89 ranger SAS build

[escort_gts]

Well I have saved and collected stuff for a year or so and I am finally starting the swap.
The truck was originally a 2wd. My brother and I swapped a Dana 28 and 7.5 out of his Bronco2 that he totaled. It was already geared to 4.56. So I also cut out the engine crossmember and replaced the 2wd one in the ranger. That wasn't fun. More than I expected.

Well after three years after the conversion the Dana28 blew up one winter when I ran into snow filled ditch and tried to get out on my own. So trying
to find another d28 diff and 4.56 gears was not easy. So I decided to do a sas on the ranger.


I got a dana30 out of a 92 xj that I had years ago that I took the the front and rear axles out of and had them sitting in my parents shed.
This is what it looked like after sitting in the shed for years.

I cleaned it up. sandblasted it and painted it. Had to re-gear it to 4.56 as to be the same as the rear.

I will be posting pics as I go and try to keep updates.

 

[escort_gts]

Update... I got control arms from IronMan4x4 Fab and link brackets from Ballistic Fabrication. I just ordered coil springs from Bronco Graveyard, they are the 73-79 Bronco/F150 4" Superflex. Trackbar from Rugged Ridge.
I ordered some tires from where i work for dirt cheap. 35x12.5 15 for $50 each new. Had some rims sitting around in boxes that never used.

I got these shock brackets from a buddy that didn't like them so he gave them to me that I will use.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

the build is lookin good. how are the iron long arm's?

 

[escort_gts]

got the dana 30 under today. its sitting on the springs and having problems with the steering. The Iron Man arms are cool. They adjust easy. They are heavy, 40lbs each.
Got a set of 63's from a local yard for $50 along with Beltech 6400 shackles for the rear.
I have taken pictures and when I get time will post some.

 

[escort_gts]

Hope the coil springs will settle some. It's almost too high.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

i'm in the same boat with the front springs and i went with the 5.5"ers
once i saw the jeep steering on the front of my truck it became pretty evident that there was NO option of runnin it and making it work.

I kinda like how adjustable the iron man arm's look quite a bit more than the rusty's. do you have the 35's mounted on the truck yet ? any clerance issue's?

 

[escort_gts]

the 35's are on with the weight on them. I might not have any clearance issues, but I won't really know till i get more done. I know that with the weight on the coils they are 20 1/2" compressed. I wanted them to sit around 19-20" but close enough for me.

 

[escort_gts]

started working on the rear today, leave the steering for later. Removed the bed, cut the front hanger off on the driver side, the hardest. Went through 4 drill bits trying to drill one hole The 63's i got I have to torch the hangers, bolts and bushing cause they are rusted and can't get them apart . I will work on it some more tomorrow and try to get the pictures uploaded soon.

 

[86 slo-vo]

order me a set of those 35's for $50 a piece and ill come and get them lol

 

[escort_gts]

Here are a few pics of how high the front sits. Its about 12" higher than before swap.

This is just the coil sitting in place for the picture. I have changed the caster angle since the picture.

Track bar bracket and modified coil bucket.

Went ahead and fixed the cab mounts.

 

[escort_gts]

order me a set of those 35's for $50 a piece and ill come and get them lol

I would but I was lucky enough to get a set before they were gone. There were over 400 of them and they were all gone within 3 weeks.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

how long are the upper arms on the iron man kit. i may be lookin at swapin mine for some that are more adjustable and or shorter.

 

[escort_gts]

i will take a measurment of the uper arm when i get to later taday. They are nice, i recomend them.

 

[escort_gts]

The upper arms have 5 inches of adjustment. The upper and lower parts of the long arm are both adjustable. The lowers you can adjust both ends.
Worked on the steering today.

Came up with a solution. I cut the ends off of the Ranger drag link and the Jeeps about 7inches worth and used the rangers drag link with the left hand threads and the passenger side tie rod along with the adjuster sleeve. I welded the rangers onto the jeeps and was able to use the ranger tie rod on the ranger's drop pitman arm. the piece I cut off the jeeps is laying on the floor.
Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic

 

[kroussinoffroad]

you should see if you can find some tubing that fit's snuggly over the weld and tierod as kinda a sleeve and weld that as well. might offer a little bend/break protection