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Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2009
- Messages
- 34,623
- Reaction score
- 3,613
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Dillsburg PA
- Vehicle Year
- 1987
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Engine Size
- 4.0
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
- Tire Size
- 31X10.50X15
Has anyone tried using F-150 radius arm brackets on a Ranger?
I got to thinking about this, the only thing that makes taking the trans in and out a PITA is that cross member formed by the radius arm brackets. It's original purpose was the front sway bar tucked up in it. In the later years the sway bar was moved. Now I'm sure it adds something to the rigidity and structure of the frame, but with the engine cross member only a foot in front, and the trans cross member about the same distance rear, and the body all around, I have a hard time believing it is critical. In addition to that I just repaired my Ranger frame with FSB frame metal, which was no heavier, only a bit taller. The F-series and Broncos didn't have a cross member there. Getting rid of that would make clutch and trans work a lot nicer.
I would try it, but I don't have a set sitting around to compare.
I got to thinking about this, the only thing that makes taking the trans in and out a PITA is that cross member formed by the radius arm brackets. It's original purpose was the front sway bar tucked up in it. In the later years the sway bar was moved. Now I'm sure it adds something to the rigidity and structure of the frame, but with the engine cross member only a foot in front, and the trans cross member about the same distance rear, and the body all around, I have a hard time believing it is critical. In addition to that I just repaired my Ranger frame with FSB frame metal, which was no heavier, only a bit taller. The F-series and Broncos didn't have a cross member there. Getting rid of that would make clutch and trans work a lot nicer.
I would try it, but I don't have a set sitting around to compare.
