Junk yard lift

[SchmigShady]

well today i went to the jy and scored a ranger with a james duff lift. i got the dual shock hoops and axle drop brackets. I want to lift the truck anywere from 4" or 6" whatever without lengthing the driveshaft.

i know i'll need A arms drop brackets or custom made ones. I have a 92 super cab stx and was told they sit higher then the other rangers so if i want a 4" lift i need 6" coils in this true? what else do i need? this thing gets driven on the road so i need to able to get the aligment and close as possiable.

lifting the rear is easy i was going to get some explore leaf springs and maybe some blocks or chevy shackles.

 

[Sunk]

Don't get additional blocks, you already have one and stacking is bad. If your STX is the HighRider version it will have a 2" factory lift, and 6" coils will only lift it 4" over where it is.

You can tell if you have the HighRider by looking for small radius arm drop brackets. If the mounts bolt directly to the frame, you don't have it...

You won't need to touch either of the drive-shafts either.

 

[SchmigShady]

alright cool i'll have to look tomorrow. i know theres blocks in the rear. it sits pretty high in the rear so maybe the front has saged over the years and having over 200k on it. i want to stay away from blocks as much as possiable. so it looks like the highest i can go would be a 4" do i need a drop pitman arm for that? i just want to do this simple and cheap cause in a year or two i want to put a dana 44 under it and don't want to waste to much money on a lift right now.

 

[Sunk]

Yeah, you'll need a drop pitman arm.

 

[4x4junkie]

The Highrider STX suspension faded from the scene by '90 or so, your '92 will be the standard suspension.

Since you have a Supercab, there is a chance you could use Skyjacker's 6" coils (#136) on the JD lift, as they generally come out to only 4.5" lift on such trucks. It will be close however (get yourself a big winch & bumper, then it'll work for sure lol).

 

[SchmigShady]

well now i now what to look for. i plan on making some bumpers out of C-chanel in the next few months and buy a winch. after all this is done then i'm buying a explore rearend and then changing the gears. that will make a bigger difference then the lift anyway. might have to go back the jy and get the drop brackets for the A arms. It wasn't easy for them to remove it so might have to get them to take them off problay easier and cheapier then making them.

not sure if the ranger at the jy had a drop pitman arm on it. i think those james duff lifts are only 2" or 3" problay wouldn't need one for that.

 

[Moto Mel]

Don't get additional blocks, you already have one and stacking is bad. If your STX is the HighRider version it will have a 2" factory lift, and 6" coils will only lift it 4" over where it is.

You can tell if you have the HighRider by looking for small radius arm drop brackets. If the mounts bolt directly to the frame, you don't have it...

You won't need to touch either of the drive-shafts either.

We have a '92 Ranger STX Super Cab, 4.0, 5 spd and electronic 4X4. This truck has blocks on the spring perches and sat pretty level when we got it. A couple days ago we were working on finding the 4wd problem (narrowed it down to the motor, we think), checked the brakes and just before lowering it found that the rear spring mounts were rusted to the point of breaking. The truck is originally from Philly and they must really put the salt down when it snows. We are in the process of changing the spring mounts now and that's a job from hell. I'll post pics when I have time. In any case if you live in the Rust Belt I suggest thst you wash the underside of your truck often and especially after the last snow fall.

 

[cruisnhard]

I just did this fix today. my whole suspension in the rear was rusted to the point that it was broken. The leafs were against the bed. It wasnt that bad. We just ground down the rivets to where you see the circle then used a punch to knock it out. If they get stuck then you may have to drill.

 

[4x4junkie]

not sure if the ranger at the jy had a drop pitman arm on it. i think those james duff lifts are only 2" or 3" problay wouldn't need one for that.

The pitman arm should be changed to match any time you alter the height of the suspension more than 2" (yes, you should have one with the JD lift)

 

[SchmigShady]

ok i'll go back to jy this week and get them to take off the pitman arm and the A arms brackets. hell after that i should have the whole lift off that truck other then the coils. but i want something higher then 2" or 3" lift so i will get some longer coils along as it all works togther.