• 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.

Purchased a 1999 XLT, wrecked with a tweaked frame


noteworks

Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2022
Messages
11
Reaction score
1
Location
24523
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford/Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
Hello all.

I purchased a 99 XLT that the driver had ran up on a guard rail. The frame is pushed in about 3 inches right just behind the rear frame mount for the lower control arm.

The strike also broke the knuckle where the tie rod mounts, so steering was lost on the right side.

Very hard to find the pass side knuckle for the 99 with vacuum actuated hubs. But I'll find it.

As far as parts I've either ordered or need to order,..

Torsion Bar
Lower Control Arm with Ball Joint
Radiator
Condenser
Bumper
Oil cooler
Accumulator
Knuckle
Tie Rod End
Upper Control Arm with Ball Joint
Trans Cooler
And I'm sure many other items as I get into it.

My question is around pulling the frame back out 3 inches or so.

Included are pictures of the truck itself, and some of the impacted areas.

I'm not totally against taking it to a frame shop, but I have zero idea what they would charge for the work.

I'm curious if something along the lines of a 10 ton porta power may be successful in this frame adjustment. I have no torches, so I would be attempting this with the porta power and heavy logging chains wrapped around the frame.

Thoughts on the best way to do this?

I'm not afraid to do the work, just want to work as smart as possible.

Thanks in advance for the input. We had a 93 ranger years ago, and I've never heard the end of the grief from the wife after selling it. She loved that truck, and hates driving any of the full size pickups here since. So, I've been a deal on another one when I saw this one on CL for $500 in very good condition. I figured I'd take a shot at a happy marriage again.

The truck has been sitting for about a year, and we couldn't get it to turn over with a good battery, but it was in such good shape, I took the woman's word for how well it ran. Upon getting it home, it either has a broken shift cable, or the accident disconnected it in the column, because the shifter isnt affecting the transmission. I went underneath, removed the cable, and manually shifted it into park, and it started and ran for about 10 seconds before I shut it off.

Best
 

Attachments



Uncle Gump

Boomers gotta Boom
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
14,995
Reaction score
15,348
Location
Ottawa IL
Vehicle Year
2006/1986
Make / Model
Ranger/BroncoII
Engine Size
4.0L SOHC/2.9L
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Lead follow or get out of my way
That took a pretty good lick..

I'm not sure a Porta power is gonna do it. I'm also no expert on frame straightening. The pictures say to me that it's bent... kinked and twisted.

I think if it were me... I would pay a frame guy to give it his best shot.

Welcome to TRS...
 

alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
14,422
Reaction score
5,774
Location
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
Vehicle Year
’97, '06
Make / Model
Pontiac, Dodge
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
2.2,5.7
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Or maybe buy another truck that was a rollover and swap frames.
 

noteworks

Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2022
Messages
11
Reaction score
1
Location
24523
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford/Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
Thanks for the responses. I may throw in the towel, and let a shop get it back to spec. I have doubts a porta power would be able to move that rail to be honest. I was hoping for a member that had done something like this with a PP to give an idea that it may have the strength afterall.
 

tinman_72

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2008
Messages
572
Reaction score
165
Location
North Georgia
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.5 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.5
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Factory
Total Drop
None
Tire Size
255/60R15
My credo
RoHS compliant
Once you have a kink in the metal it is a weak spot. I wouldn't use it.
 

noteworks

Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2022
Messages
11
Reaction score
1
Location
24523
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford/Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
Possible for sure. I'll investigate it further. Anyway, I don't have a torch or access to a machine like this, haha.

 

don4331

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Sep 6, 2013
Messages
2,161
Reaction score
1,649
Location
Calgary, AB
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.3
Transmission
Automatic
I'd like an interior fender picture to see if there's any damage to the sheet metal between the front clip and firewall.

If the truck was brand new, it would be 50/50 if they would total the truck or fix it. As it in a '99, its totalled. Just because it is possible, doesn't mean it it the right thing to do. You will note in the video, they give up trying to straighten some of the sheetmetal parts and just replace them...

Swapping frames is how I resolved this situation, and it is a ton of work - the truck better have sentimental value.
 

RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,364
Reaction score
8,412
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
I would look for a 1998-2000 4x4 with bad engine and or trans and just use your $500 powertain
Must be the same engine size and auto or manual match

If its a 3.0l engine you can swap it into any year 1998-2008 Ranger 2WD/4WD, manual or automatic
4.0l has to be 1998-2000

4WD trans can only be used in a 4x4, manual or automatic
If 1999 trans is automatic it can only be used with that engine size and only in 1995-2000 as replacement
Manual the same 1995 to 2000 as well, OSS sensor was added in 2001
 

don4331

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Sep 6, 2013
Messages
2,161
Reaction score
1,649
Location
Calgary, AB
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.3
Transmission
Automatic
The $640 question - is it an early '99 without PATS or later with??

If you're swapping into something engine size/transmission doesn't matter - you just have to transfer the appropriate part from this truck into the new one (ECM, GEMS & maybe PATS) At some point, it becomes easiest to swap dashes, but that isn't too complicated assuming you have a couple buddies to hold it in place while you get the 1st couple bolts in.

Yes, it would be a waste to put the 4x4 transmission and transfer case into a 2wd truck, but Ford did it with 2wd Bronco IIs. (2wd Bronco IIs are rare as hen's teeth, so Ford didn't bother with different length driveshaft for a 2wd, they just installed a transfer case -without front driveshaft and used the 4wd rear driveshaft).

p.s. I have a good pair of vacuum knuckles in the garage from when I swapped to live axle. If you decide you need one, I could ship it to you at your cost.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Poses in rivers
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
33,477
Reaction score
20,768
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Yes, it would be a waste to put the 4x4 transmission and transfer case into a 2wd truck, but Ford did it with 2wd Bronco IIs. (2wd Bronco IIs are rare as hen's teeth, so Ford didn't bother with different length driveshaft for a 2wd, they just installed a transfer case -without front driveshaft and used the 4wd rear driveshaft).
2WD BII's actually had a special t-case with its own model number. Had no guts in it, basically a dummy shell with a straight thru shaft so they could just use the same almost-too-short rear driveshafts. I wanna say it is like a BW1359 or something like that. Downright comical the lengths they went thru to make the hermaphrodite transfer case instead of another driveshaft.

At least if you used a real t-case on a 2wd you could still use low range.

Anywho... IMO frame swap.

Then you only have to figure out why the thing won't run and then find out how good the rest of it is. And hopefully the cab isn't jacked up beyond the front clip.

Instead of trying to find vacuum hubs for the PS... I would be shopping for live hubs for both sides if you use this frame.

 

Shran

Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Truck of Month
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
9,189
Reaction score
5,605
Location
Rapid City SD
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
I think a guy could fix that at home... The big problem is going to be having something solid enough to jack/pull against and brace the rest while doing so. I am pretty crafty and have a ton of tools/know how but I would try to frame swap that truck or leave it to a pro...
 

noteworks

Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2022
Messages
11
Reaction score
1
Location
24523
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford/Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
I agree it's doable, but that whole anchoring challenge is where I struggle. I had 5 trees taken down over the last few years here. If I have one of them left, I'd love to try this myself to straighten the frame, and bring the wheel back forward a few inches. Someone mentioned They'd like to see the interior of the fender to see what the firewall looks like. I'll try to get that off soon as I'm also curious.
 

RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,364
Reaction score
8,412
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
You need TWO anchor points
While the vehicle at speed has enough inertia to bend the frame, when parked it is not heavy enough and will just slide when pulling on the frame to straighten it, so vehicle needs to be anchored as well AND in a manner that won't cause damage to those anchor points when pulling on the frame or you end up with more damage
 

noteworks

Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2022
Messages
11
Reaction score
1
Location
24523
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford/Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
Right, my idea was to anchor to either side of the bend in the frame, and pull the center against those 2 anchor points to straghten.
 

scotts90ranger

Well-Known Member
RBV's on Boost
Joined
Feb 28, 2001
Messages
8,829
Reaction score
5,570
Location
Dayton Oregon
Vehicle Year
1990, 1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Engine Size
2.3 Turbo
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6
Tire Size
35"
Right, when I ran into a log that was lengthwise in a ditch (in the snow, didn't see it when I was in the ditch inadvertently) in my '90 and it jacked up the radius arm bracket on the passenger side I tied it to my F350 and tried to pull it with my little 4k pound tractor in low range with the diff locked it didn't budge, I had to take everything apart and straighten it with hammers and my 20 ton press...
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

TRS Events

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.

Latest posts

Truck of The Month


Rick W
October Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

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

25th Anniversary Merch

Follow TRS On Instagram

25th Anniversary Sponsors

TRS-3 Ford Ranger Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top