What your running and how it's dropped

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

Ok, lets get things going again. Post up what year your truck is and how it's dropped. Pro's and con's, tire sizes, shocks, sway bars, anything that may help someone out.

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

1996 Ranger
Dropped 5'' front 6'' rear
I used 2'' drop coils and 3'' beams up front
Installed 3'' drop leaves in the rear but netted 6''
I also have a GEN II Ranger rearend that is 2'' shorter than the Gen III
Currently running 15x8 rims with a -11mm offset. 225-60 up front and 275-60 out back
Will be changing the rims combo to 15x7 front with 15x10 in the rear.
I have KYB MonoMax shocks up front with Toxics in the rear
HellWig sway bars front and rear.

I like my drop set up because I didn't have to notch my frame in the rear. Without flipping the axle over I still have enough clearence for suspension travel. The truck handles very well and surprises most people. I do rub my wheelwells on large dips and scrape the front 4x4 valance on certain roads if I don't slow down. My tranny crossmember is bent due to me trying to get in certain driveways but that will be replaced with one from suicidedoors.com along with the radius crossmember.

James

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

Come on guys, there has to be more street guys around than just me here now.

James

[92prostreetranger]

Hey James i see that you said you lowered your truck with the DJM dream beams and 2" coils. Im a doing the same thing on my 92 that im making in to a pro street Ranger. Did you have an alingment problems. Thanks for the help.
Jake

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

I actually have ChassiTech beams I believe. I got the aftermerket eccentrics and had them installed at the same time. No problems and my alignment was done old school YEARS ago. My tires wear fairly even still.

[gwalkup]

I'm working on lowering a bII. Still experimenting.

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

Those BII seem to be popping up in magazine show coverage shots on a regular basis. They look killer sitting down low.

James

[jmzneal]

drop springs and beams flipped blocked rear end and notched...ma809 air shocks from Monroe and removed swaybars in rear...broke swaybar bracket up front due to extreme prssures(i reckon ???) the speaker box, 2 extra bats, 2 amps, and 2 subs weight it down another inch...so i have a 6/9 drop..i also have spring compressers on the front b/c the rear was too low...I tuck the side walls of my 225/45 R18s with MB Gunner 5 off road Wheels from Direct Discount Tires... I'd bag it but i would have to redo my bed for the bridge bars.
I've also replaced the Tranny Xmember and Radius Arms with low pro ones from SuicideDoors.com b/c the speed mountains at work were doing a number on them.
It would be aligned if i took it to a shop but it's a waste of time unless i replace the tires. (i've had them for 1.5 years now and put probably 40,000 on them) luckily i rotate and have them flipped on the wheel ever now and again so they have lots of wear left yet. Here my PS pic and a reg pic...I still need to finish my body kit from stillen also.
http://www.axcessmypics.com/photos/photo02/43/6e/dcf2b1b5b606.jpg
http://www.axcessmypics.com/photos/photo01/df/d7/44e870ad1894-2.jpg
http://www.axcessmypics.com/photos/photo02/54/93/e614a00361f5.jpg

[envious8420]

i never measured it before i started on it so idk how much it dropped.

djm dream beams
2in coils
flip kit
2in. blocks

full shave
92 caddy tail lights
svo scoop
cut grille
angled plate in gate

89 prelude seats
dyed int black
tv/dvd/ps1
custom console/sub box

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

jmzneal:

Nice man. Looks good.

envious:

Still love your truck man. I am surprised you haven't gotten it painted yet.

James

[envious8420]

still more bodywork to do.

got a set of 04 caddy dhs tails for it.
the ones with 96 leds per side.

it had to sit for the last year for lack of space to work on it.
but we just bought a new house with a very nice 2.5 car garage...

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

Nice, I wish I had the skills to do that sort of stuff. Of course I probably wouldn't be married at this point. I can dig the 2.5 car garage. I have a single but it's deep and at least gives me room to work on the engine or under it. I "could" do brakes and such if I had to.

I am hoping that once my engine is in, the truck will be getting some fresh metal. I noticed this year my passenger side door is starting to show its age on the bottom side. My tailgate has long since started its typical rusting at the bottom. But the engine MUST come first!

