Been a while since I updated, so a brief word on ongoing work, and some other interesting things.
Had the cap off the other day to haul the scrap 4.0 and the D35 I'm swapping in for a front axle, so I snapped a photo.
Next steps are to finish prep work on the new frame and get the new axles hung. Dana 35 from a 1994 Ranger, and 8.8 limited slip off an Explorer. Despite the severe gear reduction the 31" tires gave me, I'm sticking with 3.73 gears for now. I may change them later, but I'm quite happy with how low my RPMs stay on the highway. 2.9 isn't want for power either, and still readily passes at 70-75mph.
I should note, when I bought it with 205/70/15 tires on it, the truck would not exceed 60 mph, even downhill. I think I've done alright.
If the winter goes as planned, I'm hoping to have my frame swap finished by spring, just so I can take it all apart again next winter to do the body work lol
Amazing how far the little guy has come, and I know how much further I have to go. But, for daily driving it, I'm mostly satisfied with the progress.
Don't know if I mentioned this in my build thread, but I found out that my Ranger rolled off the line the day I was born in 1987. I knew we were close in age, but never would have guessed we both rolled off the line the same day. That, to me, was a clear sign that it and I are sticking together till they bury me; I'll never give up on it, no matter what happens.