23 year old truck built by 21 year old.

So I have now newly acquired another ranger.
I have given up on the b2 for my favorable extra-cab flat/tube bed idea.
I will want input wherever someone feels it to be prudent.
Here's my bio to start this whole thing off.
My name is Chris I served in the Navy and built bombs for them.
My first vehicle was a 84 Nissan 720 4x4 5spd I loved that truck drove it back from Florida in 2 days to Oregon and got 30mpg!!!! (Sold)
Second was a 2000 Ford Ranger (Rolled)
85 B2 (soon to be gone and outa my life)
Now to the current news
91 Ranger Extra-Cab 4.0l 5spd
Lifted 4 inches on 33x12.5x15
Blown Motor in the process of getting newer motor cleaned up and ready to install.







This is going to be my semi DD until summer time when I will Ride to MotorBike
This truck IS going to get a full width Dana 44 And 9in.
Cant tell if I want to go 35s or 37s (wont go bigger)
This Truck Is also going to get in the Future a OM617.952 (see 1991fordranger1)
What I am still in the process of figuring out is what transmission to use.
I am stuck between
M5OD-R2 (125 Pounds)
Toyota W56 (unknown Weight at the moment but I can lift on one handed with my broken hand, and if anyone wants to share the weight I will update it.)



I am planning on boxing the entire Frame in and adding a few more cross sections to stiffen up the frame(I want the suspension to do the flexing ride quality not the frame)



I know I am going to be running a doubler as I like to do all kinds of trails climbs and what have you I do plan running a slightly better gear as this is going to be my expedition rig as well ( I plan on a trip to moab and Alaska)



I would like to run coilovers and a 3 link or maybe 4 link (Need input)
The real is maybe staying leaf sprung might goto coils and a link (need input)



With the Flat/tube bed Idea I want to add a larger tank (I know a bronco ii tank will fit in there but maybe custom make one I always want to TiG)

Anys Questions or comments is very much appreciated. I love the Criticisms.
Oh and the reason I may take the toyota trans is it can take the abuse as it has proven time and time again (the adapter to the om617 is much cheaper and toyota transfer cases are strong as shit as well (same with the ford ones))

Any ways I don't want this to just be a dead thread I want this to help people learn or see things they wish they can do for themselves.
so please keep er alive as i will post something hopefully once a week with new updates for right now things are gonna go slow since it's winter now 2014.
Today marks a week since I brought it home and so the process begins.

Mine is in back My buddies is in front ( Day we brought her home)

Parts are coming in and replacement motor is home
I have a marady of new and or used parts on their way here.
Today I got the new water pump and fan blade (fan clutch is on its way)

Last night we pulled the oil pan and water pump off.
And started the neber ending process of scraping off the old paper gasket.
And the next task is to change vavle cover gaskets as well

Having problems getting the starter solenoid to work bought a new one and am going to go through grounds and see if I missed any.

It was just the starter solenoid. He is up and running!
This guy is a nice nice runner.!

My new question is when I am out of gear I don't know if it is the trans or the t case.
When I put it in gear it goes aways.
But when I start forward momentum it whines like crazy again I don't know what it is.

So I o o i cked up some used kicks the other day and noticed once we went and played in the snow that I has an open diff I only thought since I was spinning both before I has a l/s but it was cause they were both bald.
My question is can I just go and grab on outa an explorer amd slap it on in there?
Also has anyone put a dana 35 l/s from a jeep rear in there front ttb I know they'll work just wanna know what experience people have had.

Why not put a lock right (or other locker that replaces the spider gears) in it and call it good? Then you don't have to set up the gears again. You are talking about installing it in the front right?

Dprocks100 said:

Why not put a lock right (or other locker that replaces the spider gears) in it and call it good? Then you don't have to set up the gears again. You are talking about installing it in the front right?

Click to expand...

im not afraid of setting up the gears but the lock rite makes since as well I just dont want to throw money at this thing since im getting a hp44 & 9in in here

Blew the intermediate shaft on my trans the other day. So I went to the bone yard and picked one up for 190 way cheaper than one from the they pull yards (I used to work for one) they all wanted 5-600 for one.
My rig rides a hell of alot better and is quiter then before.

Anyone have any advise on rebuilding steering + wheel bearing on these ttbs?