James

[envious8420]

yeah fords tail gates suck!
why in the world would they put the water drain 2in. above the lowest edge is beyond me.

(mines doing it too)
getting ready to sand blast it all out and weld a patch into it.

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

Hell, I am just going to get a new gate and fill the bottom edge with something to bring it up to the drain holes. It has to be one of the dumbest things I've seen. I think the water gets in between the folded edge between the front and back and that is where it starts to rust. If you could fill the crack in, it should solve most of the problems.

James

[89fordranger]

Hi guys and girls. Im new to the ranger game, but i have an 89 for ranger. 2.9 5sp. Im a car guy, and ive owned everything form nothcback mustangs, smokey and the bandit trans ams, to zo6 corvettes. I have since hit a low in my life and now i drive a the ranger. I really am loving it though. So far i have been just fixing the small stuff that it needs. Its a blast and the 2.9 moves. It hasnt been to the track yet but i promise ill get it there. This now leads me to a question. As not really a truck guy, but i know cars, i think i can flip the rear on this thing, and maybe buy springs for the front and lower it. Dont have much knowledge on this topic, but can somebody point me in the starting direction of lowering this thing. It needs shocks right now, and im not looking to do any suspension work until i know how to lower it.....thanks an american car guy.

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

First you need to decide how low you want to go. You can do dropped I-Beams for 3'' of solid drop. If you go with the 2'' coils, you probably won't net a true 2'' since the stock coils have sagged a bit form age. Combine the two and you have a 5'' drop. If you do use coils to lower your truck, get aftermarket eccentrics so a shop can put you back in alignment.

The rear is endless. For dropping cheap and about 2'' flip your shackles. The only cost is time and some bolts. You can do a flip kit for cheap as well and net 4-5''(you'll want to notch the frame too). There is also the option of ordering drop leaves to get the drop you want. The you can start mixing and matching methods.

If you've mess with cars, alot of the same rules apply. Just take what you know and try it. Got a question, ask it. Welsome to TRS too.

James

[jetcjcski]

my 94 was dropped with dream beams, torched springs, and the flip kit. stock shocks front and rear, had to move to shorter front tires for rubbing issues, and eventually got sick of hitting crossmembers on things so it went back up to stock. somehow I got about 7 inches lower all around. Stock swaybars too.

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

True, the crossmembers become an issue, but they can be replaced with units from suicidedoors.com. The price from them is good and you'll probably be due for radious arm bushings and a tranny mount anyway. So you are half way there in the labor department.

James

[bluovaldude]

Wow definitely been a while since I got to post here, but
Bit about my truck I have a 2005 Ford Ranger currently it is lowered with a 4/5 drop kit from DJM, Upper and lower control arms, 2in drop coils and a flip kit out back, but this Saturday it is all coming apart.

Getting a Suicide doors four link and Slam Specialties air bags on all four corners.
Look out pavement here I come.

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

Sounds good, I may bag my truck someday as well. I am still up in the air on it's ability to handle the way I like though. The more I read though and the way things are progressing in the bag department........................We'll just have to wait and see I guess. I would be happy with an adjustable coil over system. That way I won't be playing with the switches all the time lol.

James

[Zipity]

Well i am new to this board and to the lowering of ford's.. when I was just a little lad i had a 1984 GMC choped top that was already lowered. Now that i am 25 years old I want to do my own Project. I have a 1994 Ford Ranger XLT. What would be the best combination of parts to lower it just to where i don't have to modifiy the frame. i plan on doing alot to this truck so this is going to be my first modifcation. here are a few pictures of it as it is now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/zipitydoda/truck/DSC01972.jpg

this is just before i took the topper off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/zipitydoda/truck/DSC02004.jpg

after i get this bad boy on the ground then i am shaving the rear bumper. i want the full truck to have a smooth look. I am going to make the bed smooth on the inside and move my gas cap to the inside of my bed. I can weild some so it might be easy but i am going to try and not **** it up to bad. Hehe. This is going to be a project.

Got another question that i forgot to post.

