My 1997 Ford Ranger project

[shaun_kite]

97 Ford Ranger EXT cab
302 V8 5.0 w/new TH400 tranny
+9 over equal length Beams and x over steering up front strapped @ 22" travel
3 Linked strapped @ 28" travel everything new in the rear end w/spool
32 Gallon fuel cell
1 3/4 bumper-bumper cage
King 2.5 bumps and coils on each corner, Had bypasses at one point but looking to buy new ones in the near future.

Looking to re-paint entire truck either hot orange or nevada blue..haven't decided yet. Currently making it street-legalish
Putting back together entire interior with all the windows, door panels, head/tail lights, all smog equip and other misc. stuff I find laying around.

Art@Sandhustlers jumping.. http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/l_ef6e5f9896f2bdaf129de5a20f5938a7.jpg

Few more..
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/16.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/6.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/11.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/10.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/IMG_0678Large.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/13.jpg

As is sits right now the front tires are donuts because it just came off a trailer and I havent put the regular ones back on yet.

Any suggestions for paint color/decals?? Sandhustlers logo and decals coming off in a couple days. Progress pics to come.

[BlackBII]

Orange = :bad:

I vote blue! :icon_thumby:

By the way, bad-ass truck man!

[RaceRanger97]

did u buy it recently from sandhustlers? i saw it was for sale

[84projectFORD]

blue all the way! very sweet truck by the way

[KELLY88]

I vote blue also. And that is a truly amazing truck!

[Sunk]

Nice truck! I agree with these guys, go with blue.

[bovaddict]

orange ftw!!!

nice truck

[ckblum]

Sick truck man. Go blue and do the graphics in white, at least that's my opinion. If I could do my truck up I would go all black with bold white and blue graphics.

[canyoncritter]

I vote for blue.

So lets see some naked pics of the tube work.

[Ranger#1]

orange ftw!!!

nice truckorange:headbang::thefinger:

[valleyvinyl84]

Sick truck man. Go blue and do the graphics in white, at least that's my opinion. If I could do my truck up I would go all black with bold white and blue graphics.

Ditto!

[shaun_kite]

Yes I bought the truck from Sand Hustlers I was going to restore it to pretty much the exact way it used to look when Chad Leising owned it right here..
http://www.off-roadweb.com/features/0612or_1997_ford_ranger_v8/index.html
I'll post up pics up the tube work tonight. I am thinking blue too but I really dig that burnt orange color it used to be.

[ckblum]

Yea man go with what you want. It's your money, your truck and your the one who's gonna get the most out of it for now. But on the flip-side being creative and original makes the thing personalized to you, as opposed to remaking something someone has already done.

I think either way it will frickin rock. It'd be hard to make a truck that sick look bad.

[grey ghost]

:icon_twisted: i'd go with burnt orange if it was mine:headbang:

[RaceRanger97]

Yes I bought the truck from Sand Hustlers I was going to restore it to pretty much the exact way it used to look when Chad Leising owned it right here..
http://www.off-roadweb.com/features/0612or_1997_ford_ranger_v8/index.html
I'll post up pics up the tube work tonight. I am thinking blue too but I really dig that burnt orange color it used to be.

very cool, i have been in love with that truck for a long time

[84projectFORD]

if your gunna put the original stickers back on id keep them the same and then paint it blue, then people will know its yours now and not come up lookin for chad when they see your truck lol. now that i see the orange is grown on me!

[97BlackBetty]

When I first read orange or blue, I was thinking General Lee orange (just was not likeing the idea). But a burnt orange or a copper like some of the newer Fords would be pretty sick, but hey, your thing, do as you want.

And I would love to see some nekkid pictures of it!

[bombsquad]

Dude That Truck Is Badass!

[shaun_kite]

Tarps coming off the truck! time to stop being lazy and begin

Operation: Turning My Race Truck To Daily Driver

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/rangatarp.jpg

Progess pics to come! SOON!

[koda6966]

=O

[bmxryder]

daaaaaammmmnnnn cant wait to see that thing rollin around vegas.

what do you have to do to make it street legal other than window, lights, and exhaust? ive heard that 4-links are illegal but im not sure if i believe that.

[shaun_kite]

windows/ lights,/ windshield wipers w/wiper motor/horn/turn signal switch/exhaust with cat and o2 sensors/rear license plate holder w/lights/thats ABOUT it. Truck will never really be "street legal" but it will be able to be registered in Nevada..even if I do get a fix it ticket or two :D
Links are legal.

[Jim Oaks]

I say stay away from orange and decals that look like what's on there now. You want people to see it as your truck, not the previous owners truck, or the previous owners old truck. It would be like marrying a woman that was always reffered to as some other guys wife or ex-wife. It would start getting old real quick.

[shaun_kite]

what was there to fix? if your talking about coils rubbing on frame rails when it was first built, that has been fixed yeah

[Jim Oaks]

What's with the black? What happened to the orange that was on it?

