Full budget Drag Suspension (Front and Rear)

[Wrobichaud]

Hey guys, new to the TRS. Really great site. Just one thing I wasn't able to really find is what to run for a front suspension on a drag truck. I have a 1996 2wd Ranger that I'm gonna start as a project truck this fall (Build thread will come). I plan on trailering it to the drag so it's going to be a pure race truck

I don't plan on spending a whole lot, I want to build it to be ready for late spring (May or so 2014) and then upgrade again this time next year. So my focus this year is suspension and just a basic V8 swap, with more motor work done next year.

For the rear I'm probably going to go with a 8.8 out of an explorer with the axle flipped, and custom caltracs fab'd up by myself. So here lies my first question. Can I get away with using stock axles and gear ratio, or should I get new gears and axles? And If I want to run good sized slicks, should it be narrowed, and would I have to cut out the wheel arches?

And where to start on the front? I read one post about running 4 cylinder springs in the front with 90/10 drag shocks. What does that mean? Any conversion threads on that? What is the most cost-friendly thing to do for the front?

And I don't have much for a budget, if you could give me a basic idea of what stuff is going to cost, that would be great.

Thanks, Wil