cranked torsion..kinda bummed by the outcome

[cstishenko]

i dont know how many threads i have to say this in...

your shocks are limiting not only your front lift height but also you suspension travel.

take your shocks off while the truck is on the ground. you will likely gain another half an inch.

now get longer shocks or build shock spacers.

right now you are essentially pulling the shocks as far extended as they will go.

your ride will get better... your height will increase. new shocks or spacers. do it.

 

[JoshT]

If I build the old F-100 the 99 will be getting sold. I have a 2010 Kia Forte Koup for a DD, and I'm in the process of building a '86 Ranger with a V8 but it's 2wd and lowered.

I've thought about building up the 99 a little, but don't like the $2000 price of a lift kit. Don't like body lifts either, that limits me to a 32" tire. Then that 4.0L just seems too weak for the amount of gas it drinks (that 390FE might drink alot put it earns it). No matter what I do to it I just don't think it will be the truck I want. In a way I just want a full size truck, but don't want anything built in the last 20 years. Maybe my opinion of the 99 will change once I get the front end straightened out and it sitting a little more level. Those 98 Explorer Eddie Bower seats might help as well, they need recovered but look more comfortable than my worn out and broke 60/40. What ever I do I gotta wait until I finish the current ranger project before I do too much more than just fixing it.

 

[cstishenko]

Don't get discouraged. One thing you will need to realize is that a torsion bar ranger will never be a "big" truck without a Solid Axle Swap and bigger power.

If you do the big lift, and body lift to clear 35's - your axles and ball joints won't hold up to the task. Not to mention the fact that your engine wont be happy trying to turn all that either.

Now speaking realistically though - I live in a ROUGH part of Canada. 4x4 capital of Canada really... and I find that after what i've done to my truck - I don't need ANYTHING else now other than maybe a rear e-locker. Unless I am doing something REALLY stupid I don't need a bigger truck than what I have.

Unless you are looking for something like this: http://classifieds.castanet.net/showproduct.php/product/1050391/cat/5

You also may never need more than a ranger bodylifted on 33's. Just sayin'

 

[cstishenko]

Phone picture - Gives you an idea. Everything in my signature. No rub Anywhere. Totally functional.. Big enough to get over almost any obstacle - not too big that I can still fit in underground parking - drive throughs, and its not a total pain to get in and out of.

 

[JoshT]

Believe me I realize that. I will not do a SAS on this 99, and it'll be a while before the engine swap I would do becomes available. Even with those it wouldn't be a ""big" truck". Even lifted I still think of rangers as little trucks, for me a big truck is a full size (IE:F series). All I'm going for lifting with bigger tires is trying to find a stance I like for this truck, I'd do the same with a full size also.

The real issue is so I want to keep this 99: (that's my stock 84 2wd)

(It's about the same height with the current 31s)


and put on 32s with a result similar to this:

Or do I want to build this which is currently my dad's:

(It's running 31s too, but with a much stronger motor and used to wear 33s)

Or maybe get one of these:

Hell for that matter maybe even older:

I'm just a lot more fond of the old sheet metal. Not to mention I might be able to build any of those (especially the F-100) for what it would cost me to make the 99 the way I think I would want it.

 

[cstishenko]

you have a great daily driver with that 99 make it so that you are happy with it and start on another project.

to space out your stock shocks in the front should be your number one concern. lift the front end a little, undo the two lower shock nuts from under the control arm. from there you will see the studs sticking out of your shocks. you will need to find 8 nuts to thread onto those studs two nuts per stud. this will act as your spacer. i dont remember whether they were 10mm or 12mm nuts.

you'll also want to take off the top shock shaft retaining nut. remember the order the parts came off in. from there you can pull the shock right out of the truck.. now what your going to want to do again is find a couple of nuts to slide over the shock shaft down to the non threaded "collar" of the shock shaft. you want these nuts to stop at this point. i think the ones i used were 5/8s. two per side - four total. you then re install the washer and rubber bushings and put the shock back in the truck.

with this you should get the desired lift you are after without comprimising your ride quality on or off the trail.

from there i cranked my t bars to the max... pulled off one swaybar end link and found myself a set of 2" wide bolt on wheel spacers. they can be had on ebay for about 100 bucks for a set of four.

that was my first setup on a set of 31" duratracs. i embarrased much bigger trucks on the trail and pulled them out when they were stuck too.

these cheap mods should give you the agressive stance you are after for very few dollars.... and with an agressive set of tires and a good line on the trail... there wont be anyone stopping you.

