• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Circle track Ranger


spinner dog

New Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
4
City
Letts,IA
Vehicle Year
2001 focus s2
Transmission
Automatic
Local track is starting a new class, small trucks w/ small cid v-8 engines. This is a 2 wd class using stock engines and automatic trannys. My intentions are to try a Ranger w/302 engine and a c-4. I pretty much have the engine and tranny planned out, but the suspension and handling is where I could use some help. Rules call for stock suspension parts with the exception of the use of aftermarket springs. Have a 94 ranger short box found as a donor vehicle. Thanks in advance, Mark.
 
I know those rough country lift springs are stiff. idk i the springs from a 4.0 truck would hold up to well.
 
We were always going to build one of these til i moved from ny. Does it matter that a v8 isnt stock in a ranger? For springs id use something like an f150 spring and the biggest swaybar you can find. Make sure you get caster/camber bushings and set it up nice. Also using a shorter spring on the rh side will give you better camber as well. Add a leafs in the back would probably stiffen it right up.
 
I would look for a newer ranger with the sla front suspension. If I was to start a new build on a ranger truck for short course that's the route I would take. The tib front suspension is great for long travel numbers for desert racing but IMO isn't any good in cornering. Swap your truck for a newer one. I'd look at a v-8 explorer sport.

Richard
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the replies guys. As for the engine, it can be any 302/5.0 with flat tops and stock unported heads, cam lift not to exceed .420 lift@valve and pull 16 inches of vacuum@ 1000 rpm. Do any of you know what the roll center is on the tib suspension? Also, how do you go about setting caster and camber? If I could find a 98 and up ranger for cheap thats the route I would go....just seems easier to set up and figure the suspension geometry. For now all there seems to be is the older tib style trucks, and they seem to hold their value pretty good as well.
 
I think roll center is something that would change from truck to truck depending on ride height and beam pivot point. You'll have to measure the points on your truck to come up with a meaningful number.
Caster and camber is changed with an eccentric around the top ball-joint as well as ride height, spring choice, and front beam pivot height and rad arm placement.
I built a '91 Ranger for a local grassroots short course. I was limited in my choices somewhat like you are, in that I didn't have a lot of money to spend and rules state stock suspension points. I came to my conclusion about ttb/tib vs sla after rolling my truck and then researching what I could do to prevent that from happening again. In my case I'm going to try less sway-bar in front or more in back if I can find the elusive 1" rear bar.
IMO the best that you can get out of the ttb/tib is to make it act like a straight axle, but that opinion may change as I learn more.
My build thread;
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79003
Good luck

Richard
 
Last edited:
I don't really thing tib is really all that worse for a short circle track than an a-arm truck. a arms will infact handle on the road a little better, but it wont really give you much of an advantage. plus you're probably going to have more durability issues with a rack and pinion and smaller tie rods. you have to remember you're still running something with leaf springs in the back unlike most late models/modifieds.... its just a personal preference, but id stick with the "free" truck.
 
Tib/ttb may be ok for circle track if you're only turning one direction, IDK, but as soon as you start going both ways the front wants to start jacking up. Imagine scissors being the front end, and then turning left. The left side tire comes closer to the center of the truck and when you straighten out resists moving outboard again. Now imagine you're going thru a chicane or a bunch of quick left-right-left-right passing slower trucks. All of a sudden the front end is quite a bit higher and rollover is a lot more likely. This is what happened to me; a sweeping off-camber right hand corner leading into a sharper left followed immediately by a right 110 degree [damn pills-I can't think of the right term] turn....and I turned turtle. That's my theory of what happened as of now, but I could be wrong. The durability issues I agree with.
Now all that being said, the tib could be set-up to overcome a lot of the problems. My personal opinion is that it isn't the best but you must do what you can with what you got. EDIT; the more I think, if you limit travel tib could be alright on pavement.
Regardless, racing is FUN! Especially if the trucks are close in capabilities. I'm sure that is one thing we can all agree on.
Good luck,

Richard
 
Last edited:
What race track is this at. I'm also from Iowa and spend all summer at race tracks in Iowa
 
They run a similar class at a track here, most of the guys who run Rangers out here use either modified F-150 springs or Explorer suspensions. What track is this at?
 
Hey Ive been to CJ. Id run the TIB truck and get ahold of Mark from Letts.. I cant remember his last name but hes a huge Ford guy and really helpfull when it comes to setting up suspensions. LAst I knew he ran a Bmod with 7w as the number. Used to run an 80s tbird in CJ.

Guy helped me set up a fox body bird for Figure 8.


I think your biggest problem is going to be getting it to "hook" turn in should be good but theres not anything for weight in the back of those trucks so slide your cell right over the rear tires and get the biggest one they allow. I assume you can run the G60 Hoosier or american racer tires? Beadlocks? Ive always wanted a class like this but never had a track close enough to do it (cj is 2 hours away).
Adjustable spring cups would be nice and get rid of the sway bar remember in dirt track you want the truck to "rolll over" and get a good bite.

Springs are prolly easier to just measure and get some new Eibach springs set to the weight you want to run. they are like $80 each for coils.
 
Last edited:

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

TRS Events

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Ranger Adventure Video

TRS Merchandise

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Sponsors


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Sponsored Ad

Back
Top