• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Bill4's 93 ranger


LazyTurtle

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2021
Messages
42
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Location
Western Washington
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
4 Inch
Tire Size
33x12.5
Yeah, the pictures do help a bit.

Did you make that crossmember yourself?
 


Shran

Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
8,637
Reaction score
4,704
Points
113
Location
Rapid City SD
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Can you send a picture of how you plated the crumple zone and how you mounted up the front parts of the leafs.

I got a 93 and some 78-79 f150 axles, front is retuned, and I'm trying to do leafs but can't get much in depth info about the swap.

Thanks
That 78/79 axle is really not a good choice for leaf springs and the cast on wedges are the reason why. I really would suggest trying to find a 77 or older Ford D44.... or really anything other than what you have, or use coils and radius arms. Otherwise you are going to be welding perches onto cast iron, not the greatest thing.

I used a 78/79 axle for my SAS but I narrowed the long side. I can use one Early Bronco shaft on that side and one F150 shaft on the other.
 

Bill4

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2021
Messages
47
Reaction score
30
Points
18
Age
30
Location
Lansing michigan
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
35x12.50r15
My credo
Use what you got.. not what you want
Yeah, the pictures do help a bit.

Did you make that crossmember yourself?
No i bought it from slagfactory its for converting toyota trucks to solid axle. Several company's offer similar crossmembers in various widths.
I will be running a 9 inch rear from a 77 f150 soon the cast wedge is why I didn't run the f150 front. Though I would have really liked to have high pinion.
 

Bill4

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2021
Messages
47
Reaction score
30
Points
18
Age
30
Location
Lansing michigan
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
35x12.50r15
My credo
Use what you got.. not what you want
After reading this it seems my f150 wedges are likley removable... I cant win lol
 

Attachments

Shran

Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
8,637
Reaction score
4,704
Points
113
Location
Rapid City SD
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
After reading this it seems my f150 wedges are likley removable... I cant win lol
Define "removable"........ IIRC mine was shortened by cutting out the plug welds on the wedge block, then removing that, shortening the tube and welding the wedge/outer tube/C assembly back on. Then you still have the short side to deal with.

In my mind it would be easier to find a 77 and older axle if you want to do anything other than radius arms. That is about all the 78/79 axles are good for.
 

Bill4

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2021
Messages
47
Reaction score
30
Points
18
Age
30
Location
Lansing michigan
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
35x12.50r15
My credo
Use what you got.. not what you want
My axle is a 77
Define "removable"........ IIRC mine was shortened by cutting out the plug welds on the wedge block, then removing that, shortening the tube and welding the wedge/outer tube/C assembly back on. Then you still have the short side to deal with.

In my mind it would be easier to find a 77 and older axle if you want to do anything other than radius arms. That is about all the 78/79 axles are good for.
Mine is a 77 so i think its just welded on LazyTurtle has the 78 cast style
 

Shran

Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
8,637
Reaction score
4,704
Points
113
Location
Rapid City SD
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Gotcha.

I have a '77 axle in my parts hoard that I'm going to put in my 2 door Explorer at some point. I already did a SAS on a Ranger with coils and radius arms... going to build a 4 link with air shocks or coilovers this time around. '77 and older D44s are really a blank canvas.
 

LazyTurtle

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2021
Messages
42
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Location
Western Washington
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
4 Inch
Tire Size
33x12.5
Yeah mine is a 78 but since I have new tubes on it it's practically a bare housing.

I'm not sure how I am going to do the SAS now since I just lost all access to my tools.
 

ryan

Forum Administrator
Administrator
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
3,434
Reaction score
891
Points
113
Location
Wayne, PA
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
6.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Tire Size
42
Define "removable"........ IIRC mine was shortened by cutting out the plug welds on the wedge block, then removing that, shortening the tube and welding the wedge/outer tube/C assembly back on. Then you still have the short side to deal with.

In my mind it would be easier to find a 77 and older axle if you want to do anything other than radius arms. That is about all the 78/79 axles are good for.
Sometimes I wonder about how hard it would be to go with a JK 44 and a 4 link truss setup. finding those older ford axles is very challenging and you can snag built JK 44 takeoffs pretty easily. Def more fab work, but you have aftermarket stuff up the wazoo then
 

Shran

Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
8,637
Reaction score
4,704
Points
113
Location
Rapid City SD
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Sometimes I wonder about how hard it would be to go with a JK 44 and a 4 link truss setup. finding those older ford axles is very challenging and you can snag built JK 44 takeoffs pretty easily. Def more fab work, but you have aftermarket stuff up the wazoo then
The only downside I see to that is the wheel bolt pattern... but if you were planning on running adapters on the rear anyway to get 5x5.5 or whatever, maybe it's a moot point. Re-drilling an 8.8 to 5x5 is probably a lot safer than 5x5.5.

If I had access to one I would totally use it.
 

ryan

Forum Administrator
Administrator
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
3,434
Reaction score
891
Points
113
Location
Wayne, PA
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
6.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Tire Size
42
The only downside I see to that is the wheel bolt pattern... but if you were planning on running adapters on the rear anyway to get 5x5.5 or whatever, maybe it's a moot point. Re-drilling an 8.8 to 5x5 is probably a lot safer than 5x5.5.

If I had access to one I would totally use it.
i know for sure that adapters are easy to come by, or you could just use a matching 44 rear and do the same 4 link in the rear
 

Bill4

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2021
Messages
47
Reaction score
30
Points
18
Age
30
Location
Lansing michigan
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
35x12.50r15
My credo
Use what you got.. not what you want
Cost is the only downside I can think of for jk axles they are very expensive at least around here anyhow. 70s f150 axles are only about $400 a set.
 

Shran

Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
8,637
Reaction score
4,704
Points
113
Location
Rapid City SD
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
I think even if they cost more, it's still worthwhile if you're getting the gear ratio you want, a locker, diff cover, better shafts...a stock JK D44 that needs everything might not be such a good deal although JK owners who have a D30 would consider a stock D44 as a major upgrade.

Nothing wrong with Ford axles, they can be hard to find, sometimes they need a lot of expensive parts... hubs/spindles/gears etc plus all the usual upgrades.

My one other complaint with my particular D44 is that it has 76/77 Early Bronco knuckles on it... I love them because the steering arms are up higher than F150 knuckles, but I would be mega screwed if I ever break one. They are impossible to find by themselves.
 

Bill4

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2021
Messages
47
Reaction score
30
Points
18
Age
30
Location
Lansing michigan
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
35x12.50r15
My credo
Use what you got.. not what you want
Agreed the best deals to be had are the things people take off their rigs when they upgrade. You never get your money back out but the next guy saves a bundle. EB 44s are very hard to find around here. Do the knuckles swap? I don't know anything about EBs I'm a big fan of dodge knuckles like 82-93 w150 they are flat top so high steer is easy and they have 5x5.5 bolt pattern. Best of all nobody wants these axles because of the vacuume disconnect so they are cheap.
 

Shran

Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
8,637
Reaction score
4,704
Points
113
Location
Rapid City SD
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Yeah, the knuckles are interchangeable...basically identical to F150 knuckles except for the higher steering arm location. I just happened upon a set of them years ago by pure dumb luck. Any (factory) EB disc brake parts are hard to find and very expensive and very sought after.

Good to know about the Dodge knuckles...what do you use for spindle/hub/rotor/brake caliper assembly? I am assuming you use the Dodge parts?

Chevy D44s have flat top drivers side knuckles too and you can get an aftermarket passenger side flat top. Fairly easy to convert those to 5x5.5 as well.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Members online

Today's birthdays

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top