1998 Bumper on 2008 Ranger

[QuakerChevelle]

Howdy,

We have a 2008 Ranger that we would like to put a 1998 Ranger bumper on. I have seen various posts with older trucks updating, but not the other direction.

So we got the 2008 Ranger bumper all off tonight and yesterday fitted the 1998 bumper with terrible results to say the least.

There is a huge gap between the lights and the bumper and the passenger side is dropped down lowered than the drivers side.

Prior to this swap, both bumpers were straight on their original trucks.

Any advice would help.

 

[QuakerChevelle]

Anyone?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Well... I'll just state the obvious here. It won't fit properly.

The 98 is a Gen IV...

The 08 is a Gen V...

 

[JoshT]

@Uncle Gump not entirely obvious. The front clips as a whole will swap between "gen IV" and "gen v". Many IV trucks have had V components installed. As OP noted the later bumpers are known to install and fit the earlier trucks.

@QuakerChevelle I have two thoughts, but no idea how accurate either is.

1) The 2008 grill is taller than the 98. It definitely is no question. I know it extends up higher into the hood, that much is obvious at a glance. It may also extend lower into the bumper. I know that they did that on the F-250s around 2004. At first glance grill looks same size, but it isn't and center of bumper is lower on them. On both trucks with a bumper swap it would be easy for the extra space between them to disappear/blend.

2) Bumper is sprung. Previously bent/twisted. Forced back straight enough to look right with it installed on the original truck.

I think the first is more likely, but doesn't explain the twist.

 

[QuakerChevelle]

@JoshT

Thanks for the input. So, we want to have an older look to the front of the Ranger. Our favorite look is the 3rd generation. What would you suggest?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

3rd gen uses an entirely different front clip, so fenders, hood, core/rad support, header panel, grill, lights, bumper are all different. Bumper attachment my be different as well, but I don’t own a 3rd gen.

4th/5th gen uses the same fenders and core/rad support but everything else changed. Also, wiring changed a couple times. 3rd gen headlight/marker light wiring is different from 4th gen 98-00. 01-03 used the same wiring as 98-00 with one less plug for the marker lights. 04-11 used a different plug design.

It all can be done, but it’s a lot.

I did a 01-03 facelift on my 00 because I wanted the better headlights and the honeycomb grill. My front bumper got trashed and I’m going to build something custom so I’ll build it to fit what I have. Hood and header panel had to change. Well, the 00 hood fits, but it’s gappy across the grill

 

[QuakerChevelle]

@lil_Blue_Ford Thank you.

 

[QuakerChevelle]

I appreciate you all ... we just may go back to the original. Right now it has the black work bumper and grill ... what options are out there for a better look?

 

[JoshT]

@JoshT

Thanks for the input. So, we want to have an older look to the front of the Ranger. Our favorite look is the 3rd generation. What would you suggest?

lil_Blue_Ford is correct about the Gen 3 stuff using generations as listed in the chart that Uncle Gump posted. I'm going to assume that when you are saying Gen 3 you mean what is listed in the chart as Gen 4 since the bumper you are trying to use is a 1998.

If you want the Gen 3 (per chart) front end you're looking at swapping a core support, maybe inner fenders, and the entire front clip. To run any of the 1998-2003 grills and bumpers you need to run the matching header panel, headlights, and hood. Exception being that the hoods are physically interchangable during that 98-03 period, and the later bumpers can be used with that period front clip.

It's up to you how you choose to mix and match, and figure out what really works together. I really can't give suggestions on what you might like. On my 99, I'll eventually be going with a 2001-2003 Edge clip W/ hood and ~06+ bumper. I'd love to do the STX bumper, but IMO it doesn't match the Edge grill very well and I don't want the later grill and hood. I also want to mod some B-series fenders for the Ranger lights (the corner radius is different) and get an STX bed. I just think the more squared off bumper and Mazda body lines would look good on a "lowered" Ranger.

Of course if I don't succeed with lowering, I'll be reversing course. Lifted with aftermarket offroad bumpers. Still doing the Edge grill, but keeping the Ranger fenders and bed if I don't need to go flared to fit tires. It's V8 swapped, whether lifted or lowered, the looks have got to compliment the swap.

I appreciate you all ... we just may go back to the original. Right now it has the black work bumper and grill ... what options are out there for a better look?

You could paint the bumper body color. I know it's a white truck, but body matched bumpers usually class them up a bit. Alternative you could look into aftermarket offroad bumpers if that is your style.

 

[QuakerChevelle]

What front bumper is this? I like it's all body matched.

 

[JoshT]

View attachment 125457What front bumper is this? I like it's all body matched.

Looks like a 2006-2007 Ranger bumper. Very similar to the original 2008 bumper, except that it has squared fog lights and has been color matched. Basically what I want to put on the front of my '99, but it'll never be that low.