92 Pre-Runner Ranger

[Alix]

Specs: 92 Ford Ranger standard cab short bed.
2.3l 5 speed
99 fiberglass front clip and bedsides
Lenger Racing front bumper
Custom rear bumper

Front: 6" wider beams from Lenger Racing
Fox 2.0 emulsions
King 2.0 bumps
80" track
17" travel

Rear: 64" Lenger Racing El Baja Leafos
Flipped and extended shackles
Fox 2.0 emulsions
8.8 4.56s with LSD with extra friction plates
16" travel

Current pic (As of 4/7/12)

When I picked up the truck from Lenger Racing

I made some headlights by retrofitting a pair of Bi-Xenon projectors from The Retrofit Source into aftermarket housings. The front end of the truck and bed are 98-01 style fiberglass. The hood is aluminum.

I got pulled over for not having a rear bumper so I made this real quick the next day.

After paint. I'm happy with it for being my first time working with tubing on a bumper. It's better than having nothing there.

This pic is after tinting all the windows.

 

[jhammel85]

Looks good! How did you mount the bumper to the back? It looks like you welded it directly to the frame?

 

[Alix]

Looks good! How did you mount the bumper to the back? It looks like you welded it directly to the frame?

The two vertical tubes that are the width of the frame have a vertical plate that goes next to the frame and on the bottom of the rail. Like an "L" shape. I had barely enough room but I was able to get two 1/2" grade 8 bolts on each side through the plate and frame. It wouldn't survive a big hit but that wasn't my reason for building it. My goal was to keep the police happy and look halfway decent.

 

[Uncle JuJu]

I see a shackle flip and springs!! Can you elaborate on your setup..

Looking good!

 

[Alix]

I see a shackle flip and springs!! Can you elaborate on your setup..

Looking good!

The springs are Lenger Racing El Baja Leafos. I can't remember where the shackles are from but they are boxed and greaseable. The shocks are just for winter I have a set of Fox for the rear but I've been looking into building a bed cage.

 

[Uncle JuJu]

Did a google search.. those are some big a$$ springs!

Are your shackle mounts just flipped or are they in a different position?

 

[Alix]

Did a google search.. those are some big a$$ springs!

Are your shackle mounts just flipped or are they in a different position?

Moved back as far as clearances would allow. About 4-5" back.

 

[sabian0004]

nice truck.. whats the price on the kits?

 

[Alix]

About to order a set King 2.0 4" travel Air Bumps.

I got distracted easily and started pricing out King 2.5 resi coil overs for the front and 2.5 resis for the rear. I'm thinking next fall. I'll just run my Fox 2.0s front and rear hard this year.

 

[Alix]

Well I was just outside with a jack and a measuring tape....

Looks like I'd be able to keep a 14" travel shock below the top of the bedsides. If I went with a 16" travel it would be about 4" over the bed. The 16" would be ideal but I haven't decided if I like the look of the shock higher than the bed. What are your opinions?

 

[koda6966]

Nothing says "My truck can jump higher than you" more than a pair of shocks busting out of the bed.

 

[Alix]

Very true hahah

When I do build the bed cage I'm going to make it bolt in like this one and keep it simple too. I want to retain as much bed space as possible to keep it halfway usable. I'm also thinking of making a fuel cell between the front of the bed and the bed cage.

 

[Rose2300]

How much did that front suspension kit cost? It didn't say on their website

 

[Alix]

How much did that front suspension kit cost? It didn't say on their website

I don't know what the arms alone are. Best bet is to give them a call.

 

[Alix]

I took measurements of the front today for bump stops. Then I started brainstorming. I thought I wanted 14" travel shocks in the front but I was actually surprised after taking some measurements. After looking at some options, a 10" shock seems ideal.

Front - A 10" King shock is:
18.375" compressed. At bump that puts the upper mount an eighth inch above the inside lip of the inner fender (Just for reference).
28.375" extended (Using the same reference point) gives a surprising 18" of wheel travel.
Limit strap would be 17" to use my current holes or I could move mine down 1".
Bump stops -
I'm am going to start with a 3" bump first because a 4" would only give about 1" of wheel travel before hitting. With a 3" I should have about 3" of compression from ride height to bump. The way bump stops are limited, they can be extended extremely easily by disassembling them and cutting the internal spacer.

Bump:

Droop:

That's about as far as I feel comfortable drooping these arms. 18" of wheel travel is plenty.