equal length beams, meet Mr. engine crossmember

[ranger92]

I've been in the process of starting a pre runner build. its a 2wd 86 ranger. I'm using the equal length beam setup of a 69 ford f-100. I got all the old tib stuff out and started to mock up the equal length beam so I could check for clearances and start to modify any mounting brackets before i started beefing everything up and drilling holes. I ran into a problem right away though, the I beam hits the engine crossmember before it even starts to sag

see what i mean by very roughly mocking it up lol, anyway ill be dropping the beam mount down a little bit but Ill definately still be having quite a bit of contact, would I be able to just trim off the crossember lip on this side? id like to avoid having to completly remove the crossmember if i can, i dont have an engine hoist.

All in input and ideas are apreciated

I looked though all the equal length beam kits you can purchase and none of the come with a new engine crossmember and there arent many pictures that i could find anyway that show how they get around it.

 

[cappin90]

well if its going to be a prerunner wont you want to gain some susp travel??? if so couldnt you cut the i beams to build some lift in em and gain the clearance and travel you would want?

 

[ranger92]

the whole point with my going with these beams is so i dont have to fab my own, maybe down the road but i have little fab experience, So im just going to use drop brackets and camber bushings the question im asking is about the engine crossmember, would trimming this be a huge no no or do you think it would be okat if i cut some off the lip off for clearance

 

[TireIron]

The engine crossmember in these trucks is so extra beefy because it has to support the suspension of the truck also. If you remove the suspension from the crossmember it doesn't need to be nearly as heavy duty. When I did a SAS to my 2wd I cut TONS of the crossmember away to make room for the axle. You can see how much I cut out in this picture. Only take as much as you need for room, but if you are not running the beams onto the crossmember then you can cut some away. Just keep in mind that the crossmember will support the frame rails from twisting outwards which will be important for your setup, so only trim a little where needed. I needed a lot of room for the differential and my frame rails don't see any twisting force like the twin beams put on.

 

[ranger92]

thanks for the info, i plan to trim mine down like yours on the backside of the crossmember only though. so it should still have plenty off strength and If im seeing a lot of frame flex i can always beeft it up after, thanks for the response!

 

[4x4junkie]

I'm curious what you have planned for dealing with the behind-the-axle steering setup those old trucks used, and what you'd use camber bushings for when the axle has kingpins.

 

[ranger92]

doh! lol yeah you caught me there with the camber bushing i clearly wasnt thinking

as for the steering i honestly have no idea i thought it would be good to have the steering mounted behind the i beams to protect it a little bit but im not sure how i will do it, im pretty much just gunna try and figure things out as i go along and ill be the first to admit im in way over my head on this project but ill just learn as i go and i have all the time in the world to get it done. I do have the steering box from the f-100 though so i'll try to use that and hopefully it wont be to difficult to get everything to line up and work together

 

[PlumCrazy]

Subscribed. lol

 

[mc_muench]

if this build will be anything like your street ranger, its gonna be top notch, subscribed

 

[ranger92]

lol we'll see i think this build will be a little rocky compared to the street ranger but we'll see how it works. ill make an actuall build thread in the pre runner forum once im a little farther along.