Have you guys seen anyone use a peice of plexy (sp?) glass for the rear window of a truck?

[bluovaldude]

Ehh plexi will work for you, but depends on how you want it to look.
Lowering that things is going to be a blast, You can probably go as low as 5/7 drop. Up front you are going to need 3in drop I beams and either cut the springs or get 2in drop springs, out back flip the axle over the springs and you should be some what close to what you are looking for.

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178313
Try this page it should answer the rest of your questions.

[Zipity]

thank you that helped alot

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

I am dropped 5/6 and haven't touched a thing on my frame. I don't have a c-notch either and don't need one. I went with drop leaves for my truck. The only thing I have done is cut the bump stops in half. If you go with the flip kit, you'll need to notch more than likely. If that doesn't bother you, then go for it. It's the ceapest way to get that low. Also, DO NOT cut your coils. It is not the way to go. New drop coils are cheap, do it once and do it right.

JAMES

[Zipity]

illegal can u post the items you use to drop your truck. Yours looks the way i want mine in height wise. could you give me some good places to buy the items i will need. I plan on doing all the work myself with my wifes help alittle. so i want to have everything i need when i start. I really do not want to cut or notch anything.

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

It been a long time since I dropped my truck but I'll see what I can remember, I think everything is ChassiTech. I ordered the coils from AIM, the beams and leaves came from zmotive.com. You can order from anywhere really, and you could also use the Dream Beams from DJM (they are cheaper). Don't forget to get the aftermarket eccentrics so the alignment can be put back in spec. Shop around, sometimes someone has the best price on one thing while not on another, don't forget to include shipping charges if you don't buy local.

I did my truck a section at a time. I started by removing the middle leaf out back (DON"T DO THIS). It dropped the truck just below the height of the front. I then ordered the 2'' coils and ran that way for a year or so. Then the rear started to sag, I installed air shocks trying to ignore what I knew was really going on. Then I ordered 3'' drop leaves. They netted me 6'' for some reason but it didn't bother me too much. I kept the air shocks for another year or so and got the 3'' beams. It doesn't all have to happen at once.

Don't forget to at least get new rear shocks. The fronts will be OK since the coils are the only thing effecting that distance.

James

[bluovaldude]

Check the link I posted a little bit upwards, it has everything needed to lower and alot of places to find and buy the right equipment.

[Zipity]

my question was suppose to be more of a perticular one. So here is a better question. Which combination can i use to lower my truck the lowest i can get it without notching or cutting anything on my vehicle. I really just want to be able to change out a few parts and it would be lowered.

[bluovaldude]

my question was suppose to be more of a perticular one. So here is a better question. Which combination can i use to lower my truck the lowest i can get it without notching or cutting anything on my vehicle. I really just want to be able to change out a few parts and it would be lowered.

I must have misread things. But to put your truck lower and not have to cut anything, You are going to need lowering beams and drop springs up front, and flip the rear axle, would be the cheapest, but if price is not an issue lowering leafs would work for you.

Ans then maybe, just maybe, If you would want to do a bag over axle setup. You can get a mini bolt in c-notch , does not take a lot out of frame and no cutting in bed, then mount you bags outside the frome to the axle and your notch.
This would put you almost to the gas tank with a pretty good ride also.

Just a thought.

The post I previously made was to give you the right products and places to find them, the lowest combination would be up to you.

[Zipity]

ty blu for both post. They both give me alot of insite on what i need to do to get my truck to the ground. When i get it ther i will post more pictures.

[bluovaldude]

Sounds good, sounds like it is going to be a fun prodject.

[Zipity]

Another Question. If i want to put bags on the vehicle do i need to use a lowering kit to?

[bluovaldude]

You can and it will always help get it lower.
But if you are running the I beams you are going to want to get the lowering beams. The lower you start the easier it is going to be for you in the long run.
Then there is always the yota clip that most guys like to use also. They like to swich fron the I beam suspnsion to control arms. How ever I have not heard to many of them going to the 98-up suspension but it can be done.
And then again if money not going to be a problem go with the mustang II front suspension and get yourself some drop spindles too.
But that is all up to you.

