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Rangurr
Well-Known Member
Okay - here's the goal: I am going to take my 2wd 2001 Ranger and turn it into a 4x4. I know it's easier to buy a real truck and it makes a lot more sense but I'm doing it anyway so just work with me please (Every thread I've looked at on 3 or 4 RBV sites is full of people saying that it's not worth the effort, time, or money).
First - a little back story. I bought my '01 Ranger a year or so ago as a simple little commuter truck. It was a 2wd 2.3l 5-speed with no power windows, locks, mirrors, or any other goodies for that matter. Since then I have been adding on to, and improving, the truck. About 4 months ago I came across a great trade in which I traded a styleside bed for a flareside bed, lift blocks, heavy duty rear springs, and a few other parts. I decided at that point to lift the truck. Of course this was a lazy lift but I went ahead anyway because I could not stand the 2wd look (No offense to the lowered Ranger owners - just not my style). In doing this I allowed myself to take the truck too far. The new springs lifted the truck 3 inches and are stiff as can be. I couldn't even compress them to install them under the weight of the vehicle. Once I finally got them installed I discovered that I was unable to bring the camber out so I looked like an idiot in a ricer. I decided just to drive it for a while because this is my DD and I didn't want to uninstall everything and cut the springs or anything like that. A while later I found that my balljoints were completely maxed out. This is obviously a huge safety issue that needs to be fixed.
For the last month or so, I have been searching for everything from fabricating longer upper control arms, longarm kits, SAS, and more. Finally, while discussing fabrication of arms with a local 4x4 parts dealer, I came across an employee with an '05 4x4 who is in the middle of a SAS and will be done around the end of this month. Eventually, he agreed to sell me basically the front end of his truck when he does the swap for a very reasonable price.
Here's basically what I'm getting:
Upper/Lower Control Arms
Torsion Bar Setup W/ 3" Lift Keys
Front Diff (4.10)
Front Driveshafts/Knuckles/Steering Rack/Tierods/Etc.
4.10 Gears For The Rear Of My Truck
Shocks
And A Few Other Miscellaneous Parts From When He Pulls Everything Out
I do still need to talk to him about trading my transmission crossmember for one with the torsion bar mounts but that shouldn't be a big deal.
The plan is to install all of his front end first as well as some Warn manual locking hubs (I'd rather leave the diff untouched until I have everything finalized) in order to at least get my alignment into place. After that, I would like to buy an 8.8" axle off of an Exploder and weld new spring mounts on there so that it's overslung. I would also like to get ahold of a transfer case and a 4x4 trans or just a divorced transfer case. I'd prefer to make a BorgWarner TC work so that I can just use a shiftster and not have to deal with any electronics.
So, what do you guys think, is it doable? I'd really love to make this setup work if I can. I want a totally standalone 4x4 system put into my 2x4. Basically, what I need help with is a general idea of how to make a few things work as well as a shopping list (I may try to link to a google spreadsheet if you guys are open to helping out with that) so that I know what exactly I'm going to need in order to make all of this work.
Thanks a ton guys, hope it wasn't too much reading!
Help is much appreciated
---Rangurr---
First - a little back story. I bought my '01 Ranger a year or so ago as a simple little commuter truck. It was a 2wd 2.3l 5-speed with no power windows, locks, mirrors, or any other goodies for that matter. Since then I have been adding on to, and improving, the truck. About 4 months ago I came across a great trade in which I traded a styleside bed for a flareside bed, lift blocks, heavy duty rear springs, and a few other parts. I decided at that point to lift the truck. Of course this was a lazy lift but I went ahead anyway because I could not stand the 2wd look (No offense to the lowered Ranger owners - just not my style). In doing this I allowed myself to take the truck too far. The new springs lifted the truck 3 inches and are stiff as can be. I couldn't even compress them to install them under the weight of the vehicle. Once I finally got them installed I discovered that I was unable to bring the camber out so I looked like an idiot in a ricer. I decided just to drive it for a while because this is my DD and I didn't want to uninstall everything and cut the springs or anything like that. A while later I found that my balljoints were completely maxed out. This is obviously a huge safety issue that needs to be fixed.
For the last month or so, I have been searching for everything from fabricating longer upper control arms, longarm kits, SAS, and more. Finally, while discussing fabrication of arms with a local 4x4 parts dealer, I came across an employee with an '05 4x4 who is in the middle of a SAS and will be done around the end of this month. Eventually, he agreed to sell me basically the front end of his truck when he does the swap for a very reasonable price.
Here's basically what I'm getting:
Upper/Lower Control Arms
Torsion Bar Setup W/ 3" Lift Keys
Front Diff (4.10)
Front Driveshafts/Knuckles/Steering Rack/Tierods/Etc.
4.10 Gears For The Rear Of My Truck
Shocks
And A Few Other Miscellaneous Parts From When He Pulls Everything Out
I do still need to talk to him about trading my transmission crossmember for one with the torsion bar mounts but that shouldn't be a big deal.
The plan is to install all of his front end first as well as some Warn manual locking hubs (I'd rather leave the diff untouched until I have everything finalized) in order to at least get my alignment into place. After that, I would like to buy an 8.8" axle off of an Exploder and weld new spring mounts on there so that it's overslung. I would also like to get ahold of a transfer case and a 4x4 trans or just a divorced transfer case. I'd prefer to make a BorgWarner TC work so that I can just use a shiftster and not have to deal with any electronics.
So, what do you guys think, is it doable? I'd really love to make this setup work if I can. I want a totally standalone 4x4 system put into my 2x4. Basically, what I need help with is a general idea of how to make a few things work as well as a shopping list (I may try to link to a google spreadsheet if you guys are open to helping out with that) so that I know what exactly I'm going to need in order to make all of this work.
Thanks a ton guys, hope it wasn't too much reading!
Help is much appreciated
---Rangurr---
