frame question

[Dav]

is the frame on a 89 extended cab the same as a 90 long bed?

 

[Mark_88]

No...

Single cab frames that I worked with rose upwards just at the back of the cab and the extended cabs were about a foot longer for the cab area...they also rose up similarly but about a foot farther back...

I was going to mount an extended cab on a single cab frame but found I couldn't do it without hacking the bottom off the extended cab or raising the whole body about 6" or more...which was not a desired modification for my plans...

EDIT: I will add that the frames are similar between model styles...for example I was able to mount an 88 ext cab on a 96 ext cab frame with minor modifications...but the bolts line up in the same places for mounting the cab.

What are you planning to do that you are considering these two frames?

 

[adsm08]

What Mark said.

The super cab Rangers never had a long bed, and the regular cab is much shorter, and so the section of the frame it is supposed to sit on is much shorter.

IIRC the regular cab mounting brackets are also very different. I believe the front and middle sets are the same, but the rears are drastically different because they mount in very different spots on the frame.

 

[Dav]

the project truck i am plugging away at is a nightmare. i got what i paid for.
i have a 90 long bed with a 302 and c-6. the frame was cut to clear the header on the passenger side. then it was hammered down some (fine adjustment) and there is a tear in the metal that maybe the result of the hammer work or from stress/torque.
the power steering hit the frame and the pulley cut a notch in the frame. that i have fixed with a modified alternator relocater bracket (you know,that aluminum piece to move the alternator about 2 inches closer to the centerline)
but the biggest thing to bother me is that the motor mounts are 3 inch channel iron welded to the crossmember. the mounts between the frame and motor are not tight. i can't tell if that is because they were only finger tight to start with or if they are broken.
if i scrap this truck, i will break even. but what i want is a convertible truck that is a long bed and has enough guts to pull a trailer when i want to. the pre 93 body can be cut to make a convert and there are still removable hardtop kits available.
but not too many pre 93s show up on craigslist. most are short bed or extended cab. so i, after the fact, exploring the options and trying to decide whether to continue or just start over.

 

[Mark_88]

Ah, OK...that makes more sense. I'm afraid my experience with the 302 is very limited to what I read on here but are you planning to stick with the 302 or do you just want a power plant that will allow you to pull the trailer.

People on here have said the 4.0 has plenty of power to spare for towing so you might consider that unless you are certain the 302 has low miles and good power. The motor mounts might be better addressed by those with better experience though...

In my experience the earlier frames were barely passable to support the extra torque that the 302 can put out. Maybe a later model long bed would be more suitable and some special exhaust headers that will be a better fit to spare the frame. Again, those with experience on that will better guide you through it...

I did notice the 96 frame to be much better supported than my old 88 but that was partly due to the added stabilizer bars. Not sure if they help much with torque...and I've seen some guys with seriously modified frames but their engines were pushing out 500+ hp so much more stress with that power.