1994 4.0 4x4 Project

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First let me start by saying I have done more reading than posting on this forum the last few years and I really appreciate all the great info on here. I have been wanting to build a Ranger for years and finally found the right truck a few years ago. I hope you enjoy reading about my build as much as I did building it

I was looking for a very specific Ranger and actually had a hard time finding it in decent mechanical shape. I was looking for a TTB 4.0 4x4 5 speed Extended cab Ranger. Manual Transfer case would have been nice but not a deal breaker. I ended up finding a 1994 Ranger XLT 4x4 Extended cab with 4.0 engine 5 speed trans with only 117k original miles for $2600

The truck needed alot of love but mechanically was in great shape.It also had the 8.8 rear diff from the factory and original fog lights, light brackets etc.

 

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Here is a picture of what I had in mind for my build and what gave me the bug to buy a TTB Ranger

 

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Here is a picture of the rust I found after I drove her home. I had an extra bed off my older Ranger that was totaled after someone hit me so I replaced the old one with it. So far she was a pretty hidous truck but I had bigger plans.

 

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After a visit to the paint booth.

 

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Fresh paint

 

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After paint I had the bed linex'd and a new back window installed

 

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I had to replace the valve cover gaskets so I decided to replace the lower intake gasket and valve covers as well. I painted some new valve covers with VHT textured valve cover paint and it came out really well.

 

[callsigntater]

I decided on a James Duff Stage 3 suspension lift after alot of reading and researching. I also wanted to install the James Duff traction bars to help with my axle hop. The lift was very nice and solid quality. However i really wish they included better instructions since I had to call them mulitple times with questions. All in all though a great product from a great company. Their over the phone customer service was first class. The lift took me about 5 days to put on start to finish.

 

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First few pics are of removal of all old suspension

 

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Front coil buckets removed and frame cleaned/painted

 

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New Radius arms installed

 

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Drop down brackets for radius arms and installing new coil buckets.

 

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Dual shock mounts installed

 

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Passenger side dual shock and drop down bracket

 

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New coils installed