Body/Frame Swap 1st/3rd Gen

[King 1]

Hello all,
I've read that it's possible to swap the body from a 1st gen ranger onto the frame of the third gen (98+) ranger. Supposedly cab mounts and bed mounts all line up? Or the 3rd Gen frame might have extra mount locations but the ones the 1st gen body needs are all there?
Ok, fine. That makes sense I suppose. But the wheelbases of the various 3rd gen body styles are all slightly longer than the wheelbases of equivalent 1st gen body styles. Wouldn't this mean there would be a gap somewhere? From what I've read, it seems the frame stretch is in the cab section. Wikipedia: "To increase interior space on standard-cab Rangers, the cab was expanded over 3 inches rearward (through a longer wheelbase)." So it sounds like even if all the body parts from a 85 ranger DO bolt right onto the frame from a 98, there would be a 3 inch gap between bed and cab.
Do I have all this correct? Is a complete body swap actually possible here or did I misunderstand and its really just the bed that's swappable? If the whole body swaps, do you get a gap like I said, or do the '98 front wheels just land 4" further forward in the 1st gen wheel well?
Can someone clear this up for me?

Thanks!

 

[97RangerXLT]

Welcome to TRS... some things that might help you... 98+ is considered 4th and 5th gen, where 2004 is the start of 5th gen. 83 to 88 is first gen, 89 to 92 is 2nd gen, and 93 to 97 is third gen. for gen 1-3, the frames are basically the same with a few changes to the front horns between generations, and likely can be swapped between those generations without issue. 98 to 2012 frames are also the same with some minor changes to the front horns. the differences between frames on the gens 1-3 and 4-5 are that the regular cab Rangers got a 3 inch increase in length in 98. so swapping any regular cab frame will not work well between the two styles. the supercab setup is the same length and you may be able to swap frames out there, but the front horns are different. Also the 98 and newer are two piece frames that are riveted to gether right past the cab. the rear portion of the frame and spare tire carrier system is completely different, but should not be a fitment issue, altho you may need to drill a hole in the lower part of your bed so that the crank to lower the tire down can fit through if using the older beds. the beds will bolt up with no problem from 83 all the way to 2012.

Hope that helps,

AJ

 

[King 1]

Thanks, that does help.
So when you say "will not work well" what does that mean exactly?
My goal here is to build a track truck for endurance racing... something like a "2/4" lowered 1st gen shorty with some parts swaps from 96+ explorer and TIB F150, but I'm pondering what it would take to get that sweet 98+ Ranger SLA front suspension instead, short of just starting with a 98+ ranger.
So if "will not work well" just means there's going to be a big gap between cab and bed, or the front wheels will look funny in the wheel well, that's actually workable. I won't even have a spare mounted. But if we're talking about fabricating body mounts I'm probably going to round-file this idea where it belongs.
I also wonder how much of the ~600 lbs weight difference between 83 and 98 is in the body and how much is in the frame. Seems like the SLA suspension would save some weight over the TIB but I don't really know. And then they beefed up the frame a little too, I think, besides making it 3" longer.

 

[97RangerXLT]

at the best, you will have a 3 inch gap between your bed and cab, at worst, the mounts on the frame will not line up under the rear of the cab...


AJ

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Move mounts and/or custom bed.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Run stacks in the gap....