'99 Ranger "lowered" 5.0L AWD to lifted 4wd...

[JoshT]

I think that seeing everybodys rigs at the 2026 Fall Colors Campout motivated me a little bit to get something going with the Ranger. Might not be ready for an event next year (2027), but at least it'll be moving in the right direction.

For those that don't know/remember (and I don't blame you) it's a '99 XLT extended cab 4x4, originally with 4.0L and auto. Was the first vehicles I bought myself, purchased in 2005 with about 95K miles on it. Couple of years ago dad and I did the 5.0L swap and I had the idea of turning it into a lowered AWD street truck. The game plan was always to give that a shot and if I wasn't happy with how it turned out to lift it. Well I haven't too happy with where I ended up, so it's time to move forward with the lift. Honestly, no loss as not much money invested into the lowering attempt, and I think I'll be happier with a lowered 2wd 1st gen for that (have a couple of candidates). Heres a couple of pictures of how it started, and how it was just before, during and after the swap.

Not long after purchase. At this point I'd only installed the brush guard, lights, vent visors, and new tires.

Several years later with a torsion twist, 32x10.5 on 15x8 wheels. I'd acquired a second hand Undercover Tonneau, nice cover, but didn't like having to remove to use the bed. Then with a high rise truck cap that I tried for a little while, still have it out back and might give it another go if I devise an easy on/off system.

During the V8 AWD swap and lowering. Set of 18" explorer wheels and as low as it could go and still be drivable in front, but really needed longer upper control arms that weren't available. First picture rear is flipped spring under with extended shackles and maybe Explorer springs. IIRC yes, the axle is further back than it should be, that was intentional at the time. Second picture it may be back at stock 2wd height. The front would actually go lower, but the camber was so bad that I couldn't keep it like that. Needed a set of longer control arms to help with camber and extreme balljoint angles, but no one was making them at the time.

After that I actually raised it back up a bit in front, reinstalled the stock wheels and stockish size tires I was running prior to swap, and was going to run it like that until I could get someone to make me control arms to lower further. Shown here sitting next to a random stock 2wd second gen. Rick's Rangers eventually put the arms out late last year, but by that time the plan was pretty much set to go back up. Combination of being underwhelmed by the performance/handling and mom insisting that I get dad's F-150 Ecoboost which was quicker/faster, more efficient, and more comfortable.

These are pictures I could scrape together through the present. Still sits like those last couple of pictures. Been parked most of this year due to a parasistic drain, brakes needing attention, being focused on other projects, and simply not being sure what I wanted to do with it.

As I said in the Fall Colors Campout thread, I'm not much of a picture taker, so don't expect too much going forward. That said, I will make an effort to take some as I go along.

 

[JoshT]

With that abbreviated history out of the way. Here's what I currently have in mind:

• Explorer 5.0L ✔
• 4R70W ✔
• 4406 electric shift
• Explorer 8.8" disc brake axle
• Live axle conversion ✔
• 04+ (IIRC) 12" brakes
• Rough Country 5" lift kit
• BTF Fab upper arms
• Lift springs instead of blocks
• Coil-over conversion
• 33" AT tires
• 16-17" wheels (lift kit calls for 17")
• 01-03 Edge front end
• Off-road bumpers, maybe with winch... just cause
• Some interior changes like different seats, center console, etc

As noted in the opening, the 5.0L swap is already done, though it might need some attention. I'm not certain about the engine itself. It's healthy and runs good, but I'm not sure that the intake, heads and cam are the right combination, or maybe the tuning just isn't right. The transmission is at or over 200K miles, so I want to put in a fresh transmission with a shift kit (or J-mod?) before I worry too much about the engine, because who knows how that may be hindering things. Want to swap the AWD t-case for a true 4wd case, staying e-shift since my factory controller should handle it. Live axle swap was also done to go with the AWD drivetrain.

Along with the transmission and transfer case, the first work that will be done is the lift kit and tires. I know that 33" tires can be run with stock suspension, especially with the coil-overs, but I've read enough about these trucks that I'd rather run the lift kit. Better angles for the CV axles and ball joints, and I'm not using up most of my down travel to achieve the lift. Also gives more wiggle room if I want to get a little stupid down the road (35s anyone?). Doing the lift first with the transfercase swap will let me measure for and buy driveshafts once and I won't have to be rebuying tires later to move up. I need to get the suspension parts on hand so I can check wheel clearance to see if I can actually get away with a 16" or will have to go 17". If I have to go 17" it might be some Mustang wheels with spacers initially until I decide on something I like. The 12" brake swap is required by the lift kit, but was already on the to-do list for next time it needed them.

I'll probably be sticking with the torsion bars and lift blocks initally to spread out the costs. If the transmission and 4wd t-case don't make the improvements I hope they will, I might be spending some money on top end and tuning before it goes back into suspension. Long term I definitely want coil-overs and lift springs. Doing the lift first will let me get ride height dialed in where I want it to get measurements. Also with the lift, the torsion bars won't ride like a wagon until I can get the conversion done. The lift kit comes with all the parts and shocks anyway, so might as well use them for a little while.

Other bits will happen as I get to them.

I have a a couple of Explorer 8.8s, but they are both 3.73 ratio. I've also got a 3.73 front diff, but unless it's a good match to the 33s and 5.0L, I think a regear is in order. Want to see if I'm happy with the 4.10 or want to go shorter before I invest in that. I'll also be watching the yards for a 4.10 ratio explorer axle I might run in the interim, but not afraid to use the Ranger V6 until then.

As seen in the pics above, the Edge hood is done. I've got a line on a free grill, need to follow up on that if it isn't too late already. Leaning towards the some of the weld-it-yourself bumpers (AOR, Move, Costal, etc) maybe a swing tire carrier on back for a full size spare. Definitely want different seats. Have a set of Flow-Fits (think early Saleen Mustang) in storage that I bought for the first gen, and brackets for putting Race seats in the 99, so might use those temporarily. Maybe later model Mustang for more long term solution? Got an explorer console I was planning to install, might go with a short console instead if I can find a decent one. New carpets and general cleaning. Paint... maybe someday.