BlackBetty Alterations Thread

[97BlackBetty]

Well, since I failed to start a build thread when the truck was being built, I decided to make an alterations thread for the add ons.

Truck:
'97 Ford Ranger XLT
Extended Cab

Drivetrain:
203,000+ mile 4.0L
5r55e Automatic Tranny
BW 1354 Electric Shift Transfer Case
1 Piece Rear Drive Shaft
Rear Axle: 31 spline 8.8 with disks, Yukon 4.88's, Aussie locker
Front Axle: Dana 35, Yukon 4.88s, 760-X U-joints with full circle clips, Open Diff (for a few more days)

Wheels and Tires:
15x10 American Racing Steelies
35x12.50 Remington Wide Brutes

Suspension: Front
Super Lift Drop Brackets
SkyJacker 6 inch Coils with ~1 inch spacers and Extreme Drop Pitman Arm
Custom Radious Arms and cross member care of ellabilt
F-250 Shock Mounts
AutoZone cheap a$$ shocks, longest they had.

Rear:
Chevy 63's; currently running main and #3 from chevy pack and stock Ranger overload leaf
Chevy Drop Shackles
Shocks are same as front

All of the major parts on this truck have so far been purchased from members of the forum. The gears were purchased from TRS Fab and Offroad. Locker was purchased from Aussie. Rear leafs are from the junk yard.

 

[grey ghost]

looks good what are your future plans?

 

[97BlackBetty]

Well I have these spare D35 beams (the originals) that I am going to plate and front truss, maybe even powder coated.

I purchased D44 knuckles, spindles, caliper brackets, and stub shafts from Bray D, so those will be swapped onto this axle and then slung under the truck. The front will get a locker at that point in time as well. If the D44 stuff arrives early this week I will hopefully have it all done with in a week or so.

I am ordering a winch in the next day or so and that will be slung between the frame rails. If I can make it work then the truck will stay as is, if there are clearance issues then it will recieve the 3 inch body lift that I have (maybe cut down to 1.5 inches depending on clearance issues).

The front hitch is going to be flipped to provide better aproach angles.

And someday it will get rock sliders and a cage.

 

[Sunk]

Sweet, I was wondering about this truck.. All of a sudden it was built and I wasn't sure if I missed the thread or not. Lookin good. Big too.

 

[97BlackBetty]

Sweet, I was wondering about this truck.. All of a sudden it was built and I wasn't sure if I missed the thread or not. Lookin good. Big too.

Yea, I built it in a 5 days during winter break, includes the break I had to take for family junk on Christmas Eve and Day. From driving into the garage to driving out. I really humped to do as much as I did, all new break lines, making things work the way they are suppose to, ball joints, TRE's, alignment. It really ends up being a lot when you have never done it before. I also didnt have a camera, so that made taking pictures a hassle.

 

[mjonesjr]

Nice....

 

[metalmacguyver]

This looks strangely similar to a truck sitting in my back yard............



Get some extended arms on this thing, a winch and it will kick ass!


If you need some ideas on plating the beams, check out my build thread..... Though, I only actually plated my drivers side beam.

 

[97BlackBetty]

This looks strangely similar to a truck sitting in my back yard............



Get some extended arms on this thing, a winch and it will kick ass!


If you need some ideas on plating the beams, check out my build thread..... Though, I only actually plated my drivers side beam.

Its got extended arms. +20 inches I believe. I cant remember for sure. They sit right where the old Trans cross member use to be.

Trust me I have seen your build thread, I guess I should brace my drop brackets huh?

I was only gonna plate the drivers side beam, I dont think I have ever seen someone destroy a passanger side one.

P.S. I just bought a front locker from ryan_25. WOOT WOOT

 

[pickuptrucker]

looks like a great start dont wait to long for sliders or you will find they become pointless!

 

[AlwysBusted96]

That looks a lot like my dream truck. If only I could convince the wife to let me build it. Looks good man. Gotta love those black rangers.

 

[metalmacguyver]

Yeah.... definately want to gusset those drop brackets.


Those arms look good. Does that crossmember also support your transmission? (It doesnt look like it, has it been modified since?)

 

[FX2.3]

nice truck!

 

[Kirby N.]

So whats the deal with the 5r55e Automatic Tranny? Is that stock in late model rangers? I am an explorer guy and all we got behing the ohv 4.0 is the a4ld piece. I went through 2 before I swapped to manual. Maybe it would be worth a ranger tranny swap? Yours seems to be holding up. Sweet truck by the way.

 

[97BlackBetty]

Those arms look good. Does that crossmember also support your transmission? (It doesnt look like it, has it been modified since?)

The crossmember has been fitted with a support for the trans. I just used some heavy angle iron and grade 8 hardware. Its ugly and crewd as hell, but it does the job.


The 4r55e and 5r55e are stock in everything after '95 I believe. Its holding up fine, nothing more than fluid and filter changes.

Thanks for the compliments all. It is in the garage right now all torn apart, I will post some pice tomorrow when I am finished with what I am doing.

 

[metalmacguyver]

Take pics of what your doing as your doing it, as well as what it looks like when finished. It helps people who require visual aids (like myself) to understand what your doing.