1999 Ford Ranger Solid Axle Swap

[bozone802]

just ordered a steering rod kit, 2.5" lift blocks, trac bar bushings, and a seal for the 9" to make my truck less sketchy, look less retarded, and to quit pissing gear oil everywhere

 

[bozone802]

ITS GOT 4WD!!! had a shop in town get rid of the stupid plunger thing on the front drive shaft and replace it with a c-v joint. then they extended and balanced the stock bronco driveshaft that i saved. im so glad i saved that thing, ive gotten rid of pretty much everything as ive been going along on the project. DONT DO THAT!!! it was so stupid of me. there are a couple things that i wish i still had that i didnt think i was going to need at the time. o well lesson learned i suppose....

anywho, the new driveshaft on there has almost no clearance over the tcase crossmember. so im going to go play around in the back yard to see what im dealing with here. im definitely going to have to make a new one, just have to decide exactly how.

all that other shit i ordered came in on thursday so ill get on that this weekend too.

 

[bozone802]

My truck is so sick!!! as it turns out, the crossmember really wont be any sort of an issue till i get some softer springs up front (which i do need really really bad), so no worries for now!

backyard play time!!!
heres a couple of it flexed out with the wheel wells stuffed...

and a couple more...

i dont like this very much (gonna need some bump stops)

i like this a lot!

all in all for what my truck is it totally kicks ass!!! And it will only get better!!!
however, she is quite done for now....

 

[bozone802]

just added up the bare essentials i had to get to get this thing on the road and it came to $5243, holy shit!

and with all the extras like tools and shit i had to get to do it, that brings us to a grand total of $6330, HOLY ****ING SHIT!!!

and i still have to get coil springs, mount them somehow, more crossmembers, and a front bumper, sliders, and im sure theres some other stuff i cant think of at the moment.

 

[escort_gts]

It adds up fast, I don't even want to think of how much I've spent...

 

[wohlf 16]

Looks good man. Looks like you got about the same amount of clearence on your front shaft as I do. Havent noticed any problems yet either. I do however haver rubbing on about three different places on my rear drive shaft. Rubs on the gas tank brackets. Looks like your haven a good time with it. Keep up the good work. And the cost to do this does make you a little sick.

 

[Josh40601]

I look at it a little differently.....

Take a 1999 Jeep Wrangler for example. For a 4.0 5 speed 4wd, your going to spend around 10K for one of these. The rigs are very able and can go almost anywhere. Key word in that is ALMOST. People spend oober amounts of money fixing these rigs up.

Now lets take your truck....

1999 Ranger ext. cab 4wd. Blue book values these around 6900 and thats retail. You can usually pick up a 99 Ranger 4by for around 3-6K. add 7 grand for all the parts and kick assness, and you have a WAY more capable rig for the same price or a little more than a Jeep. Then you add the fact its a Ford, and it makes it even better.

Well that's my logic behind everything.... What do you guys think? This why you made your ranger bad ass?

 

[Josh40601]

BTW, can I get some more info on what you did with your rear springs? I want to flip mine, but dont want the "Cali" look going on. How did you flip it and still get it to ride pretty level?

 

[Andres629]

Hey, lookin' good. Just picked me up a set of 1/2 tons as well to go on my 92... what all do you wish you'd kept to make it easier? haha

 

[Josh40601]

Andres, for our trucks we dont have to worry about the steering box, as we can use our stock one with a drop pitman arm. You will have to chop the SHIT out of your engine crossmember though.

 

[86 slo-vo]

did i miss the tire size somewhere?

 

[feellnfroggy]

They look like about 35s. And Im curious how flipping the springs gave you lift.... or didnt, Did I miss something?

 

[Kyle M.]

I don't see any flipped springs, just compressed, and i see how he got lift, slid the stock bracket down on the frame....any plans of fixing that?

 

[feellnfroggy]

I just read the whole post, and i wanted to mention something. If your driveshaft ever fails instead of passing out booquoo bux for a new one, just get some 2 inch solid stock like you did for your hitch and make a 2 piece driveshaft. The t case connection on the larger piece and the Ujoint for the front diff on the smaller one, slide on inside the other and mount it up. The front shaft will most likely never be used fast enough to need balancing, and it will be strong enough to hold up to most abuse, given the welding is done right on the ends. I have a guy here in TN did it to his yoda on 37's and he says its an awesome setup. Cheap and durable.

 

[86 slo-vo]

look bigger then 35's to me