So in sumery if you are wanting to go with air bags latter on then I would say yes go with the lowering kit with I beams, and you will be almost half way there when you want to bag it.

[ZMan]

hmm i forgot about this forum when we switch...well heres what I got..

Flipped hangers out back
Helwig rear sway bar
Drop coils up front (unknown origin)
Edelbrock IAS shocks
17" mustang wheels
245/50 BFG Scorcher tires

It rides stiff as a board, the front tires rub the fenders on every bump, not to mention its just about sitting on the bumpstops up front. I'm thinking it could use 245/45 tires up front at least. Handles decent, I love the tires.

[gfbgreaser289]

im about to start my build. just been collecting parts since ive been over here in the sand box. i have a 89 shortbed with a 5 speed.
parts list.
djm f150 drop beams (for bigger brakes and stronger lug pattern)
q1a coilovers with 800lbs (front) 600(rear).
boze mesh 18x9's with 5" bs (front)
boze mesh 18x10's with 5" bs (rear)
fullwidth ford 9" from a 86 bronco with 4.88's and a auborn mini spool 35 spline mosers.
mounted on 64 chevy truck rear trailing arms with a panhard bar.
glassworks unlimited 3" raised 3" buldged fenders and bedsides
1" center drop hood with 8" cowl outlaw hood.
355W patriot performance heads mahle 11.5:1 eagle Hbeam rods msd 6al box and billet dizzy taylor 10.4mm red wires.
edlebrock air gap. bbf 1.73 roller rockers lunati voodoo cam barry grant 850 mighty demon
1968 ranchero top loader 4speed( this is sitting around i would like a wc t5)
1986 ford f250 bell housing and flywheel 12" zoom clutch f250 slave with ranger master.
i plan on using this truck for drifting and drag racing. will be shooting 100/150 shot by edlebrock. ill get pictures of the truck in about 6 weeks when i get home. still buying parts though so we'll see what comes next

[ZMan]

im about to start my build. just been collecting parts since ive been over here in the sand box. i have a 89 shortbed with a 5 speed.
parts list.
djm f150 drop beams
boze mesh 18x9's with 5" bs (front)
boze mesh 18x10's with 5" bs (rear)
fullwidth fort 9" from a 86 bronco.
glassworks unlimited 3" raised 3" buldged fenders and bedsides
1" center drop hood with 8" cowl outlaw hood.
355W patriot performance heads mahle 11.5:1 eagle Hbeam rods msd 6al box and billet dizzy
1968 ranchero top loader 4speed
i plan on using this truck for drifting and drag racing. will be shooting 100/150 shot by edlebrock. ill get pictures of the truck in about 6 weeks when i get home.
that should be very interesting.+

[gfbgreaser289]

it will be very different and if i cant get the tire/rims perfectly fit in the baja fenders it will look so gay. i have all the stuff sitting in boxes at home and a truck that i have only seen once so it will be very interesting. i have built alot of rangers (15) with small blocks and never have i ever lowered one. i will have a full build thread from start to finish so yall can see it unfold or collapse.

[ZMan]

I'm thinking you might need bigger wheels, or some tall tires to fill those fenders.

[Dsc Motorsports]

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i271/masono/MASON001.jpg


its dropped 5" in rear and 3" in front the front still needs to be lower but itll come with the motor swap i have planned! it otta squat it down another 1 1/2 - 2"!!

[bluovaldude]

That my friend is purty. UH we might need a NSFW tag on that one. Almost got caught.

[treefiddy]

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/tree_fiddy/treefiddysmazda1.jpg

'96 Mazda B2300
full Belltech kit
5in front 5.5in rear
3in from the I beams
2in from the front springs
flip kit and small blocks in rear
nitro drop shocks
15in wheels w/ 205/65's

... love the setup, but even with the smaller tires i still managed to rub holes in the plastic inner fender liner on big bumps and dips on the highway... I knew what I was getting into though:headbang:

[bluovaldude]

That is a good looking Mazda you got there.

[treefiddy]

That is a good looking Mazda you got there.

Thank you very much!