Cragar Mag Master from 1974

[cbxer55]

As many here know, I purchased a set of ancient Cragar Mag Master rims from another member here. They appear to have been manufactured in 1974, as there is some number stamped on the back, most of which is goblety-gook, but the last two digits are 74. They were only made form 74 to 78. Another member here apparently contacted Cragar (I didn't know they were still around), and they have no recollection of making these rims. Also stamped on the back is Made In Mexico, in 1974 (Gee, whodathunkit?).

The rims have slotted holes for the studs. And they are installed with washers with an offset hole, for the 5 x 4.5 and 5 x 5 spacing. Another washer set with centered holes covers 5 x 4.75. They're kind of finnicky to install. I found it easiest to start with the lowest hole, as this keeps the washer in proper orientation, with the meat of the washer hanging down and the hole closest to the center. Once I got them installed, I drove it. Perfectly smooth, no vibration at all.

The front rims are 14 x 7. The rears are 14 x 8.5. The front tires are Mastercraft Avenger GT's in 215/70-14. The rears are BF Goodrich TA Radials, in 245/60-14. They're like .40 shorter than the tires I had on it before, and along with the 4.10 gears in the axle, are causing a 10% higher speedometer and odometer reading. I can live with it. For now leastways.

When I first got these rims, they were pretty tatty. They had some kind of clear coat on them that had deteriorated with age. Took me almost a month, with various grades of emery cloth, from 180 to 400, then course red scotchbrite, and finally fine green scotchbrite. and followed with two coats of Turtle Was Super Hard Shell. That is what you see here.

The rims came with four smooth center caps, and one original Cragar center cap, that is pretty tatty. My intention is to replace the caps with knock off spinners, with CRAGAR center decals. And copying my friends 2018 Shelby AC Cobra (registered as a 1965), the spinners will be safety wired, for appearance sake only. LOL!!

 

[cbxer55]

The tires protrude a bit more than I care for. Can anyone tell me, do the fender flares from the Edge variant fit any old Ranger? I think I am going to want to flare these puppies. Also on the lookout for a new front bumper, it's kind of showing it's age. Maybe some smoked headlights, to make the entire front end black?

 

[qorray]

Great write up, work done is apparently well done given the rims age and condition when bought. Rims are almost 50 years old!!!!!! Truck looks really good, 1 of 1 specially with those rims. Q

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Damn those look good

 

[racsan]

Very nice!

 

[Blmpkn]

Yeap, that's well applied elbow grease. Good show.

 

[cbxer55]

Funny. Been using the word tatty a bit lately. Thought it was something I made up. Nope. Worn out, frayed, shabby. LOL! Whole truck looks that way up close and personal. Will be doing some work on it to try and improve it this year. The grill is new. Ordered it black, came chrome. No one would paint it. So I found one of those shops that does vinyl wraps, and the result is what you see. Paint won't even respond to wax any longer. But when applying shine stuff to the black parts, I see that it deepens the paint BIGLY. So, I rubbed the entire truck down with it. Turned out pretty okay. Then it rained and hailed last night, and it all washed off. LOL!! Nah, no damage. It was nickel and dime size stuff. Didn't even break any of the plastic on the hood.

 

[cbxer55]

I'm thinking I might want to lower this thing two inches. I know the back is done with longer shackles, just like I did my Lightning. What's the best way to do the front? Spindles or lowering springs? And where do I source such parts.

 

[Blmpkn]

Longer shackles would lift the ranger.

Spindles are definitely preferred over springs, a quick Google would turn up whatever options are available. Pick as reputable of a brand as you can.

 

[cbxer55]

Not true. Since the axle is under the springs, longer shackles are the only way to lower it. Same as my Lightning. I put two inch longer shackles on it, and dropped it about 1.5 inches. Wanting to put JLP four inch longer shackles on it though. Longer shackles raise the rear end of the spring closer to the bed, thus the wheels rise further up in the wheel wells. They get real close to the bottom of the bed.

 

[cbxer55]

Longer shackles would lift the ranger.

Spindles are definitely preferred over springs, a quick Google would turn up whatever options are available. Pick as reputable of a brand as you can.

Ends up you are correct. I hadn't looked at the spring / shackle orientation on my Ranger I just thought it was the same as my F-150. So, apparently that eliminates being able to lower it. Guess I'll be happy with how it is now. A good friend of mine said it looks good just as it is. so there's that.

 

[racsan]

if you do a shackle flip longer shackles would lower the back of the truck but you cant go too long or you run into the bottom side of the bed. I googled “rear shckle flip” and one of the results was a rangerstation tech article on using chevy 64” springs & doing a shackle flip, this is a picture from that article.

 

[cbxer55]

That is what my Lightning shackle/spring arrangement looks like.

Looks like some cutting and welding is involved. Kind of over my head, don't have the equipment.

 

[racsan]

full size trucks always had the rear shackle set up that way, rangers the other way, not sure why. I dont think theres any real difference in strength or operation. Personally if I wanted to lower the rear end Id use a spring under axle setup.

 

[pjtoledo]

That is what my Lightning shackle/spring arrangement looks like.

Looks like some cutting and welding is involved. Kind of over my head, don't have the equipment.

not really, drill or grind the rivet heads off, punch them out. replace with grade 8 flanged bolts/nuts.
I have replaced the mounts with the bed on.

nice truck & wheels