Free '93, need a plan.

[noot]

Just sold a vehicle for a friend, and as payment he's giving me a 1993 Ranger. I have yet to pick it up, but I'm bored on a roadtrip with my tablet and have been reading the forum.

Here's what I know: 1993 Ranger regular cab 2wd 3.0L 5spd with 130k km. Body is rough, but engine started first crank after sitting for a year at least.

From what I've read the 3.0 is a decent engine, and 130,000km seems to be very low, especially for a 18yr old vehicle.

I've got a 2008 4dr Jeep Wrangler that is my DD, will have 35's in spring.

I want this truck to serve a couple purposes (aside from offroad):
-General utility truck (haul steel/etc)
-Carry my mountain bike to/from trails

I have a TIG welder and Plasma cutter, and have been building a metalworking shop one tool at a time. I designed (solidworks) and built a bumper for my Jeep to hold my Warn 8274 as there are no bumpers available for that mounting style (and I'm far too cheap to spend $900+ on a bumper).

Long story short, I'd like to start working on the ranger, moving towards a long-travel prerunner style. I want to fab everything myself if possible. I also want to be as cost-friendly as possible. In reality this is just a free truck I can use to haul stuff around, but I have a problem sitting still and would also like to gain some eperience fabbing stuff on a less expenive vehicle than the jeep

Glad to hear suggestions on a place to start, and/or things to look for. This seems like a great forum!

Thanks,

Noot

 

[Protowrxs]

Would be very cool to see a prerunner style home build. Lots of info here and on the net for doing upgrades for mid / long travel upgrades but nothing prerunner seems cheap. Hope to see a bulild thread to follow along with!

My son and I picked a $400 89 4x4 for winter time and want to do a prerunner wanna be look. Front lift, 31's or larger, custom tube front and rear bumpers with driving lights, rear bed spare mount, and stuff like that gets the look/feel.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[Bennybooster]

Check out dezertrangers.com TRS dosn't have too much as far as pr-runners go. But if I were you I would get some pre 88 I beams and extend them and plate them, and put an econline 8.8 in the rear with really low gears (5.13 or maybe more) and put in a limited slip or weld it. Put coilovers in the front and deavers in the back with a bed cage ( or a canti setup) and bypasses. Also I would cage it if I were you.

 

[noot]

Check out dezertrangers.com TRS dosn't have too much as far as pr-runners go. But if I were you I would get some pre 88 I beams and extend them and plate them, and put an econline 8.8 in the rear with really low gears (5.13 or maybe more) and put in a limited slip or weld it. Put coilovers in the front and deavers in the back with a bed cage ( or a canti setup) and bypasses. Also I would cage it if I were you.

Thanks for the advice. 1988 beams are forged and are thus weldable?

When people make their own beams, do they cut and reuse the wheel-end of a stock beam?

 

[Bennybooster]

Thanks for the advice. 1988 beams are forged and are thus weldable?

When people make their own beams, do they cut and reuse the wheel-end of a stock beam?

yes on both, it is before 88 when they are weldable

 

[doyouquaxu]

econolines had 9" i believe. explorer 8.8s are almost a direct swap, you just have to get new leaf spring perches welded to the top of the axle tube since the explorers are spring under. they're also 1.5" wider overall, and the newer ones are disc brake

 

[Bennybooster]

Oh yea, your right Mac, I was thinking of some older f1's had a full width 8.8, but if you go wide enough you probably want the econoline rear end

 

[AaronC]

The econo-lines had the widest 9" rear end I believe..

If your looking to build beams.

Yes you can use pre 88' beams and do a cut and extend..
-Or-
You can do it right the first time and build new beams out of DOM using the 4wd D44 beam ends. This will gain stronger snouts, knuckles, and wheel bearing setup. The stock 2wd ranger spindle setup has proven to be crap time and time again, especially running a decent sized tire..

There is quite a few guys on TRS that have experience with desert oriented rangers. Although there is only a couple threads on here that can help you.. There is some decent info on DR, there is a lot of crap to sort through. A lot of E-Fabbers to deal with.. Race Dezert is the best place for solid information..

 

[NTranger]

similar story here

Hey Noot,

Your story sounds similar to mine. I have a 92 4x4 ext cab that was given to me. After much thought I decided to build a 2wd prerunner like you are planning/doing. I also weld and fab as much as possible to save cost and I enjoy building almost as much as driving.

How is your build going, have you got a status update you can post yet?

 

[Heavyfire14]

flip the shackles and throw on some deavers, get an 8.8 or a 9" rear end with 4.56 gears (or lower) get/make some bent and extended and boxed beams, longer radius arms, cage the engine and do coilovers, bedcage, fiberglass, flare and cut bedsides, rip out interrior and cage the truck.

im working (very very slowly) twords a similar setup but with a arms instead of beams