97fordrunners 97 Ranger build

[legoms013]

The front sags cuz the toe setting is not right. Also, keep in mind that if your axle pivot points and steering linkage are not exactly horizontal with each other the front end will do all kids of crazy jacking. A second set of shocks might help, but make sure your steering stuff in all correct first, thats what will make or break drivability.

Looks good so far, hopefully you can get the stonecrusher thing all straightened out...

You will love the NoSlip, I had one for over 40K and it never lets me down.

 

[97fordrunner]

Stupid question what would the toe setting do to cause that? Drag on the front axle when backing? I did measure it out when I had the tires off to check the toe and it was set at about a 1/16 to 1/8 in

 

[legoms013]

It has to be no more than 1/8" in or exactly parallel. This also has to be checked with the weight of the vehicle on the tires, not jacks or stands.

If its off by more than about 1/4" either in or out, it will do that. Especially with softer coils..

Put a plate and two road pieces of bar stock under one tire, this allows the tire to not be bound up on the pavement, and will allow you to take a true toe reading.

Look here at the pictures towards the bottom:

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/winter2008/steering_tech.htm

 

[97fordrunner]

Thanks for the info and tip. I will tackle that tomorrow evening hopefully.

 

[railman]

I added a few washers in front of my bushings on my RA's to move my axle forward a inch or so....

looks really good

now just make a bed of some sort........

l8r, John

 

[97fordrunner]

I'm gonna build a frame wide bed from the tool box back with some sort of tire carrier, Not sure if i'm gonna lay it flat or pre runner style. Thats a good idea with the washers in front of the bushing Didn't think of that., good way to try it out without cutting

 

[97fordrunner]

SO I was gonna do some fenders tonight kinda a half moon using a hard plastic truck mud flap but couldn't pull the trigger, I'm thinking i'm gonna just do a steel frame flat bed about 2" wider than the frame rails and put side rails on it from the tool box back and then around the back. and then make a spare tire carrier to go on top of the rails so I still can have room in for a jack or stuff in the back. What do you guys think? Probably something like Sasquatch's logger box with shorter sides.

Edit: also drove it a bit today cause i'm having separation anxiety from it and with no box on the back it rips and feels like a go-cart. really peppy, Not sure why. And found out it will break the tires loose on pavement really easy when turning and go all sorts of sideways

 

[97fordrunner]

Well Got to work on the truck a little tonight, Didn't get anywhere with the steering issue but did get some old metal crates that originally were used for shipping 4 wheelers and am gonna use it for my flat bed. I have a bunch of 1" square tube probably 12 ga, 1" x 2" tubing also 12 ga and 1.5" square tubing thats a touch thicker. Then my boss gave me a long piece of 5" x 5" x 3/8" thick angle iron that I started to mount up to make a crossmember on the rear of the frame. Looks much better than that stock rear and is gonna be way stronger, I am also going to but some 1/4" plate inside the frame rail and put the bolts for the rear shackle hanger through them as well and continue the plate from the rear crossmember up about a foot to really make that rear stronger for a very solid tow point and future prep for a winch.

 

[CountryBoy78]

need some more pictures of the flatbed .........just make sure you leave enough room for the rear tires to clear when you got some weight on it or when its flexed out.
I didn't do that to a old f-250 mud truck I had and when you had some weight on the flat bed the tires rubbed the bed.....oh well that truck went for scrap a few months ago.
Now I got to find time to work on my ex.........currently chasing a dang radiator leak.......might have to go get another used one.

 

[97fordrunner]

Pic from messin around at the shop today. I finished welding up part of the rear cross member and messed with the toe. I think I have it pretty darn close. Also got to go out and play at the boss's property which is a swap at best through the woods and gotta say I love the Locker and the tires combo.

 

[97fordrunner]

So i'm way over do for an update.

I got the front fenders installed, Installed shocks on the front for temp. use until I get the F250 shock towers installed. Got the little flat bed installed and spare tire and carrier installed as well as LED tail lights installed.
Took it out Memorial weekend for a proper test and found major problems with the steering locking up on me due to clearance issues with the Stonecrusher system that I have yet to work out. Front Coils are way to soft. Talked to bronco graveyard and found that the ones I have(which were originally for my BII project) are 190PPI which is way to soft for a supercab ranger. The standard lift coils they sell are 3.5" lift at 325PPI Which is gonna be my next set and the 5.5" are at 415PPI so if I was to ad a winch or go SAS eventually I would probably go with those.

I did have some other problems on my test weekend, Mainly ripping the backing plate off the rear axle drivers side. I'm Planning an EX 8.8 swap eventually.

I do love the lockers and 4.88's and the 35s are great and plan on staying with that combination with the possible addition of a front locker.

Here are the pics, Enjoy
Full Droop

Bad rear spring hangers and shackles

Steering problems

Tool box, License plate

Front suspension drooping

Flexing on some rocks

So next up like stated before is get new coils and front shocks. Gonna mod the steering to not bind, and hopefully sooner rather than later a chevy spring swap and ditch the block set up I am hating right now

 

[Bennybooster]

it looks sweet

 

[97fordrunner]

Thanks, Its starting to get where I really want it to be.

 

[4.0B2]

looks good!

 

[97fordrunner]

Thinking about getting a set of pre fab fenders like these Clicky

What do you guys think?