Making a 1996 xlt look like a 1998 to 2000 ford ranger xlt

[glenny49]

Hello fellow members. I wanted to know if anyone knew if it’s possible to make the front, grill wise, of a 1996 ford ranger xlt look like a 1998 to 2000 year ranger by changing out parts?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

You would need an entire front clip, possibly including the core support. Also the bumpers won’t bolt up, ends of the frames are different. Headlight wiring may be different.

01-11 have better headlights, IMHO.

98-00 and 01-11 use the same fenders and core support, but hoods, headlights, header panel and grill are all different. 01-04 used the same wiring just one less plug than 98-00 for headlights.

 

[glenny49]

Thank you lil blue for response. It was a good one. Sounds like the conversion will take to much to do.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Thank you lil blue for response. It was a good one. Sounds like the conversion will take to much to do.

Body lines will line up, but yeah, there’s a bit to do there. Not the easiest front clip conversion. It is, however do-able. Just a matter of how much time, money and effort you want to put in and what your skill level is.

 

[Jtrussell1890]

Came back to revisit this thread as this is on my list of to-do for my truck. I already have the grill, header panel and headlights (housing have the LED surround with sequential turn signal) installed from an 01. Behind the scenes, it's a nightmare of extra bracing and support since the core support doesn't line up with the newer header panel. I'm still working on gathering up the fenders, hood, core support and inner fender liners with out going over board on cost. Always a W.I.P. lol.

 

[glenny49]

Thanks for your input, but I have decided to go a different way.