1996 Ranger SAS 4-link

[fordguy64]

alright so im to the point now where i need to order steel... im looking at 1/4 mild steel for the brackets... or should i go hot rolled or cold rolled or what lol

 

[dude772]

alright so im to the point now where i need to order steel... im looking at 1/4 mild steel for the brackets... or should i go hot rolled or cold rolled or what lol

Id take cold rolled over hot anyday. Colds got a better look too it, not as bumpy. And mild is a grade. You can get mild cold rolled steel.

thats what we used to use in machine shop in highschool.

 

[fordguy64]

alright got an update... picking up my steel tomorrow... gonna hit it hard this weekend...

 

[fordguy64]

ok well i got the steel cut out my brackets on the water jet came home today and got both lower links tacted in place... don't have any pics yet cause both of our cameras have dead batteries... alot of good that does... but it looks like everything will go the way i planned... i hope lol

 

[fordguy64]

well ive been moving right along... ive got the uper link and lower links in place... (not fully welded) had to cut the exhaust out so im gonna have to redo that... also decided im going with an air locker.. here it is as of now...

 

[Evil_s10]

Looking good so far. I'd make sure the brackets for the third link frame end will be well triangulated. Also I'd try mocking up your panhard cause it looks like the third link axle end might cause interference.

-matt-

 

[fordguy64]

ive improved my triangulation since that pic... im working on the pan hard bar now.. hopefully have it on all 4 wheels in 2 weeks...thats the goal anyway

 

[Evil_s10]

You just doing the front for now and this wheelin season or you gonna try and get the rear done.

 

[fordguy64]

just the front for now then prob do some other things like a bumper during the season then maybe at the end of the season ill do the rear or that might even wait till the season after... its not cheap lol gonna have to save up some more money for the rear i wanna put an air locker in the rear too

 

[Evil_s10]

Yea tell me about that. 100+ for each joint. steel adds up quickly. And then when you start adding in the prices of things for the axles. So far it looks awesome so your definitely on the right track. When done you should definitely have the flex you are looking for.

 

[fordguy64]

lol i just spent 1300$$ on her.. got the arb airlocker,3.73 gear and a air compressor.. and some stainles brake lines... hopefully there wont be to much more to spend on her after this... i hope lol

thanks for the complaments...

im just trying to do it right the first time.. and im going to drive it around town so i dont want to have to worry about the front end falling off so im going to over build everything.. within reason of course...

 

[NorCalBronco]

Only 3.73 gears?

 

[fordguy64]

well i plan on driving my truck to and from offroading... atleast for a while.. so i kept it at 3.73 so i can still do the highway without killing my mpg anymore.. im planning on doing a t-case douber soon..

 

[Evil_s10]

If you want to stick with 3.73's I would look into doing the doubler. Definitely agree to over build it now considering you are going to be driving it around.

 

[fordguy64]

ok so i thought i would take a min to show of my welding ability.... ive beeen practicing TIG welding at work they are getting my certified for 5/16 mild steel... here is a 3 pass weld to get the 5/16 weld needed

what do you think?

here is my first attempt with alluminum... it was with 1/8 tungsten (witch was way to big but its all we had)

and here is the second attempt

anyway the waterjet is back up and running so hopefully tomorrow i can get my coil buckets cut off and some other little things... also need to hit the scrap yard to find some tube for my track bar so i can start getting that figured out... well thats all for now