body lift on a 2003 2wd ranger

[hooked2ranger]

Teenage son wants to lift his 2003 2wd ranger just for looks. He's asking me for help. I don't have a clue but am willing to give it a try. Any advise for us 2 dummies as to how to go about it. Is it a kit thing only. What are the gotchas.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

Welcome to TRS!

You'll find a lot of great info here on the forums and in the tech library. I know there's a few guys here with 2wd Rangers with body lifts.


I have a 3" lift on my 4x4 and I like the cheap lift, even tho I think it makes the undercarrage look kind of messy, for lack of a better word. It made my tires feel small.

I'm not too wise on the ways of a 2wd suspension lift, but I see them for pretty cheap on eBay all the time. SuspensionMax makes them, I think. In the low to mid 300 dollar range.

Check out the tech librarys pages on lifting adn 2wd lifts.

Good luck.



Adam

 

[camodown]

Just follow the directions in the kit and you won't have a problem. Basic hand tools can get it installed, air tools are better and don't be shy on the penetrating fluid.

Need a torx-55 (i think it will say in the kit or somebody else can tell you for sure) socket
and a torx-45 (i think for the back seats) socket
drill and 1/2" drill bit

I think those are the only tools that you need other than regular tools

I did mine by myself in my apt parking lot with basic tools over a weekend without ever attempting one before. So you two shouldn't have a problem.

 

[QuakerShaker4242]

i put on a performance accessories body lift on my truck.


although i have more knowledge than a normal teenager would when it comes to trucks and mechanics, im only 16 and i did it by myself.

its all basic hand tools. air tools are convenient but not really mandatory.

just make sure that you try to get both done at once... dont be like me and do the bed then a week and a half later do the body.. cause it looks realll weird

 

[AngloSaxon]

Two words: Impact Wrench.
That was my best friend when it come to BL. But with basic hand tools and if you follow the directions, should take you no more than 8 hrs for a first time. And tell your son he is lucky; When I did my BL, my dad was sitting in a chair the whole time and telling me how stupid I am for lifting my truck.
And don't forget the lock-tite.

Good luck

 

[AgPete139]

Yea, easiest is to install a body lift for $150 new, or less for a used or eBay kit. Performance Accessories makes a good product, and it will give him 3" of lift to fit larger tires without really raising the center of gravity. The biggest prob when I did my body (having never done one before, had help with a friend who DID previously do a BL on his '98 ranger) was the radiator drop brackets. Just aligning everything up. But that was it.

If he's 2WD and wants another 3" inches, the easier way to go about it is go get new drop spindles, and probably a 1-2" rear block for the axle. Rangers are lifted 2" in the rear from the factory to make it level during loading.

EDIT: Took my former roommate and myself about 1.5 days...which is about 8 hours as well...