85 4x4 ranger prerunner build

[NEVERLIFT]

I decided now would be a good time to start a build thread. I'm building a 85 ranger to be used as a prerunner and mild crawler. i got the truck for $700 and it came with some dana 35 beams and a bw1354 manual t-case out of a explorer. i'm still learning all the fabrication stuff but have been welding for about 3 years.

the plans for the build are
front and rear bumpers
extended radius arms
swap the dana 35 beams on
deaver leafs for the rear
8.8 rear end
race legal cage
2.5" shocks

here's how the truck looked when i bought it.



then i started collecting parts.

i picked up some used deavers with a snapped main leaf but the price was right.


snapped main leaf


i decided to replace both main leaves while i was doing the one. i also got new bushings and center pins.



i also found a good deal on a front tube bumper built by H&M motorsports


and decided to give building a rear bumper a shot.
rear bumper brackets made out of 3/16" plate


and what i came up with for the rear bumper, i was trying to keep it simple. i'm not 100% sure i like it so it might not stay on the truck for too long.


i also picked up some dick cepek radius arms with the ends cut off. i'm gonna add some heims to them.


i hopefully am gonna be able to start throwing the suspension parts at it this weekend

 

[jhammel85]

Looks good.. Whats under it? 35 inch tires?

 

[Str8sixfan]

I love Pre-Runners. This looks like a fun one to follow. So far looks like your fab skills are good. Keep up the good work.

 

[NEVERLIFT]

Looks good.. Whats under it? 35 inch tires?

it had some huge drop brackets and i'm assuming an 8" lift up front with 35's.

I finally got around to adding some end caps to the bumper and got it painted


i picked up some smaller drop brackets for $50 not sure what drop they but there better than what the truck came with.

the brackets the truck had when i bought it are on the right


one of the tabs on the old brackets was broken when i took them off so i gusseted the brackets i bought before i bolted them up.



i cut down the 6" coils to drop the front end down to match the rear and threw some 33's on there then i took the truck to pismo last weekend and had some fun. unfortunately i didn't get any action shots.

 

[jhammel85]

That looks like an awesome place to go!

Looks good leveled out too. I'm hoping to put new springs on mine to hopefully level it out a bit. Both front and rear are getting pretty saggy.