92 Pre-Runner Ranger

[Alix]

I bent up some hoops real quick to get an idea of clearances under the hood. I used some 10" Fox emulsions for an idea because they have the same compressed and extended dimensions as the Kings I want to buy. Passenger side has plenty of room and won't be an issue at all. On the drivers side I will have to lean the hoop out slightly to clear the brake booster. The shocks will still maintain a slight angle inward at ride height. For the bar across the engine I'll just have to shorten the bracket holding my MAF and air filter a few inches.

The debate I'm having at the moment is how much of a difference I would notice going with a dual rate spring setup. Would it be worth the extra $160 on only a 10" travel shock? I could always change out the springs later on as well.

 

[RaceRanger97]

Why are you going with such a short shock up front?

 

[Alix]

Why are you going with such a short shock up front?

I thought that seemed short too but 10" of travel at the shock mounts will give 18" at the wheel. My upper mount will be about 6" below the hood

 

[Alix]

For the engine bar I'm going to use these from ballistic fab. I've heard great things about them. I saw their tube clamps but some others on a different forum were saying they were incredibly tight. I think that would cause an issue because they will be on a bent tube rather than a straight one.

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Tube-Flange-2-bolt-design-2-pieces_p_1433.html

 

[Bennybooster]

Don't buy anything from ballistic fab, they got banned from pirate for a reason

 

[Alix]

Don't buy anything from ballistic fab, they got banned from pirate for a reason

What was that reason?

 

[RaceRanger97]

Seriously avoid balistic fab.. I am have had nothing but bad experiences with them and am currently getting the run around on an order I should have got weeks ago.

 

[Alix]

So do you think I should go with a longer travel shock and move my lower mount outwards some? Right not it'll be just a few inches from the knuckle.

 

[brinker88]

Wow, I've never had a problem w/ ballistic fab. I've ordered parts for my fullsize SAS project and my Ranger project as well as parts for my bro's jeep and all orders were shipped with absolutely no problems.

 

[Uncle JuJu]

the farther out your shocks are mounted the more control they have, of the arm. If your gunna do it you might as well get the most out of it!

And you will be amased at the difference a dual rate spring will give you!

I know you bought it this way but I won't / wouldn't waste my money on a single rate coil over..

The difference is that when you have dual rate spring setup you will ride on both springs under most driving conditions. but when the sand / trail gets rougher you start to get into the second (harder) spring. This helps to maintain ride height but get more spring rate when you need it the most. It has been a few years since it was halfway explained to me, at the local rail shop. Hope this helps..

 

[Alix]

the farther out your shocks are mounted the more control they have, of the arm. If your gunna do it you might as well get the most out of it!

And you will be amased at the difference a dual rate spring will give you!

I know you bought it this way but I won't / wouldn't waste my money on a single rate coil over..

Yeah right now the are mounted slightly inward with a heavier rate spring.

What's a good way to get an estimate on spring rates, lengths and valving? I heard if you call King they are very helpful. I know I'd need to know sprung and unsprung weight, length of the arms and location of the mounts on the arms but is there a program anywhere I could type in that info and get a good base point?

The truck works great as it sits, the guys at Lenger did an awesome job. I just want a project to do something more and my motto has always been if you're not gonna do something the right way the first time, then don't bother.

Yeah that does make sense explained like that. Thanks. Time to do some more research!

 

[Alix]

Well Michigan has finally decided to give us snow and that means salt. Yuck. The truck is parked for while. I should be able to get it in the garage in a week or so to mount the bump stops.

 

[Uncle JuJu]

Fabtec always ran Fox Shocks! He said they were easier to set up and rebuild then others!

If you call them and tell them what you have, they should be able to get you close enough! Racers are always fine tuning their suspension, soits not amatter of doing it right or wrong! It's all in what you want!

By the way, love your truck with the newer grill!

 

[Alix]

Fabtec always ran Fox Shocks! He said they were easier to set up and rebuild then others!

If you call them and tell them what you have, they should be able to get you close enough! Racers are always fine tuning their suspension, soits not amatter of doing it right or wrong! It's all in what you want!

By the way, love your truck with the newer grill!

Thanks for the info. I want to get it close to start. I've been reading up on a ton of articles and other people's experiences. I'd feel comfortable rebuilding shocks and making changes to valving and springs to really dial it in. I just have no clue on where to start as a baseline.

I like this front end too but lately I've really been digging the look of the 02+ years. Not quite worth buying new glass though or giving up the headlights I made. I love these lights at night. It's hard to get a night shot of them that really does them justice.

 

[Alix]

I need opinions. I'm ordering bumpstops in a couple days. I've been told 2.0s would be enough but for not too much more I could go with the 2.5s. I understand the 2.5s are better but would I even notice a difference on this light of a truck?