[shaun_kite]

Sand Hustlers bought it from Chad and said the orange was, I quote "gay" They painted it black with the gold vinyl decals.

[ckblum]

Sand Hustlers bought it from Chad and said the orange was, I quote "gay" They painted it black with the gold vinyl decals.

LOL funny. I think those guys have serious attitude problems. I remember reading the ad for this truck a few times on whiteboystoys.com and they had a similar tone except everything was WRITTEN IN CAPS lol.

I'm surprised they didn't throw on a bunch of iron cross decals too.

[shaun_kite]

I'm not sure how it was done but they said it was fixed like a year ago. We checked the front and rear and it cycles clean now- Even when Chad had it the only time it rubbed wasn't at droop or bump it was when he 3 wheeled and it articulated all to one side. The trucks stance will also be lowered about 6"

[ckblum]

If you have a leaf setup like the Giant Link Killer is there any way you could 3 wheel with leaves?

[shaun_kite]

They had a thread on DR about 3 wheeling with leaves..there was like one truck that could kinda do it but the simple answer is not really

[shaun_kite]

Like I said, it was cycled and there was no contact. One side of the truck was put all the way up on a car lift and still the coils didnt touch. No rear sway bar but it doesn't 3 wheel like I thought it would. I have yet to 3 wheel it actually and don't plan on doing so (intentionally) 3 wheeling is lame a dangerous, not my style-

[shaun_kite]

Yeah I appreciate the lookin out- Sway bar is coming at one point or another when funds allow..Blitz is a little out of my price range but I might check them out- How much is their sway bar?

[shaun_kite]

Got all new glass installed (ext cab glass still plexiglass in pic) new battery, door panels, mounted tail lights, dome lights- head lights and additional wiring tomorrow then comes exhaust and wiper motor and im set!
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/dr.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/IMG_0006.jpg

[GoodysGotaCuda]

damn thats a badass truck! i'd love to go for a ride in that monster!

[shaun_kite]

small update..

truck has passed at the DMV on near everything to be street legal. ONLY thing holding me back right now is they cant find the 2nd VIN on the truck..

[koda6966]

=O

Street legal? I'm in love!

[shaun_kite]

truck is now full registered and street legal! and it only took 8 months!
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/photo8.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/photo7.jpg

[fx2prerunner]

love this truck, lets see some action shots.

[shaun_kite]

some updates.. got some more cage work done finishing up what I wanted in the cab and the truck is running pretty stout. It's currently in the process of being painted back to the original burnt orange color which should be done within about 2 weeks. Also all the shocks are getting rebuilt and revalved. Some pics from the other day..

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/woot.jpg pulling the shocks off..

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/vroom.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/ShaunKite/DSCN0076.jpg

[kris97ranger]

glad u went with orange that was my vote haha although the flat black looked sick also do u kno how the roof light rack is done? id like one like that but with 5 lights but i dont want it leaking

[doyouquaxu]

glad u went with orange that was my vote haha although the flat black looked sick also do u kno how the roof light rack is done? id like one like that but with 5 lights but i dont want it leaking

how would 5 lights make it leak? the lights are mounted to the bar, which is then mounted to the cab and cab cage to keep the sheet metal from ripping. the lights themselves don't attach to the cab of the truck at all.

[kris97ranger]

maybe i worded it confusing but i mean i would like to do a rack like that one with 5 lights instead. i know the lights are attched to the rack but the rack is still going to be attched to the cab and thats where it would leak. so my question is how is it attached without leaking (meaning the whole rack.)

[shaun_kite]

it connects directly to my cab cage. Where it comes in through the roof is completely sealed- I think they used bondo and silicone but don't quote me on that. I can take pics if you want?

[kris97ranger]

if u want to sure but problem is i dont have a cage haha

[Quasi242]

Truck looks good.

[Carpe Demon]

Sir, you are my hero! I love the truck, it is fantastic! It's the closest thing I have seen to what my ideal truck would be yet!

I would have gone with Jalapeno Green myself, but the burnt Orange will look sweet! My dad had a burnt orange Ranger, it was awesome. Wish he never got rid of it.

Correct me if I am wrong (I usually am) but can't you install light racks without needing a cage? I mean sure if the cage is there, why not, but that's not a necessity is it?

Additionally, and this is where my lack of knowledge concerning suspensions and stuff comes into play, but I want that kind of suspension in my truck. I'm aware that I would have to install fiberglass fenders and bedsides. (Btw, is that an f-150 front end? that doesn't look like a Ranger to me, also anyone recommend a good place to find fenders?) but for years I have always wanted to transform my truck into something similar to that. Something that's street legal but wicked crazy. So I am here seeking knowledge. I apologize if my ignorance is annoying, I'm trying to learn. If anyone has books or sites where I can do research (it seems this website has a plethora of knowledge) it's much appreciated.

[Quasi242]

In my experience, Dezertrangers is the most comprehensive site when it comes to prerunner information. Good luck with the research.