1988 ranger prerunner build

[aaron88]

I have a build thread over on Desertrangerz but I decided I would throw one up over here as well. She started life as a 1988 2.9 5 speed.

The day I picked her up.

The pile of parts I had sitting around because I knew I would be building a square body beam truck. Giant engine cage, 5.5 over bent beams I built for my 1984 ranger, and some 2.5 14in coilovers 350/450 spring rate.

Installing the beams a few days after I bought the truck. Big thanks to robby woolworth. He pretty much did everything installing them I was working 24/7 at the time.

Finished product. Bumped and strapped at 18.

Ripped the bed off shortly after to address a few issues and install some shackles to level it out till the big suprise comes in.

Picked up some bed sides from a guy here in vegas. With a 36 pack and 2 of my buddies we busted a bolt in bed cage and mounted the fiberglass in about a day and a half.

Shortly after this I blew a headgasket. So I figured it was time to wake the 2.9 up a bit. Orderd some pacesetter headers, MSD coil, motorcraft platinum plugs, 8.5mm accel wires. Wile I was replacing the head gasket I figured it couldent hurt to mildly port and polish the heads/upper/lower intake maniold, gasket matched everything, picked up a early 2.9 throttle body. Ditched the fan clutch installed a 16in electric fan and exploder radiator. Let me tell you that short list of changes made a huge difference in both power and gas milage.

Then it was time for paint. Not the best but I am happy with it considering I did outside.

Random full droop picture.

NEW SHOES! and those are eagle alloy 101s

Managed to punch a hole in my gas take out in the desert. I had already bought this and was waiting till it was linked to install but plans changed.
I ditched the whole stock bed and got to work.

Kyle at FOA helped me out a lot and hooked it up with the shocks wile I was waiting to throw all of this on the rear. Threat motorsports short course four link kit, 2.5 18in coilovers, explorer 8.8 with LSD/4.11s.

A few other random pictures.

 

[upnsmoke]

I read through your build on DR a while back, and you put the truck together quick. There is a lot to be said for keeping things simple. I eventually want to build something like it myself. How rough was it off road with the stock leafs in back? Are you still going to D44 beams? This is a cool truck. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[aaron88]

Yes plans are still for d44 beams in the future but for now I want to keep it functional and simple. As for the stock leafs they are not that bad but the front out works the rear a lot. I can't even come close to pushing the front with out slamming bump stops in the rear. I have .15 compression and .10 rebound valving in the rear and it still runs through every inch of travel if I am driving at speed. But with that being said the front is bumped and strapped at 18 and the rear at 14. It's just a numbers game at that point. Once the four link is on I will be able to push it a lot harder probably harder then I'll be willing too with out a cab cage. As it is I can cruise pretty good at 50 through most of the trails I go on.
Thank you I am trying to get it together quick but I'm only 20 and I don't make great money good enough but bills come first.

 

[jhammel85]

Pretty awesome! Looks good!

 

[upnsmoke]

Very cool Aaron. I'm surprised you were able to get 14" with the leafs. Those aren't aftermarket leaf springs, are they? Were you able to get away with running stock tie rod ends in front, or have you gone to heims? I hear you on the money. It's good you have your priorities in order. You got to have a reliable DD if nothing else.

 

[aaron88]

What's your name? Yea I got 14 out of them they are stockish leaf springs with a shackle the last two inches bind pretty bad but I'm not too worried they won't be on there much longer I'm just waiting for limit straps to show up at my door then I will be linking it. The stock rod ends actually worked I was very surprised that I didn't get an excessive amount of bump steer. I always make sure I have the time to complete projects on the truck with the links I lined up a car to drive for the time it is down I'm hoping to get it done in about three weeks from start to finish. Quite a few things will be done wile it's getting linked motor/trans mounts, I'll be redoing the exhaust yet again I can't seem make myself 100% happy with it. Not to mention the process of notching and boxing the frame adding tubes to the bed cage mounting the spare building front and rear bumpers replacing the clutch/throw out bearing. I have a huge list. I'll have a lot of long nights under the ranger.

 

[upnsmoke]

My name's Devin. My username on DR is upnsmoke, but I almost never post there. I like those guys and there is a lot of good information there, but I just don't feel like I can identify with them much as I'm living in Baltimore. The only fun off roading I do is in places I'm not supposed to be. I hope to move out west sometime, to some place with some more fun terrain. In the meantime, my DD is just capable enough to have fun with. I am still playing with it and changing things, but I have to keep reminding myself to keep it simple. I need to get another truck to build into something cool. I really like the first and second Gens, and will look for another fairly clean one to start with when I get enough money.

It's good you manage your time well. I have been bad at times about starting projects I don't have time for. It does help me keep motivated when I have something fun to work on, though. I will hurry through something like putting a starter in mom's station wagon when I know I have a new pair of shocks waiting to go on my truck. I guess that's a good thing. At least when I am working on something I'm not out getting in trouble.

I'm not sure how much travel I'm getting with my Explorer leafs. I have an extended shackle and moved my rear hanger forward 2" so it doesn't bind. I am making a leaf roller/ re-archer soon and want to put my Ranger leafs back in with some more arch or go to chevy 64s with a flipped shackle to hopefully get more travel. With the 4 link your truck should be a really fun off roader. I'm interested to see how it turns out.

 

[aaron88]

Thank you. Its possible to build your dd quite a bit you just have to plan plan plan. Id go to a 64 pack I made one for my old ranger and was pretty happy with it. I just made the mistake of riding in a linked truck now I'll never be happy with leaf springs again. Plus I'm into my link set up about 1500$ and that's with everything. I managed to get a clean 17 bumped and strapped out of my old 64 pack had to play with the hanger a lot to get there but once it was there it was dialed. And despite all the shock valving talk I ended up running a .08 on compression and .12 on rebound and it handled great. I'll have a big update coming soon I bought the springs and limit straps just lining up a car to drive wile it's down and it will be getting links.

 

[aaron88]

Picked up springs and hydro bumps.

went out to jean the other day.

 

[aaron88]

Another small update let my grandfather drive the ranger the other day and he ended up blowing the 2.9. So on to bigger and better things. 1996 ohv 4.0 from a exploder.

 

[86MUDRCJ]

I see you finally posted up here. Nice lookin truck

 

[aaron88]

I haven't been doing to much go the truck lately. I've had a lot going on moving into my new house and the biggest update.

 

[aaron88]

Well I got the 4.0 in and running a few hours later the old tired 7.5 let go so its on too a exploder 8.8 4.11s with an LSD. It's all swapped over just waiting on the drive line.

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[SGTDHS]

That is one good looking truck...We almost have the same wheels

 

[aaron88]

Thank you nice jeep sometimes I wish I had 4x4. That we do mine are eagle alloy 101s. I need another one just haven't had the money to buy one. Does anyone have any ideas for a new color I want to paint it again its already pretty tore up.


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