LS swap! finally

[Mackhedq]

Well they're finally here.

2.5x14 external resi. Springs came to out be 250/350.... so we'll see if they're too soft or not.

 

[Mackhedq]

On the final assembly! All I have left is some plumbing, engine cage, shock mounts, steering and tuning. Probably will be another month here. At this point it's just death by a million little things but all the major parts parts are in for Good. Even spent time painting the engine bay and repairing the core support.

 

[ryan]

Fits in there nicely

 

[Mackhedq]

Still working on it. Getting closer every day kinda... At least when I actually get time to work on it. Working on coilovers mounts, need a little bit more tube for headers. Drivers side needed to be completely cut up and redone. Today is a mock up day and see if I can bend some coilovers hoops up for this hoe. looking at it now i definitely could have fit 16" coilovers for all the travel. Maybe the next iteration of this truck in 9 years. if y'all never hear from me again a brick fell and hit me in the head. I'll leave the truck in my will to my dad's dog.

 

[Mackhedq]

Things are coming together pretty quickly here now. Still putting on off the annoying little details like patching the heater/ac box hole. Got the passenger side tacked together and everything seems to work nicely together. Drivers side is gonna be interesting, currently the steering box hits the coilover and lives right where the frame mount for the hoop wants to be. Will probably end up pushing the steering box even more forwards..

In action

ranger on coilovers

youtube.com

 

[Mackhedq]

Front end is back on its own weight! Kinda! Well half I guess. Passenger side is getting all the love and back on its own weight. Time to mirror it on the other side. Made two of every bracket just need to work around the brake booster. Stretching the wheelbase on the ranger was the right idea. Those 3" of extra room is perfect, tires clear firewall, coilovers not inside brake booster. On top of extending each beam I don't think I could have fit everything so well without.


So many millions of little things to do still after this. Slowly but surely I guess.

 

[Mackhedq]

Getting the driver's side together. Moved steering box even more forwards, cut the pitman arm and need to weld it 1" shorter. I believe shortening this arm will quicken up my steering too because this Toyota box is like a forklift. Also started on the driver's side engine cage too.

 

[bobbywalter]

Would have been tempted to run a c series Saginaw box.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Getting the driver's side together. Moved steering box even more forwards, cut the pitman arm and need to weld it 1" shorter. I believe shortening this arm will quicken up my steering too because this Toyota box is like a forklift. Also started on the driver's side engine cage too.

View attachment 101407View attachment 101409

Turn the pitman arms 20° each. Measure the movement at the outer end. The one that moves the most will turn the wheels the quickest.
Tldr; longer will be quicker.

 

[bobbywalter]

Turn the pitman arms 20° each. Measure the movement at the outer end. The one that moves the most will turn the wheels the quickest.
Tldr; longer will be quicker.

Smaller circle covers less ground.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Smaller circle covers less ground.

Yes, so the (brain fart, cant think of the correct term for the other end of the drag link) wheel will turn less = less quick.
Edit; when I say wheel I mean tire and rim combo.

 

[ericbphoto]

I believe shortening the pitman arm is a mistake. I yerested in seeing what you think once it's finished.

 

[Mackhedq]

Got myself a roller again. Spring rates are way too soft as I thought, I knew they sent me a SAS set up spring rates from the start. Truck looks like something again though. Will have to pull the whole driver side apart again after steering is done but at least it's on its own weight now.

 

[Blmpkn]

Idk how I havnt noticed before but those wheels are awesome.

 

[Mackhedq]

So update on everything. I ordered the wrong shocks all together. Somehow I got 14" coilovers when I thought I ordered 16". So that's why my spring rates didn't work at all. I'll end up cutting most of the engine cage out to rework the mounts. In the mean time the whole truck is wired, has fluid and just needs to be tuned. List is getting smaller by the day.