MtnMotoADV's '88 XLT 4x4

[mtnmotoadv]

I don't know why I love these old light trucks, but you got a sweet old ride there.



What a great score, and the mods so far are nicely executed!

Thank you!

I got the bumper on with some sawzall work.

Next up is winch and rigid pod lights.


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[mtnmotoadv]

Winch mounted:

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[bobbywalter]

did you raise the rear yet?


maybe some pictures of the rear brackets and the front brackets

 

[mtnmotoadv]

Nope, haven’t gotten to the rear brackets yet.

I didn’t put any on the front. I think it looks good like it is.



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[bobbywalter]

theres ways to raise the rear easy enoungh with what you have...and the stock front with just some strap



current pics will allow me to see what you are working with and suggest of send a path from there.

 

[Rangerx2]

I like this! It's a really clean, solid old truck for its age. Although I prefer trucks that don't sit too much higher than stock; it's your truck you do what you want. Any plans for a 4.0/M5-OD swap in its future? I notice you're out in Montana. Is there still many of these first-gen's left out there? Everything that age here in PA was ate up by rust and taken off the road years ago. That's PA's own cash for clunkers program: they take our cash and our clunkers!!

 

[mtnmotoadv]

I like this! It's a really clean, solid old truck for its age. Although I prefer trucks that don't sit too much higher than stock; it's your truck you do what you want. Any plans for a 4.0/M5-OD swap in its future? I notice you're out in Montana. Is there still many of these first-gen's left out there? Everything that age here in PA was ate up by rust and taken off the road years ago. That's PA's own cash for clunkers program: they take our cash and our clunkers!!

Thanks! There’s actually 3-4 around that I see often, all in pretty good shape. Mine’s a little rough around the edges, but nothing more than some surface rust on the body in places. Underneath is clean, and interior is excellent.

No current plans for a 4.0 swap, but potentially in the future. Or a 5.0. After this 2.9L starts to give out.

Next main goal is to do a D35/8.8 swap, and regear to 4.56.

Then I will focus on the suspension.
I’d like to get a good mid-travel prerunner setup (c&t beams, coils, bilsteins, Deaver F31’s) but that would be twice as much as I paid for the truck...

To keep things cost effective, it might be a better idea to just get some GM 64’s with flipped long shackles.
For the front I don’t know. Better coils and shocks for sure.
1-2” of suspension lift would be plenty fine since I have a BL.


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[Rangerx2]

I'm surprised that the rear axle isn't already an 8.8 from factory considering it's 4wd. But I've also surmised from this website that Ford was being rather stingy with the 8.8 on the first-gen's. It seems they started using it more liberally in the 90's as the engineers and marketing caught on to how most buyers were actually using these trucks. I know Dad and I used our 86 four cylinder to do things that would have scared off most F-150's of the day! And that little truck just kept coming right back for more!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'm surprised that the rear axle isn't already an 8.8 from factory considering it's 4wd. But I've also surmised from this website that Ford was being rather stingy with the 8.8 on the first-gen's. It seems they started using it more liberally in the 90's as the engineers and marketing caught on to how most buyers were actually using these trucks. I know Dad and I used our 86 four cylinder to do things that would have scared off most F-150's of the day! And that little truck just kept coming right back for more!

Only way to get the 8.8 in a first gen was a cab chassis truck, I think it was even a 31 spline but they are very rare. After that you could get a 28 spline 8.8 with the 3.0 with certain weight ratings (rare) and every 4.0 had one. 2002 FX4 and 03+ FX4LVII's had a 31 spline 8.8's.

Even then the 28 spline 8.8 has the same axle shafts and wheel bearings that the 7.5 did.

 

[mtnmotoadv]

So I think my best bet is the GM 64” springs, Belltech 6400’s and possibly a Kartek mount.

What would y’all recommend I do for the front to accompany the rear?

Wheel travel is my top priority.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

So I think my best bet is the GM 64” springs, Belltech 6400’s and possibly a Kartek mount.

What would y’all recommend I do for the front to accompany the rear?

Wheel travel is my top priority.

How high are you going?

 

[mtnmotoadv]

How high are you going?

Preferably 2" but no more than 4".



Since I have a steel bumper and winch, I wonder if i should go with 4" coils (and end up with ~3") as opposed to going with 2" coils and getting ~1".
Is that correct logic?

 

[mtnmotoadv]

Fender cutting today.

Before:

After:

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[bobbywalter]

muh hahahahahahaha......

 

[mtnmotoadv]

Roll pan arrived. Look at that shitty craftsmanship. Hopefully I can sand it straight.

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