 

[JoshT]

Daily Driver, not hardly. I've got a 2010 Kia Forte Koup that fills that slot. I already have one project as well, an '86 Ranger that's getting a V8, but it's 2WD and lowered.

This is more of the hunting/tow truck. That last part is my biggest issue with the truck. It's already bad enough at towing I don't want to make it any worse. In a way I wish I had the SOHC instead of the OHV, the former is much better at pulling.

First thing I gotta do is replace the balljoints and bushings in the front end, adjust the ride height, (if I can find what it supposed ot be) and get a new set of tires on it. Then the regular maintenance for a 165K mile truck. Maybe install the Eddie Bower buckets that are in the Explorer V8 donor for my 86 Ranger, they need recovered but the lower back support of my 60/40 is broken on the driver side. Some where in there I also need to give it a wash and wax and pull off that ugly azz grille guard. Guess I just need to get it back in good condition and go from there. Still don't think the engine will be strong enough though.

 

[Snoranger]

Or maybe get one of these:

I'd like to cast my vote for this option.

 

[JoshT]

That one's growing on me too. Combines the best of both worlds. Removable top and four seats like the classic bronco, with the looks and power of the 70s F-series trucks (though I still prefer the bump sides). It's got one big advantage over the classic Bronco, that being the back seats are big enough for adults. If I go that route it will most likely get the 390, manual transmission and transfer case from the F-100 pictured above.

 

[Snoranger]

That one's growing on me too. Combines the best of both worlds. Removable top and four seats like the classic bronco, with the looks and power of the 70s F-series trucks (though I still prefer the bump sides). It's got one big advantage over the classic Bronco, that being the back seats are big enough for adults. If I go that route it will most likely get the 390, manual transmission and transfer case from the F-100 pictured above.

How about a bump-side Bronco?!?!

 

[JoshT]

Yeah that would be a custom job there. They never made a Bump Side Bronco. The moved from bump to dent in 73 the FSB didn't come out until 78. I think I'd rather just stick with the dent side on those.

 

[Snoranger]

Yeah that would be a custom job there. They never made a Bump Side Bronco. The moved from bump to dent in 73 the FSB didn't come out until 78. I think I'd rather just stick with the dent side on those.

Yeah, i know. But you said you like the bump-side better. I was just giving you the option of the best of both worlds.

 

[basshead]

id like to have just 33's on my truck nothing more, but i cant fit 33x12.5 under mine without rubbing at flex..id like a body lift but i just cant Handle the look of my trailer hitch hanging 3" below my body at stock height, or my exaust would hang down from the body and look retarded, not to mention my bull bar up front would look just effed...and the suspension lift is soooo expensive..so idk, like i said my front shocks squeak pretty bad now when hitting big bumps, so mabie they are sagging?? and mabie once i put some new ones on it will stop the sag and bring the truck up higher than it sits now?

 

[Snoranger]

How much lift did you gain from the TT? You dont want to go over 2" from stock. That would put your CV joints at too much angle and wear them out prematurely.

What torsion bars are in there now? Look at the door jam sticker. Under spring there is a 2 digit code. The first digit is the front spring code. If its "F" (common) or a high letter or number, you can swap the bars out for a "1" or "A" bar (common on Ex sport trac and FX4s). They are 1.09" diameter and a little stiffer. You can pick up a little more lift with them, but the ride will be a little harsher.

 

[06RangerXLT]

lift the 99. 3" lift and 32's: