Any front end swaps for Gen I Rangers?

[Lee in Texas]

I've seen lots of swaps for later Rangers, but nothing for Gen I. I read that someone put a range Rover front end on a Gen I, but have not found pics.

Anyone have pics of swapped front ends?

 

[JoshT]

Gen 2 (89-92) is the closest thing to a bolt on swap, and you still have to change the core support as well. Any other front end swap will be major customizing with lots of cutting, welding, and bondo to get it to look anywhere close to right.

 

[Lee in Texas]

Yes, I'm sure that a Range Rover's sheet metal is not a straight bolt on.

 

[baddis]

Gen 2 (89-92) is the closest thing to a bolt on swap, and you still have to change the core support as well. Any other front end swap will be major customizing with lots of cutting, welding, and bondo to get it to look anywhere close to right.

you can modify the gen 1 support to work with a gen 2 swap

 

[Lee in Texas]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit speaking Greek.

 

[JoshT]

No, we just answered the best that we could. I get what you are asking, but the gen 1 to gen 2 swap is pretty much all I've seen done.

TBH I don't care for front end swaps that involve different makes and models, so I don't pay that much attention to them. If I had seen something like a range rover swap I probably forgot about it as fast as I could. IMO the only time a front end swap like that really looks right is when the donating vehicle and receiving vehicle are nearly the same. IE: Explorer front end on a Ranger.

Honestly for this type of subject work you will probably have better luck over on RPS.

 

[XLTsplash]

Here's a Ranger with a Aerostar grille. I think it gives the first gen Ranger a nice updated look.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That isn't as simple as just swapping grilles. It is an Aerostar grille spliced into the center of a standard first gen Ranger grille. There will be a level of craftiness involved to make it look right.

 

[Mark_88]

you can modify the gen 1 support to work with a gen 2 swap

I agree...

I've got all the parts for a gen II front end swap but haven't gotten to it yet...I did measure everything and it appears to be very similar to a gen I...with the exception of the opening for the lights...and the bolt holes are a bit off for the fenders from what I can see just holding it in place...they are u-clip nuts that should work after drilling new holes.

I'm also going with a gen II front bumper and that requires the gen II fenders from what I can tell...

 

[bobbywalter]

the e-b grille works ok with the gen 2. or you can fit up a grand cherokee or cherokee grille/light setup.


you can buy glass to front end swap to a 2004 style headlight and grille arrangement, which i really like because they emulate round headlights.

or whatever style you prefer. fairly cost effective at that.


mcniel or any of the regular prerunner/desert race truck suppliers have some very interesting swap options to really change up any truck.

this is somewhere here on trs

 

[Mark_88]

Here's a Ranger with a Aerostar grille. I think it gives the first gen Ranger a nice updated look.

I like that upgrade...might look into that...depends on where the build goes once I get back to it...