King 1
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2020
- Messages
- 9
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 1
- Location
- Bellingham, WA
- Vehicle Year
- 1st gen
- Make / Model
- Ford Ranger
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 2WD
Hello all,
I've read that it's possible to swap the body from a 1st gen ranger onto the frame of the third gen (98+) ranger. Supposedly cab mounts and bed mounts all line up? Or the 3rd Gen frame might have extra mount locations but the ones the 1st gen body needs are all there?
Ok, fine. That makes sense I suppose. But the wheelbases of the various 3rd gen body styles are all slightly longer than the wheelbases of equivalent 1st gen body styles. Wouldn't this mean there would be a gap somewhere? From what I've read, it seems the frame stretch is in the cab section. Wikipedia: "To increase interior space on standard-cab Rangers, the cab was expanded over 3 inches rearward (through a longer wheelbase)." So it sounds like even if all the body parts from a 85 ranger DO bolt right onto the frame from a 98, there would be a 3 inch gap between bed and cab.
Do I have all this correct? Is a complete body swap actually possible here or did I misunderstand and its really just the bed that's swappable? If the whole body swaps, do you get a gap like I said, or do the '98 front wheels just land 4" further forward in the 1st gen wheel well?
Can someone clear this up for me?
Thanks!
I've read that it's possible to swap the body from a 1st gen ranger onto the frame of the third gen (98+) ranger. Supposedly cab mounts and bed mounts all line up? Or the 3rd Gen frame might have extra mount locations but the ones the 1st gen body needs are all there?
Ok, fine. That makes sense I suppose. But the wheelbases of the various 3rd gen body styles are all slightly longer than the wheelbases of equivalent 1st gen body styles. Wouldn't this mean there would be a gap somewhere? From what I've read, it seems the frame stretch is in the cab section. Wikipedia: "To increase interior space on standard-cab Rangers, the cab was expanded over 3 inches rearward (through a longer wheelbase)." So it sounds like even if all the body parts from a 85 ranger DO bolt right onto the frame from a 98, there would be a 3 inch gap between bed and cab.
Do I have all this correct? Is a complete body swap actually possible here or did I misunderstand and its really just the bed that's swappable? If the whole body swaps, do you get a gap like I said, or do the '98 front wheels just land 4" further forward in the 1st gen wheel well?
Can someone clear this up for me?
Thanks!