99 from 3.0 to 4.6(HELP NEED DIRECTION ON BUILD)

[oldschool1955]

think I can find some tires to feed the beast.

my 15 year old using torch for first time

AFTER A BATH

cancer anyone

My son and I got the box off today, and started to clean frame. Nothing like some ny rust to help with disassembly. Going to get some steel to start adding some rigidness to the rear rails. TIME TO SMELL THE METAL BURNIN

 

[oldschool1955]

While I was working on the frame I had a thought about the rear suspension,want to get some feed back on this cool idea. I want to move the leaf springs under the frame and under the axle, then cut the rear part of the leafs off. Basicly I want to build a four link using the front of leaf as the lower link. I am thinking fo boxing the frame above the axle for strenght and adding 2x4 cross braces just ahead and behind rear end. Am removing gas tank to make room for true dual exhaust, will use a fuel cell where spare used to hang. Oh check out these mufflers from classic chambered classicchambered.com . I have them on my Dodge dd and love the sound. Am going to run them on the ranger but some with more aggressive sound. My adhd kicked in again, what do you guys think about my suspension idea? I think it wil be cool plus I still don't color between the lines( or drive between them either).

 

[Kyle M.]

WHat are you going to do for the other links? Springs?

 

[oldschool1955]

no I am going to build adjustable upper links and a adjustable panhard bar.

 

[Kyle M.]

What about springs?

 

[oldschool1955]

Looking to run coil over shocks.

 

[dieseldane]

While I was working on the frame I had a thought about the rear suspension,want to get some feed back on this cool idea. I want to move the leaf springs under the frame and under the axle, then cut the rear part of the leafs off. Basicly I want to build a four link using the front of leaf as the lower link. I am thinking fo boxing the frame above the axle for strenght and adding 2x4 cross braces just ahead and behind rear end. Am removing gas tank to make room for true dual exhaust, will use a fuel cell where spare used to hang. Oh check out these mufflers from classic chambered classicchambered.com . I have them on my Dodge dd and love the sound. Am going to run them on the ranger but some with more aggressive sound. My adhd kicked in again, what do you guys think about my suspension idea? I think it wil be cool plus I still don't color between the lines( or drive between them either).

Using the springs as lower links doesn't sound like a good idea to me. I think they would have too much flex, and wouldn't help keep the axle located as well as a more solid link would.

 

[oldschool1955]

Using the springs as lower links doesn't sound like a good idea to me. I think they would have too much flex, and wouldn't help keep the axle located as well as a more solid link would.

Thanks diesel it does give me something to watch for as I build it. As for flex I'm counting on it giving some to help soften the ride a little. Locating the axle is going to be the panhard bar. I have seen a system like this on the net figured I would try it. It will work or it won't then I can always build some solid links. Just to clarify when you say flex you mean up and down travel, or rotational flex?

 

[oldschool1955]

btw, chrome says my valve covers will be done next week I was going through the pics from the other day and I'm embarassed my shop was a pig pen. We normally clean some at the end of the day but nothing like a pic to show the crap. But the ranger was getting attention so alls good.

This is the kinda thing I was thinking, but with the spring on the bottom.

 

[dieseldane]

Thanks diesel it does give me something to watch for as I build it. As for flex I'm counting on it giving some to help soften the ride a little. Locating the axle is going to be the panhard bar. I have seen a system like this on the net figured I would try it. It will work or it won't then I can always build some solid links. Just to clarify when you say flex you mean up and down travel, or rotational flex?

What I'm thinking, is that when torque is applied, it may want to make the axle rotate and move front to back or vice-versa. Drew a little sketch in paint to help explain what I'm thinking:

The length of the top link would stay the same since it's solid, but the spring is designed to bend and might do so while you're driving, causing some unpredictable handling characteristics.

 

[dieseldane]

btw, chrome says my valve covers will be done next week I was going through the pics from the other day and I'm embarassed my shop was a pig pen. We normally clean some at the end of the day but nothing like a pic to show the crap. But the ranger was getting attention so alls good.
This is the kinda thing I was thinking, but with the spring on the bottom.

This is a quarter elliptical set up, which are mostly used to gain enormous amounts of wheel travel. You can find tons of info on them if you google it. If you look real close you can see that there are also upper links in this picture as well to eliminate axle rotation.

 

[oldschool1955]

So what your saying is they use the spring for spring , but keep it tight with a 4 link. makes sense I guess I will modify my plan. Thanks for saving me some headache.

 

[oldschool1955]

Got some pics from the chromer. Can't really see how they really look. They will look sooo cool on the truck. I am some excited because it is the first thing done.

Ok before anyone says anything they aren't dipped they were done by Custom Chrome which is a spray on chrome. they can do any color and any material. If you look there is a turtle shell in the pics that they chromed. My covers are a lime green. Spent another two hours getting rust off the block so hopefully I can get some paint on it and start reassembly. The Ranger is goin to be out of the shop for a few weeks getting some new metal put in the rear frame. One of my customers is a welder and owed me some money so I'm having him build the frame. once I get it back I can start on the suspension.

 

[oldschool1955]

Didn't get much done today, had a lot of customer work to get done. did get some more cleaning done on the engine. Got some of my new sensors today. Putting al new electronics on the engine just so I don't have any problems when I fire it up. Since I can't get much done on the truck started on the derby cars. Here we go again turning perfectly good wiring harnesses into spagetti. Every year I end up wiring up at least 10 - 15 cars between mine and friends.

 

[oldschool1955]

I know this isn't a rbv but check this out, because when I get done with my ranger I hope it can be half as sick. http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoJArWhER9A