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This
1997 Ford Ranger 4x4 is owned by Andy Waters of Moorpark,
California. Its tube frame was built by Weitzel Motorsports of
Santee, California. Additional work was done by Stewart
Raceworks of El Cajon along with Unique Metal of Oceanside,
California. The final work was done by Roper Design of Ventura,
California, and utilizes a Roper Design equal length Dana 44 TTB.
The Dana 44 uses Coyne Industries spindles and finishes off with
Wilwood Powerlite calipers and rotors. Howe Performance steering
components make sure that the Ranger is running straight and
true. This
4x4 beast is at home on Andy Waters Moorpark, California ranch Fox
3.0 quadruple bypass shocks along with Fox 2.5 coilover smooth
out the ride on. Alcoa 15x8 wheels are skinned with 35-inch
BFGoodrich KR2 tires. Power
is supplied by a Ford 5.0L stroked to 347ci’s. Roper Design
tuned equal length stainless steel headers route the spent
gasses to stainless steel Magna Flow mufflers. Other upgrades
include a complete MSD ignition system and a K&N air
cleaner. A pair of Fluidyne coolers do the job of keeping the
Ranger running cool. A
Mogi built C6 and an Altas transfer case sends the power to the
Cone Industries 9-inch rear end, and Dana 44 front axles. Both
are equipped with 4:11 gears. The
interior is designed to be fully off-road functional, but also
has a few touches of comfort. A set of Mastercraft bucket seats
and Deist Safety harnesses keep the occupants in place, while a
MOMO steering wheel, Winters floor shifter and CNC pedals give
the driver total control. The dash and console was built by
Unique Metal, and houses Auto Meter Pro-Comp Ultra-Lite gauges,
electrical switches, as well as the PCI intercom system. It also
has a Pioneer stereo system as well as a Vintage Air
Air-conditioning system. Pro Wire of Santee CA. did all of the
intricate wiring chores. Tip
Top Auto Body of Ventura covered the steel cab and fiberglass
fenders in silver paint. Unique Metal had also built out the bed
by adding various bed articles, as well as a toolbox. A quartet
of 7-inch HELLA lights have been mounted to an articulated mount
atop the bed cage that also mounts two more BFG KR’s and the
aforementioned Fluidyne coolers.
Sitting inside (and atop) the Weitzel Motorsports cage are twin BFGoodrich KR2 tires mounted on Alcoa wheels, twin electric fan-equipped Fluidyne coolers and four Hella lights.
The 347 CID Ford V8 also features a MSD ignition, K&N air filter and Roper headers.
The serpentine belt routing was drawn on the radiator shroud with a paint pen
Each side of the Weitzel Motorsports enhanced frame houses a Fox quad-bypass and 2.5 coilover shocks and bumpstops. They dampen a Roper Design equal length Dana 44 TTB that uses Coyne Industries spindles, Wilwood Powerlite calipers and rotors and Howe Performance steering components.
A combination of Fox coilover and bypass shocks, along with the long trailing arms, gives the Cone Industries 9-inch rearend plenty of travel
The Mastercraft low-back seats are held securely to the Weitzel interior cage while the Deist Safety harnesses hold the occupants safetly in place.
Unique Metal produced the beautiful aluminum dash and center console. The dash houses Auto Meter gauges as well as the PCI Race Radios comm system. Also note the A/C vents.
A Winters shifter dominates the Unique Metal center console, but there’s still enough room for the Pioneer stereo and Vintage Air air-conditioning system.
Note the larger gas pedal! A CNC brake pedal is used and a foot brace has been installed as well.
The MOMO steering wheel gives the driver a good grip, and the numerous electrical switches control lighting, pumps and fans.
Baja ready BFGoodrich KR2 tires (35x12.50x15) are mounted to forged Alcoa wheels
7-inch Hella lights are mounted on top of the bed cage, but in an articulating mount. That way they can be up when needed, and back and out of danger when not.
A pair of electric fan equipped Fluidyne coolers keeps the Mogi built C6 trans cool.
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