94 ranger frame Width

[RANGER94 SPLASH]

I was wondering if anybody knows if the frame widths on a 1994 ranger differ form 4wd and 2wd. I have a two wheel drive and have been toying withe the idea of making it a four wheel drive, however, i have limited knowledge and space to do a project like this so if it is a major project it is kind of out of the picture for right now. So if any one knows please let me know thanks.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

they are different widths. the 2wd is wider.

switching from 2wd to 4wd on a gen3 is difficult. you need to replace the front crossmember that the suspension and everything else bolts to, which requires pounding out the rivits on both frames and swapping everything over.

 

[RANGER94 SPLASH]

What is A gen3

I was wondering what is ment when you say a gen3. And also how hard is in to pound out the rivets on the crosmember that the suspension is bolted to and why is that necessary.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

gen3 refers to the 93-97 generation of trucks.

"how hard" is subjective....depends on how good you are. i dont think you could easily get to the rivets with the suspension in place. you need to swap the crossmembers because the 2wd and 4wd crossmembers are different.

do some search, its all been covered.

 

[BeefStew42791]

so..since the engine bay's x-members are different I'm assuming the engine mounts would be different? forrrr lets say a 2.3l out of a 93-94?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the motor mounts are the same between 2wd and 4wd. the difference is in the crossmember.

 

[BeefStew42791]

everything between the block and the xmember are the same? the whole thing?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

everything between the block and the xmember are the same? the whole thing?

between the block and the crossmember are the motor mounts...which are the same between 2wd and 4wd. the crossmember is different where the pivot brackets rivet to it...and of coarse the pivot brackets themselves are different.

 

[Captain Ledd]

between the block and the crossmember are the motor mounts...which are the same between 2wd and 4wd. the crossmember is different where the pivot brackets rivet to it...and of coarse the pivot brackets themselves are different.

x2

It's not the engine side of the bracket that's different, it's how the suspension beams connect to the crossmember. It's a pretty invasive project for '83-'97 Rangers, and only slightly less for certain models on newer ones. Limited knowledge can more or less be worked around, since it comes apart and goes together like a stock setup. Only 2wd on the removal, and 4wd on the assembly. Space might be a problem, since you'd basically need to have everything ready to go (at least preferably) and room to take things off, set them aside, etc..

I'm doing one on mine, though I'm still waiting on the correct donor to end up in one of the local junkyards.

 

[BeefStew42791]

ok thanks, I ask because I need to perform an engine swap and its becoming increasingly clear that I won't be able to just unbolt the bracket that runs from the engine to the mount. The big 15mm nut might as well have been welded fast.

 

[RANGER94 SPLASH]

Once the rivets are pounded out on the crossmembers, could a person simply put a heavy duty bolt in ther instead of rivets

 

[Captain Ledd]

Once the rivets are pounded out on the crossmembers, could a person simply put a heavy duty bolt in ther instead of rivets

Definitely. There's a debate over if grade 5 is sufficient, I'd just use grade 8. Hardened nylon lock nuts (I have found a few actually, TSC I think?). Or just a generous amount of Red Threadlocker on regular hardened nuts. Or both if you really feel like it, might be not worth it though.

Finish drilling out the holes a tiny bit bigger to fit them in if you need to, it won't hurt it. Same for the passenger drop bracket if you need to change that for whatever reason.