Decided to step back into the light...

[Roger]

What I have here is a 1990 Ranger, 2.3, 5 speed, 4x4 with 4.10s. Well, I'll show a pic of the Warthog in the garage. This truck hasn't been moved much in the last year and I'm a bit tired of seeing it just sit. But it isn't in the garage. But I also have a bunch of other projects.

I started collecting parts planning to drop a Jeep D30 under the front. Well, after planning this trip to the darkside, I returned to the light. I am keeping the D35 TTB. And want to make it flex as much as possible.

SO! Current plans will be to remove the D35 so I can replace axle seals and diff bearings. I might even install a lockright, undecided though. I will be replacing balljoints. Going through the wheel bearings. And replacing all three Ujoints, including the clearancing the joints for full circlips. And opening the passenger side beam window too.

Ah, I suppose an explanation of my decision might be in order... After we rebuilt the truck, replaced the Skyjacker lift brackets with Tuff Country parts, and toyed with other ideas, we never really took the truck out to see what the new stuff would do. Instead, I thought a SAS would be the hot ticket. However, I think I should at least give the TTB a chance before doing something different. And well, there is a local offroad race series that has been given some new life. Might be a direction to think about.

Don't hold your breathe waiting for me though. I have some other big projects to finish first.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Is that a blue interior I see? I was thinking of going flat olive green with my truck, but wasnt sure how well that would go with the blue interior.

-plumcrazy

 

[dangerranger83]

Awwww your not doing the SAS. I still have your PM that you gave me. As for me I've torn into my D30 today to get my SAS underway and have parts on the way.

As for doing a SAS I wouldnt downgrade from a D35 to D30 but instead to a D44.

 

[Roger]

Yes, I want to see what I can get out of the D35 before doing a SAS. Besides, I'm also using some of the parts I gathered for the SAS to make some changes on my Grand Cherokee. Like the 4.10s I was going to use for the free D30, I'm building into another HPD30 housing for my Grand. And considering using the long arms for my Grand as well.

I still feel the D30 is a valid swap, and has been done by quite a few people already. its convenient, inexpensive, matches the Ranger's bolt pattern, matches spring and shock mounting close enough it couls have been a stock option, and for 90 and newer D35s, the D30 matches the driveshaft yoke as well.

 

[4x4junkie]

Right on man... good choice

One thing though I cannot ever seem to stress enough, is to pay attention to your steering linkage angles (don't just bolt some ordinary drop pitman arm or mass-produced steering kit on there and think that you're completely done). This is the one thing that almost exclusively causes all the TTB headaches for people (I can see your linkage is already a little out of whack in your pic above). Keep the linkage in good alignment with your axle beams and you'll have an excellent performer there, especially with a set of good coils under it.

If you want to keep it simple and just need a longer pitman arm, the Skyjacker #FA600 arm should fit the bill well.

 

[dangerranger83]

Not to thread jack but while people are talking about pitman arms, I think I might have to get either a #FA400 or #FA600 when I do my SAS but damn new ones are expensive. That might be the most expensive thing I have to buy for my SAS.

 

[Roger]

Junkie, the steering is 90% of why I wanted to go SAS when I first bought this truck 5 years ago. In my head it was always easier to go SAS than mess with the TTB. Seriously though, it is pretty close to how it was when I bought it, except for the Tuff Country lift brackets and long radius arms. I bought it with a Skyjacker kit and we just kept the Skyjacker 6" springs. But I managed to get something out of whack a touch with that swap. It was never quite level before the swap, but I can't find a picture to show what it looked like originally. It has a drop pitman, but not sure which one.

But I will say, it didn't do too bad on bump steer (mainly because the SJ springs are so damned stiff you don't WANT to drive it fast in the dirt!!!!), and it was a pleasure to drive quickly through the mountain pass I drive to work each day. It just never felt like it was a lifted truck.

I will seek a shop that can work with the TTB for alignment when I get the balljoints replaced and all. Wonder if the local 4 wheel Parts store can do that...

Plumcrazy, yes, it is a blue interior.

 

[4x4junkie]

I'll bet $$$ that it has a typical (2") drop pitman arm on it, in which case the FA600 arm (true 4" drop) should get your linkage exactly to where it needs to be.
I will say though the misalignment on yours is somewhat mild compared to a lot of setups I've seen. Having the stiff coils, I can see the bumpsteer not being real noticeable. However that'll change real quick once you put a good set of coils on it with it like that (hell, even with the stiff coils, you'll probably still notice and say to yourself it handles much better now once you swap the arm out).