97 pre4x4runner build would like advice/input

[91rangerstx]

Ok looking for some advice with this build kinda new to the prerunners but not to rangers. What I am started with is a 97 ranger 4x4 4in lift 3in body lift 4.0 5 speed. What my plans are for the truck is a second DD, some fast two tracking, sand dunes, fun on whoops but no crazy jumping right away anyways.

My ideas just of the top of my head.

-Ditch the body lift
-New body mount bushings
-Shackle flip
-Chevy 64s reached how much, how to put them together with rangers??? 12in?? Do I use the stock blocks or no blocks??
-remote Resi shocks with bed cage or Bilsteins under bed
-Prerunner fenders
-extend radius arms with Johnny joints

Anyways enough talking lets let the pictures do the talking.



Sitting on 31s with a 4in susp lift I believe and 3in body.



Opps didn't notice the rotted core support till I got it home.



Fenders tore off waiting for the new core to come in figured a good time to protect and clean up inner fenders.







Core Support Out



New Core welded in



Front End back together picked up some glass fenders on craigslist for 250 figured it was a good deal since they want 300 just for shipping to Michigan. Also I couldn't get the hood latch to work right so ditched it for hood pins there not just for looks.







And here how the rear sits as of now shackle flipped guessing stock springs with blocks sway bar is still hooked up and dual exhaust. Ditching the everything going to run Chevy 64s. I have some questions hopefully I get some answers/tips 2wd 64s are what I want correct also how much do I get them re arched and do I run the stock blocks or none at all? As far as the exhaust I am going to run it out the side before the tire also toying with the idea of going through the bed side. I also plan on replacing the rear cross member support by boxing in the frame with 2x4 1/8in tube does that sound about right??



Will keep updating as I go may be a slow build please bare with me. Looking for advice, tips, and help lots of help. Now I do know I should cut and turn the beams but as of now I don't feel comfortable doing it my welding skills are great but the geometry of turning it and getting it sitting right I am not too sure about.

Thanks for looking and cant wait for ideas and input.

 

[mercurymullet]

You will probably need a bed cage to get full travel from the 64s. I didn't cut my beams because i prefer to have my axles flat at ride height to have max up and down travel available. Over sprung springs tend to have more axle wrap and blocks make it worse. But I've had blocks on desert trucks. Good radius arms and some good rear shocks will be a fun truck.

 

[mercurymullet]

You can also do a under sprung set up with a standard style shackle like an explorer.

 

[91rangerstx]

Ok so saying I do 64s reached 12in don't run any blocks not even the stock ones that came on the truck?

 

[mercurymullet]

I would try to run as little blocks as I could. But putting them in to obtain some height isn't horrible, just might hamper performance in certain areas. But as I stated I've ran blocks before. I would put blocks in before I ran a huge rake.