97' Ranger Build On Fire!

[Ranger44]

Sounds to me that your alignment problem is being caused by a LACK of a dropped pitman arm for your steering, or one that isn't dropped enough. You steering linkage needs to be just about dead nutz level for everything to be ok.

 

[pyrosity]

Yah that could be the problem...maybe....my new pitman arm is a good 2 inches longer than my stock one...so i think for now its good enough. but i tool some measurements off my old front ends tie rod adjustment brackets on either side...and noticed it was alot different matching it to my new front....so today i popped her up in the air again. untightened the bolts..beat'r with a soft hammer and moved em in. about 2.5 turns on the right side and 4 turns on the left..drove it about 5 miles and she feels...ALOT BETTER! So ill be ready to take her to an alignment palce next week as soon as i get an appointment.
PICTURES TO FOLLOW. THINGS I BEEN WORKING ON.

 

[pyrosity]

HERE ARE THE PICTURES FELLAS.

TRUCK BEFORE.........

TRUCK AFTER STILL HAS LITTLE 31-11.50- ROLLERS.........AND IM NOT SURE HOW TALL SHE IS...BUT THE REAR IS ONLY AN INCH TALLER THAN THE FRONT WITH SUPERLIFT LEAFS AND 2 INCH BLOCK....AS FOR NOW....ITS ATLEAST 4-5 INCHES TALLER SO IM WAY HAPPY. IM THINKING I MIGHT GO F150 COILS AND TRY TO GET 35'S UNDER HER NEXT

BEEN WORKING ON MY WHEELS ALSO...CLEANED EM UP AND SANDED AND REPAINTED THEM....SEE HOW LONG THEY LAST...BUT HERES A PICTURE. NEXT WHEELS I GET WILL HAVE BEAD LOCKS.

AND I GOT SOME DUFF DUAL SHOCK BRACKETS FOR THE FRONTS SO IM GONNA USE THOSE. SANDED AND PAINTED THEM TO MATCH THE REST OF MY KIT. LOOK REALLY GOOD WITH THAT HAMMERD PAINT LOOK.

OH AND DONT FORGET ABOUT THE U-JOINT THAT WAS BROKEN...NOW FIXED AND SOON THE REST WILL BE REPLACED BY THIS.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...I SCORED A BRANDNEW AFE AIRFILTER SYSTEM FOR MY NEW 4.0L...BUT IM WORRIED I WONT BE ABLE TO USE IT FAST ENOUGH, BECAUSE IM STILL CONTEMPLATING ON DOING A 302 VS 4.0L SWAP EITHER WAY I HAVE MY OPTIONS.

BUT REMEMBER THIS ISNT THE END...I STILL HAVE TO PUT THE REST OF THIS STUFF IN HER. STILL HAVE THE REAR END TO SWAP. AND EVENTUALLY HAVE GEARS TO PUT IN HER..... GOT ALL KINDS OF STUFF LEFT OVER TO DO. OH AND I GUESS THE WIFE IS ON TO MY WHOLE LIFTING AND MODDING THE TRUCK..LOL

 

[pyrosity]

ok so i took it in to the alignment shop to get er done and they wouldnt align it with out my sway bar attached or my front shocks in...lol...

oh and my right lower ball joint is going out...so a little waste of time, but thats ok...GETRDONE!

so truck will be coming home tonight and ill fix the ball joint as soon as i get the cash.

 

[4x4junkie]

Yah that could be the problem...maybe....my new pitman arm is a good 2 inches longer than my stock one...so i think for now its good enough.

Not with a 5.5" lift... You need the Skyjacker pt# FA600 arm for that.

A standard dropped arm works acceptably only up to 4" lift. Even at that height the FA600 arm is still better though.

 

[pyrosity]

yah i guess im not sure...but as for now i just need to fix the ball joint and get r aligned. i can worry about the pitman arm later...my buddy who has had 3 or 4 rangers says its good enough...so im not worried about it. ill have the shop look at it later also.

wondering? should i replace the top ball joint since i have the whole thing apart anyways? maybe even replace the other side also? any recommendations on the ball joint? i think i might just fix the right side upper and lower and then GIT R DONE!...lol

so more to come...lol.

 

[pyrosity]

UPDATE!

Ordered new ball joints for left and right side. So im going to change out those sometime later this week when they show up.

Got wheels and tires on and they dont shake to bad with out being balanced...but im sure over 60 miles and hour theyll be vibrating pretty good...lol

So this is where she is at. Need to install ball joints, figure out what im doing with my extended radius arms and install my dual shock mounts. other than that. We are on hold...oh and drill and cut off the fender flare brackets. I think im not going to put em back on...not sure....opinions...?

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ALL THINK GUYS!

 

[pyrosity]

not that its huge but i thought ide give atleast an update....so i installed 6 inch coils on the truck and got the coil bracket installed so they dont pop out of the top...now i have to get it aligned again...lol...

but it looks damn good.

ill post pics after i get the alignment done. and still bombing it around town with no shocks....lol.....


i also decided to go 302 conversion so i found a nice 302 block and am going to learn alot about those and rebuild it and stuff her in...of course not that easily but you know what i mean..Basically one thing at a time.

also got a CB radio for her so ill be installing that in the next few weeks. and hopefully my new extended radius arms will be done in a month or so and ill have em installed and flexxxing out like no other. but the tranny crossmember is gonna cost some $$$, so im waiting on that....

better pics to follow...damn i need a therangerstation sticker on this thing. my wife actually commented about how my truck doesnt look like a POS anymore...well actually just not as much..she said it looks like it has potential...lol...YES....my truck has potential

 

[Downey]

cool build man any updates?

 

[detty_motorsports]

sweet lookin ride

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

looks good, definitely still needs some things worked out (pitman arm still too short, will wear out tires fast) but it looks mean. what kind of tires are on it?