick of looking at my truck with a 3 in rake.

Edit:

F*** it. I'm going to remove two washers from each side so that my lift isn't so dramatic. And I guess I will have to add some washers underneath the bottom bushing of the shock to let me remount it. Ugggh. I can't believe it's bothering me this much.

2WD Budget Build......

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