Lifting/Modding my 98 2wd single cab

[ThermonuclearWarrior]

Ok, so I have a '98 single cab step-side, 2wd. Loving the MPG (about 25.) I plan to do several mods over the next 9 months or so, wanted some input. I will post some pics soon, have not had time recently. Work a lot in the summer :/

I am thinking of these tires, have read a lot of good things about them.

https://www.treadwright.com/p-12-31-10-50r15-guard-dog-m-t.aspx

Might get 30x9.5/15's, depending on what will fit. the 31's should from what I've read. I also have 16 inch rims I took off my town car before I sold it. They fit great, but have the studded snow tires from the town car on them now

I would like to get this locker
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PWT-92-0675-2805/?rtype=10 I think.

Maybe http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DTL-162C57A/ this one.

This http://www.fordrangerforum.com/how-...c-brake-conversion-stock-ranger-rear-end.html rear-disc conversion.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/WasherCoilSpacers.htm this to lift the front

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Summer2003/LiftingOnABudget.htm and to lift the rear, take the blocks from a 4x4 at a junk yard as mentioned here.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109908 and this to get rid of that damn power steering noise! Hopefully... Any better/cheaper ideas? Parts?

Hoping to retain some semblance of decent mpg. Also I hope that little 2.5 has enough oomph to make it worth it! Otherwise I gotta go a turbo mod or something... Once I get the cash... lol

 

[straycat]

Do you have 14 or 15 inch rims on your truck? You have the 4 cyl motor. Is the truck standard or automatic? With the 16 inch rims and taller tires you are going to see a power loss and gas milage decrease. You will need to regear that rear. Lots to think about and save up for. Can you do your own work? Put in a gear yourself? A locker? if not, that is about $500 with parts and labor (approx.) for a new gear for sure. Just be sure you know what you are getting into. It is hard when you are on a budget.

 

[Rose2300]

If your planning a rear disc upgrade you might as well get an explorer 8.8 with disc brakes and 4.10's. that way when you install the bigger tires you'll still have some ooomph left

 

[ThermonuclearWarrior]

It has the 15" steelies with chrome inserts. The 16's are aluminum off a crown vic in a u-pullit junkyard near me. No center caps though :/ I can't do a lot of my own work, but a friend of mine is willing to do it for free or very cheap. I will likely go pull some 15" aluminum ones from that same junkyard and save a little weight so the bigger tires have less of an effect. How will re-gearing it affect the mpg?

 

[ThermonuclearWarrior]

I looks like this with smaller, less aggressive tires. same color, box, and rims. Mine needs a repaint also. Not sure if I can get that done easy... all though there is always the 'ol rattle can...

 

[straycat]

It has the 15" steelies with chrome inserts. The 16's are aluminum off a crown vic in a u-pullit junkyard near me. No center caps though :/ I can't do a lot of my own work, but a friend of mine is willing to do it for free or very cheap. I will likely go pull some 15" aluminum ones from that same junkyard and save a little weight so the bigger tires have less of an effect. How will re-gearing it affect the mpg?

When you add taller tires it causes your gear ratio to change. Let's say you have a 4:10 already and that will not effect the ratio much adding taller tires. If you have 3:73 that will make the ratio change and with the taller tires you loose power at the rear. Change the 3:73 to 4:10 or 4:55 and you have your power back. With a 4 cyl motor that really robs your horse power with stock gears and taller tires. With a larger V6 it is not as bad. So without any gear changes and adding the taller tires your motor works harder and you use more gas. Doe this explain it better?

 

[ThermonuclearWarrior]

Changing the gear ratio also uses more gas because everything needs to rotate more to get the same result. or is that offset by the larger tire diameter?

 

[Rose2300]

Bigger tires will use more gas unless you get the gear ratio close to stock specs. And mileage will more than likely decrease with bigger tires anyway.


Here's how i look at it. If you plan on lifting your truck (tires, suspension lift, whatever), than gas mileage isn't a priority.

Although a body lift alone wouldnt kill your mileage...