kinda shoppin

[adsm08]

For example, I would have nowhere to mount my bumper on a 2+ gen frame, and I would have a hard time trying to find a place to mount my front axle and suspension on a gen 4+ frame.

Well yeah, they aren't FULLY interchangeable, but if you drop a 1st gen body on a 4th gen frame you'd have a pretty BAMF IFS 1st gen Ranger .

 

[hzzrdmnky]

thanks for all that info. that should help

 

[Hopman]

thanks for all that info. that should help

It has been our pleasure. May your new Ranger serve you and your buddies (who'll eventually want you to haul stuff for them) well.

 

[colby450xc]

Gen 3s are the best for building into prerunners. The TIB/TTB suspension can be make into a killer long travel suspension.

You also really want to be looking for a manual as the automatics aren't the best. But if you want an automatic you should be looking for an automatic that is 95 or newer. Those were the better autos. There is only one manual that the third gen came with so don't worry about finding the right one.

Engine wise depends on what you are looking for. Fuel economy, go with the 2.3 4cyl. Power, go with the 4.0. Want a compromise, 3.0. But if you do get a 3.0 make sure it is a manual. I've heard that engine does better with stick.

I myself have a '93 2wd with a 4.0 and 5spd. This truck would make a great prerunner, but I live nowhere near a desert. So thats why I'm lifting mine.

IHMO dont just lift it. I had a truck just like yours. 2wd, regular cab long bed but with the auto. I bought the Autofab bent beams and radius arms for it and it was the best decision I ever made on that truck (besides the auto locker of course). The bent beams lifted it 4 inches and it handled great. It retained the stock parts basically it was fun to say the least. Best budget lift for the Gen 3 2wd no doubt. It lifted the front end 4 inches and only made it rake to the back slightly. With a 1 or 2 inch block the truck would have been level. I sold the truck to a buddy of mine and it is still a rockin little truck. If you do this, get some extended brake lines. I put limit straps on mine and the stock brake lines worked, but they were maxed out.