2WD Ranger Chassis

[51fordf1]

I currently have a 1951 Ford F1 that i have running on a 1996 2WD standard cab long bed Ranger Chassis. I just recently decided to start looking at making my truck into a crewcab 1951 so the whole family can ride along.
So now here is the question. Has anyone extended a Ranger chassis by 3ft.? What other mods would i need to do to make this work?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't think it is quite new enough but does it have two frame sections bolted together or is it just one continous framerail the entire length of the truck?

If is a bolt together you just bolt on an extended cab rear section which would get you more length.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I don't think it is quite new enough but does it have two frame sections bolted together or is it just one continous framerail the entire length of the truck?

If is a bolt together you just bolt on an extended cab rear section which would get you more length.

Wouldn't work, he'd have to use the extended cab front section, rear sections were the same for the 6' bed length. Of course, if it is a sectional frame he might be able to use a rear section for a 7' bed. The joint for the sectional frame is located at the front leaf spring hanger, takes some careful looking to notice it. But I'm not sure when they started the sectional frames.

It would be possible to cut and splice to extend a frame, it's been done before (Gwaii did it on his full-size truck he calls Stretch). Fuel lines, electrical wires, brake lines, driveshaft and frame all would have to be lengthened. Might be easier to just roll a longer frame under it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Wouldn't work, he'd have to use the extended cab front section, rear sections were the same for the 6' bed length. Of course, if it is a sectional frame he might be able to use a rear section for a 7' bed. The joint for the sectional frame is located at the front leaf spring hanger, takes some careful looking to notice it. But I'm not sure when they started the sectional frames.

It would be possible to cut and splice to extend a frame, it's been done before (Gwaii did it on his full-size truck he calls Stretch). Fuel lines, electrical wires, brake lines, driveshaft and frame all would have to be lengthened. Might be easier to just roll a longer frame under it.

Thanks for catching that

I know it is thrown around here more as a 4wd conversion idea than a frame stretcher.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Thanks for catching that

I know it is thrown around here more as a 4wd conversion idea than a frame stretcher.

True... About the only person I remember talking about trying to use a sectional frame to extend the length was AlanD wanting an extended cab with a 7' bed.

 

[51fordf1]

Hey guys thanks for the input. The chassis is not a sectional frame. I have looked around and the hardest part of finding another chassis is finding one with the same tire and frame width of the ranger plus needing the 150" wheelbase. Extending all of the lines( fuel, electric, and brakes) and drive shaft isn't a problem for me to do. Just didn't know about stretching the frame. Will it be prone to twisting, buckling? Would I need to box the frame in the front? Rear? Add cross bracing?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I would think that welding/bolting in a section of frame in the proper manner (read fish plates) is the way to go then. Wouldn't hurt to add some extra bracing or boxing part of the frame, it would stiffen it up some since a Ranger frame is relatively thin compared to an F-350 frame, but not sure how much it's actually needed. Usually in the repairing frame threads someone or other has been linking to a few pages from a manual on how to properly splice frames.

 

[baddis]

the ex cab frames are 126 inch wheelbase so it shouldn't be to hard to extend it 2 ft with c channel and plating

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

the ex cab frames are 126 inch wheelbase so it shouldn't be to hard to extend it 2 ft with c channel and plating

My standard cab longbox is more like 109" or therabouts, he is stretching it quite a bit to get to 150".

 

[51fordf1]

Hey guys thanks again. after checking some things out I pretty sure I am going to go the route of finding another chassis to cut a 3' section out and at the ends i will "fish mouth" them ( <> ). add them in by welding and then use angle metal that is longer then the total added in piece on outside of frame and box the inside. Any thoughts or ideas on this process? should i box the frame any other places?
just as a back ground on this truck. it is an all steel 1951 ford sheet metal truck and i am running a 302 with C6