solid axle swap

[Blueranger99]

does anyone in here have any experience with doin a solid axle swap on a 98 and newer ranger 4x4. how hard is the swap, and what kinda cost do you run into?

[ranger_mclaren]

check out this forum insted:
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=17
If you scroll down toward bottom of page there are more threads for ya.
also click on tech library at top of page for any questions too.

[Blueranger99]

thanks ranger_mclaren. well judgin from what i read it seems like too much work. i think ill just stick to my ifs. maybe try to get a little more out of my torsion bar crankin, and bigger blocks in the rear.

[LittleBigFoot]

It's not bad if you have a good plan, correct tools, and all the parts already.

If you can weld it's much easier.

I made a cross member for the front out of 3x6 rectange tube with .25" wall. I knotched it so it'd sit in the frame rails and then welded that in, and hangers to that. Some hangers in the rear, shackle one side or the other, u bolt that biotch in, run shocks and brake lines, mount a gear box some where, fab a column, run steering linkage, build a drive shaft, and you're good to go. With leafs that is. Which is what i did.


Check out project mooseknuckle in the build threads. Not much good info, but there's some. And some pretty pictures.

[Blueranger99]

thanks man ill have to check it out. my dad can weld, and so can my landlord.

[Blueranger99]

i still think im gonna stick with my ifs. i run a set of 31 inch treadwright retreads and with my torsion bars cranked it seems like i got some pretty good ground clearance in the front which i like because that is where all the weight is. i went wheelin yesterday and went through some pretty hairy stuff no problem. im happy with it. but im lookin at gettin a second truck. my landliord has an 80s f150 4x4 with a 3 inch body lift on it. it quit runnin bout 6 months ago. i dont think the motor went, i just dont think he had any desire to work on it. it has an inline 6 with a 5 spd. im gonna try to get it for a few hundred. if i cant get the motor runnin, ill swap a 5.0 in it. then will come a 6 inch suspension lift and 35s or 37s.