1997 Ranger Compatibility Questions...

[97RangerXLT]

Why'd you park it on that rock?

Because I could.

AJ

 

[97RangerXLT]

One exterior ? - any idea if a 1997 front bumper would fit a 1998/1999 gen 4 (and vice-versa)? I'm afraid I may know the answer but they look very similar ....

the frame horns are quite different, and without modification of the horns themselves or the bumper itself they will not swap over.
0HOWEVER... I believe that the gen 2 89 to 92 have the same frame horn and bumpers will bolt up no issue but will not look right due to the curvier body of the gen 3. but if you find an aftermarket gen 2 bumper that is built out for a winch etc, that discrepancy might not be noticable and could open some more avenues for aftermarket bumpers.

If you have a welder and some scrap metal, you might be able to fab yourself a decent bumper for it. several members here have done great jobs with that. take a look at Curious Hounds front bumper. 85 Ranger 4x4, Uncle Gump, and Lil Blue Ford have really nice fabbed rear bumpers. also TRS 2 from some guy named James Oaks has a nice front bumper
AJ

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

the frame horns are quite different, and without modification of the horns themselves or the bumper itself they will not swap over.
0HOWEVER... I believe that the gen 2 89 to 92 have the same frame horn and bumpers will bolt up no issue but will not look right due to the curvier body of the gen 3. but if you find an aftermarket gen 2 bumper that is built out for a winch etc, that discrepancy might not be noticable and could open some more avenues for aftermarket bumpers.

If you have a welder and some scrap metal, you might be able to fab yourself a decent bumper for it. several members here have done great jobs with that. take a look at Curious Hounds front bumper. 85 Ranger 4x4, Uncle Gump, and Lil Blue Ford have really nice fabbed rear bumpers. also TRS 2 from some guy named James Oaks has a nice front bumper
AJ

Probably after winter I’ll get a sheet of 1/8” plate and start building my new front bumper for my green Ranger. Other trucks are also on the list for custom bumpers as well. I’m really pretty happy with how the rear bumper came out for the green Ranger. Just a reminder though, that Ranger is lowered, which is why I chose to sink the hitch in the center of the rear bumper, that may be too high for a stock or lifted truck.

My 2000 Green Ranger 5.0 lowered AWD

I feel you on that. Dad's got a shop with a 15x30 pad that I borrow for bigger stuff like the engine swap, but it's pretty inconvenient trying to work on things over there. Here at my house I've got nothing but dirt. Part of it is covered with a carport, but still over dirt. I'd like to begin...

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