I'm the guy doing the Project Apple Bottom. I'm making my own adaptors to go from the 5 on 4.5" pattern to the 8 on 6.5" pattern found on '98 and older F-250 and 350's. After reading up on the JC Whitney adaptors and stock Ranger axles, I've decided to swap in a Sterling 10.25 out of a '98 and older F-250, due to the HD versions being full floaters. When I designed my adaptors, I made them to account for the DEEP backspacing of the dually rims, putting the centerline of the front rims in the same place as the stock rims, and putting the centerline of the inner rear wheels on the same centerline as the stock ones. The reason I've decided to not use the adaptors on the rear is because having a whole extra tire hanging off the rear must put a lot of extra leverage on the axle, and I sometimes use my truck to haul scrap metal, sometimes carrying up to a ton of metal, so needless to say, my stock axle, and even an 8.8" would have a hard time not breaking. That is why I've decided to go with a full float in the rear. And, after doing some research on the Sterling, the distance from Wheel Mounting Surface to WMS is only 1.25" narrower than the Stock axle with the adaptors installed. So I wouldn't need to spend any $$ on making the axle narrower. I would have to fab up perches and shock mounts to swap in an 8.8" anyways, so I might as well do it on an axle that I know will hold up to the abuse. Also, the Sterling already comes with the 8 on 6.5" stud pattern, so my rims will bolt on with no problems.
As far as fenders, I tried to order the ones from JC Whitney, they say they fit Rangers from '83 to '95, but they don't. I ordered them for a '95 first and they sent me an order cancellation due to the manufacturer saying they do not make them for that year/make/model. So I re-ordered them for a '93 (Same bodystyle, and well within the '83 to '95 range listed), and again I was sent the same cancellation. So, after that I've decided to use stock stepside bedsides off of a '93 or newer Ranger. They have all the same bodylines, but the step will stick out wider than my cab, which I can deal with. If I was any kind of body guy I could just cut the step out, and glass it in to line up with the cab, but I kind of like the idea of having the step, so I'm going to leave it. Obviously a styleside bed is spot welded on, and the stepsides are bolted on. I've decided to cut my bedsides off at the first bodyline where they start to curve down, leaving the flat top. This will allow me to figure out where the bolts need to come through the top, and I can drill out some holes, and tack some nuts underneith for the bolts to thread into. As for the mounts on the bottom of the bedsides, I'm going to have to fab up some brackets from my inner bed (so I can still just take out the six bolts to pull my bed if I wanted). I'm also going to have to fab up some substantial brackets to go under the steps on the front, so I can actually step on them and not have to worry about them cracking or breaking off.
Although I'm not finished yet, I believe it can be done, as long as you do your homework. Everything can be done with enough time and $$.
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