2wd lift from 4wd guts? HELP

[Nick]

Ok, so im on a budjet. My goal is to spend $400 or less on a 5in lift for a 1990 ranger 2.9 super cab. Is it possible to gut a 4wd front and use the arms off of a 4wd minus the hog and axles bolt them tomy 2wd ranger and get 5in lift springs for the front? has anyone tried this before? does everything bolt up the same? or will I need to drill out the rivits in the 4wd and use the castings in the donor frame? Thanks any help would be app. scaledodger@live.com

 

[mp3deviant721]

Nope. Won't work. The 4wd axles has different mounting pivots than the 2wd. You'd have to fab up custom mounts or switch out the engine crossmember. Which would end up costing more than $400 anyhow. With that being said, to lift your truck for $400, a washer coil spacer lift or F150 Spacers or F150 coils and a 3in body lift should get you that 5in that you are looking for. That should only come out to about $200 total.

See here: http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Summer2003/LiftingOnABudget.htm

here (washer coil spacers): http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/WasherCoilSpacers.htm

and here (F150 coil spacers): http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/factoryspacer.htm

Good luck with your lift.

 

[Nick]

Are the stock pieces cast steel or are they cast iron just incase I wanted to weld drop down brackets. I made custom brackets before but ran into the same problem of cracking as did the aftermarket ones. The ears kept cracking off. On this ranger I dont want to ruin it. Hmmm guess short of trying to find the right parts it just wont be safe and reliable. Second how does the 90 model differ from the 82-89? I did notice that the parts differ . Is the 90 wider a bit? Thanks

 

[mhughes165]

as far as i know there should be no difference

 

[mp3deviant721]

Yea. As far as I know there isn't any difference in width.

 

[strvger]

as you "don't want to ruin it", then i'd do the F150 coils/spacers or welded washer spacer, and the 3 inch body lift as mp3 suggested. that will also allow for a much easier alignment when you are all done.
just my $.02.