89 STX, High rider?

[motopete]

I have a 89 STX, I'm pretty sure it's a high rider. It definatly stock, and sits higher than most rangers do. It's got 3" blocks in the rear, and looks to have the drop brkts in the front. I fit 31" tires no problem. From what I've read Ford stopped putting the high rider kit in, in 88. Could mine sill be a high rider? Are canadian models different?

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

maybe its an early 89
thats why it has the high rider pack still

[adsm08]

sure sounds high-rider. Maybe a PO grabbed the 88 parts and put them on.

[motopete]

Yeh, it's a 02/89 bulid date. So maybe it's a carry over

[countryboy]

got pics of the radius arm brackets

[snoranger]

Ford may not have called it the high rider package in '89, they might have called it the sport rider package. What ever they called it in '89, I had one with the same lift. If you want to be sure that its factory, look at the radius arm drop brackets. If they're riveted to the frame then they're stock, if they're bolted then they may not be stock.

[footee]

Originally Posted by motopete

Yeh, it's a 02/89 bulid date. So maybe it's a carry over

Working at a Ford plant, since 2000, our model change for the F150 has always been right around July of the previous model year, meaning, we have been building 2010 trucks since July or August and will change to 2011 model trucks again this July. My point here is, I don't think a 2/89 is an early build date. I doubt things were any different back then. The idea behind it being, get the new model built, tested and bugs worked out before the year actually comes up. Just my 2 cents.

I had a 92 Ranger that had 3" blocks in the rear too btw. The front brackets were all riveted but the truck did seem to sit higher than most. Could have been the reg cab long bed of it but once I lifted it and put 35s on it, it was definitely taller.

[snoranger]

Originally Posted by footee

The front brackets were all riveted but the truck did seem to sit higher than most.

Your right, they are all riveted. But if it has DROP BRACKETS between the frame and radius arm brackets, that are riveted to the frame, then it has the factory lift.

[straycat]

Originally Posted by motopete

I have a 89 STX, I'm pretty sure it's a high rider. It definatly stock, and sits higher than most rangers do. It's got 3" blocks in the rear, and looks to have the drop brkts in the front. I fit 31" tires no problem. From what I've read Ford stopped putting the high rider kit in, in 88. Could mine sill be a high rider? Are canadian models different?

Well, I bought my 99 2wd Ranger Supercab new, July 99 and it sat taller then several other Rangers in the dealers lot. Several of my buddies with 97 and 98Rangers thought I had put a lift on it right after I drove it over to show it off. My buddy Ron bought a new 2000 Splash the next year and he saw mine sitting next to his one day and he wondered why my truck sat much higher then his truck.
Maybe some just sat a bit higher then others? The year Firestone had those recalls on their tires I put on Gooryear A/T tires from Tire Kingdom. I bought a new set of 30x10.5x15 and had plenty of room in the fender well area. Two weeks later a buddy brought over his old Jeep Wrangler wheels and tires from his rock krawler prodject he was starting and we mounted his 31x10.5 setup and they fit pretty good for no lift. That is how I got the idea to put a lift on my truck the next year and went with 33's and then two years later I added the 3" BL.

One good note....Firestone sent me a check for $170.00 after I sent them my receipt for buying new tires at Tire Kingdom. At least I got something back.

Straycat

[gw33gp]

All 4WD 89 STX Rangers had the equivalent of the high rider suspension according to the sales brochure. As mentioned before, it was called Sport Rider. I bought a new very late build 89 STX that had the factory lift and it definitely sat higher than a standard stock 4WD 89 Ranger. It was such a late build that it had some 90 Ranger parts on it. From what I understand, 89 was the last year for the factory lift on a stock Ranger.

I immediately put 31" tires on it and they fit just fine. They would rub very lightly (I think the frame but for sure not the body) when the steering was turned full lock.