"Big Darla" Build Thread

[XionicWaste]

Most Recent Truck Picture:




Modifications from front to back:
Custom clean tube bumper
8500 Lb Superwinch
Custom Grill (Chopped)
Euro Style Clear Corner Headlights
Hood Pins
Re-centered Stock Front Fenders
Warn Premium Hubs
4" Front Stretch
1979, F150 Dana 44 Solid Axle (Narrowed to 60") Spool and Self Regeared to 4.88
Solid Diff Cover
F250 Shocks and Towers in the Front
XJ 6.5" (180ppi) Coils
1 Ton (Dana 60) Tie Rod Ends
1.5x.25 Drag Link and Tie Rod.
Early Bronco ChroMoly Shafts with 760x Ujoints
On-board Air Using Stock AC Compressor with Homemade oil/air seperator.
38.5x14.50X15s Super Swamper TSL SX on Trail Ready Aluminum Beadlocks
Warm Weather Bar Doors
Quick Release Door Pins
Painted Dash
CD/IPOD Deck
CB Radio
Aftermarket Seats
5 Point Harness (now only a lap belt)
True Flat Belly Skid
Manual 1350- Manual 1354 Doubler (Homemade sector shaft and plate)
15.5 Gallon Beer Keg (Half Barrel) Gas Tank
Full Tube Bed
Rear Axle Moved Forward 8"
Explorer 31 Spline 8.8 Limited Slip Re-geared To 4.88
F250 Shock Towers Out Boarded (Rear).
12" Travel F250 Rear Shocks
Cherokee Leafs, running them backwards with one explorer leaf.
Custom Tacoma 5/8ths offset shackles
60" High Lift Jack with Custom Mount
Moss Paint Job
112" Wheelbase with 3" lift

*Wish List*
Rear Selectable Locker
31 Spline 8.8 ChroMos on 5x5.5
Rear 3000lb Winch Mounted Over the Rear Axle
Small Exo Cage (Only Over The Cab)
Axle Wrap Issue
Bend Control Arms (hang down too far)
Finish Center Post For Coil Springs
Gusset trailer hitch
Rear Brake Line Mounts
8.8 Truss
Finish Wood Bed
Skin the full fenders
Fix seat/new seat
finish small exo
rock lights
more headlights
front brake line routing
Rear Brake Line Mounts
Roll or recut Fenders
tune CB
Paint
front bumper strenghen






So I know a few you heard about my truck getting totaled in Denver, CO. during my axle re-gear.
Old truck now totaled, as you can see the frame is jacked up:

Frame welds cracked:

Fan and radiator pushed in the engine:



Well I got a new truck and Ive done a fair amount of work on her and its about time for a build thread.
Here she is stock with my buddy's jeep on 35's next to it:


The truck is a 97 Ranger, 4x4, 4.0L, 154k miles, 5-speed, long bed, manual hubs, and a hydrolic plow for $2500. The truck got sucked in a ditch and was pinned against 2 trees. Thats why the body is kinda jacked up. The bumper is pretty messed up too from when they pulled it out.

I think I'll name her Darla... Little Darla now, Big Darla later!

Well I had a Moab, UT trip planned before my truck got totaled and the trip was in 5 days so let operation Moab or bust begin!

It was, and still is, the middle of winter and I had no decent place to work on a truck so I found a decent shop/garage to rent for 25 dollars a day.

My plan was to swap my 4" lift, both axles, and my new 35's before the Moab trip.

New 35's with stock suspension:

35's next to stock wheels:


Step one get the bed and plow off:

So I found out they welded the plow on... Bring out Mr. Grinder.


Well I wanted to get both trucks in the shop but the beams made it damn near impossible to get the trucks in there. I got the bright idea to buy a rolling jack and swing the trucks in.
ickle wickle jack:

I found out if you turn the steering wheel enough times without the truck on, power steering fluid will pump out of the reservoir...


Got both trucks in:


Now off with the back axle's, Cindy-lou's (thats the name of the old truck) axle off (picture of my buddy):
I used the 64 inch chevy leafs and the belltech 6400 shackles. Also the new 31 spline explorer 8.8:


Now off with the 8.8 on Darla:

Got the axle and leafs mounted:


She sits a little hot rod now:

Project fuel:

Lil guy all tuckered out... Thats what beer, pizza and a 14 hour day will do to ya I guess:


Now with the front suspension:

The front axles took us the longest from them not easily lining up and no pictures :( sorry.

We actually got the axles and lift kit swapped!



Off to MOAB we go!




I broke my locking hub on the obstacle behind this picture:

Trail fix:



Well it turns out that I had the wrong locker and there was too large of a gap inside the locker ( between the pins and springs) and the pins sheared the springs and with no pressure against the springs the truck only has 2 wheel drive because the locker wont engage. (powertrax locker and there is a carrier difference between a Dana 35 with ABS and non ABS.) A new locker spacer/locker carrier is on the way!) Me getting towed off the trail:



We had to cut the trip short one day because of my truck being broke, but had a good time non the less!

New project, strip everything I can off of my old truck before the insurance company takes it away. I pulled off the fiberglass fenders, snorkel, light bar, interior, seats, deck, etc.
Cleaned the interior and installed the seats and the deck:

I also got one fiberglass fender on:
\


I found out my tire was being cut by my stock fenders so I decided to chop em' right where the silver molding was:





I gave her a lil bath... she looks good:

Still need the other fender and snorkel on:

Pretty good view of the tow hooks and the leafs and shackles:

Thats all ive got for you guys now! More to come when the weather gets nicer.

[WesB]

Nice transformation. looks like a good time at Moab.

Lookin good!

[crawlin91]

Moab is awesome, can't wait to get back out there.
Local club is Running Chinamanns Gulch in Buena Vista on 6/11/11 and doing some camping all weekend if you would like to join us PM me and I will get you the info. There will be alot of other Rangers there.

[XionicWaste]

Damn I will be back in Wisconsin for the summer in June... Im in Colorado till mid May. I am going to easter jeep safari however.

[Viva*the*Ranger]

Sweet build ya got man. Keep up posted on the progress!

[XionicWaste]

thanks for the support, im going to install a low profile sub right now.

[dieseldane]

Sweet man, nice to see that kind of determination.

[XionicWaste]

Well my new locker coupler came the other day... Much to my surprise only one side came... Apparently they're not sold as a pair. I went to order a new one but a new coupler now costs 92 dollars and Im not looking to put too much more money into this project. I ended up using the new coupler and making a washer out of 22 gauge sheet metal. I got the clearance I was looking for. I installed the locker and pulled the axle off for I hope to be the last time.


I also bought a low profile sub and installed that. FYI never buy the Boss low profile subs because they have terrible reviews but I got one anyway and it fried in 10 mins. Instead of send the sub back and spend 30 more dollars I just wired the sub up to my 1000W amp. Works pretty well now.





Were supposed to get one hell of a snow storm tomorrow but if we dont Im going to work on the other fiberglass fender/ snorkel combo and paint them. Thats it for now!

[XionicWaste]

So that snow storm did come today and I really didnt want to work in the snow... Maybe sometime this week I can get the fenders done.