My 99 Ranger Build Thread

RJLougee · Jun 21, 2018

Lower link mounts were easy, getting the upper mounts for the rear meant a nice cross-member. This will serve three purposes:
1. Upper link mounts and they are adjustable for anti-squat.
2. It will tie the left and right frame rails together.
3. It will keep the rear driveshaft from hitting the ground and "pogoing" the back end at speed.

All the links in and adjusted:

Uppers are 1.5", .25" wall DOM, 3/4" heims at each end. Lowers are 2", .25 wall DOM, with 1.25" Johnny Joints at the front end, 1.25" heims at the back. All links are built with left and right threads on each, installed opposing directions (meaning the front lowers are left on one side and right the other).

It's hard to see in there, but the rear of the Atlas also has a brace to keep it mounted to the tubing.

Jim Oaks · Jun 21, 2018

Some serious fab work going on there.

BlackBII · Jun 21, 2018

Awesome. Really good work here man. :icon_thumby:

RJLougee · Jun 22, 2018

Jim Oaks said:
Some serious fab work going on there.

BlackBII said:
Awesome. Really good work here man.

Thank you gentlemen.

RJLougee · Jun 22, 2018

Parting shot from Wednesday evening, mock up of the rear shocks/brackets. I'm not sure that's how I'm going, but visualizing...

RJLougee · Jun 22, 2018

Thursday got the rear hoop parts built/on. Still not 100% where the spare tire will end up, either on the outside just above the bend, or inside angled forward.

Then I pushed the body out of the shop and cleaned up some of the mess...

You can see the frame/chassis is sitting directly on the axles/links. No bending, no muss. Everything clears at (well beyond) full bump:

RJLougee · Jun 22, 2018

And today I took it all apart so I can finish welding up the chassis, put some more bracing on, get the trans rebuilt, etc... Finished up just in time to avoid the thunder storms...

RJLougee · Aug 31, 2018

Finally, an update.... Been busy, since I'm trying to build four rigs at the same time and it, wheeling season, so also trying to get out, test rigs, fix them up, etc...

Change of plans (# *whatever..). Decided to pull the 408 stroker out of the Bronco and use it to power this rig.

Donor vehicle, after...

Part of this is to also add the Explorer serpentine/shorter accessories to the front. Here, pulling the water-pump and timing chain off.

Test fitting the Explorer assy on:

RJLougee · Aug 31, 2018

One thing I was not happy about, was the L/R angle of the front radius arms. So... I decided to cut off part of the drivers side leaf spring perch so I can move the mount in a little.

RJLougee · Aug 31, 2018

Working on getting the rear axle all welded up with brackets, etc...

And done, everything all welded up and painted a boring black.....

RJLougee · Aug 31, 2018

And freaking HOURS..... spent welding up the chassis and all the brackets, mounts, etc....

And plenty of gussets inner/outer where tubes join.

Grunizzle · Sep 4, 2018

Dang, I can’t imagine building 4 rigs at once! This is going to be awesome when it’s done. That stroker will be fun in this

RJLougee · Nov 10, 2018

Grunizzle said:
Dang, I can’t imagine building 4 rigs at once! This is going to be awesome when it’s done.

And this is why I feel like it takes forever to get stuff done. A little here, a little there, next thing you know, nothing has changed.... Although, I was kind of laid off and had no paying work for four and a half months, I did get other stuff done.

Seriously, The RV is almost done, just gotta get the front accy on and go though the EFI system.

The '70 Bronco made it down to the LEBC get together in Ouray, brought the new dog, Ajax. Did Imogene, Black Bear Pass, Yankee Boy Basin, etc... And got some fishing in with buddies.

Got the '83 Bronco ready, took it to the CCB get together in Buena Vista. Did Grizzly Lake and Chinamans Gulch. We were on Grizzly the day the gal roller her Jeep on Iron Chest and died, sad event. FYI, Grizzly and Iron Chest are literally about a half mile apart at the bottom.

The '72 Bronco is running/driving, but I have a trans leak I have to fix yet.

Then did a few other wheeling trips with friends, including Holy Cross.

Once that was done, time for archery season. Spent a couple great weeks in the woods, never closed the deal, but had a blast anyway. Chased a nice 6x6 around for a week, just couldn't get him within 50 yds.

And now, back on my head....

RJLougee · Nov 10, 2018

Working on Frame Painting, Engine, etc...

Some pics of the engine with the Explorer Accy on the front. And yes, you can put Explorer Accy on a 351W block, as long as it's the newer blocks. All the Accy bolt onto the head, just needs to have the right heads. E7TE or equivalent... In this case, Aluminum AFR 185s...

Joe

RJLougee · Nov 10, 2018

Paint, Assy Start

Spent some time painting the frame while it was up-side down. Then flipped it over and got things started back together for the shock mounts and front cross-member.

A little interference between the bottom of the hood and the top of the intake:

Nothing a little cut-off wheel can't fix:

And so much better....

My 99 Ranger Build Thread

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