My 2008 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4

[2004xlmiller]

clean truck, looks like youve got some good plans for it.

 

[mitch4x4]

Thanks man, it is a slow project but it will get there eventually. I am lucky the women doesn't mind me spending all my cash on it, so that helps LOL

Well I had a complete F up when I was changing my balljoints, as the night wore on I was getting tired and was rushing the other side, I ended up smacking the threads on the new balljoint hard enough to ruin them. So now the balljoint nut wont go on.... SO now I went and bought another balljoint and I am about to throw that on.

I must say the press is very useful, I just bought one as I am always working on something so I will end up needing it again sometime.

Here is a picture of the lift kit I got, and the balljoints from rock auto.

 

[mitch4x4]

Well here is a bit of a update.

I am in the process of putting my lift kit in. I was going to wait for shocks, but with the horrible weather coming soon I rather put the kit in now rather then when there is snow on the ground. I got the blocks in they were easy as pie, and now I am on to the torsion bar keys.. I am using my ball joint press which works very well. However it is still pretty nerve racking watching how much force is being put on to that key. I only did one side tonight as it took me almost a half hour just to brake the old torsion bar key off...it was RUSTED on there pretty good. Nothing some MAP gas and a few love taps can't fix, but I figured I will let the other side soak in some WD over night to aid the process.

 

[mitch4x4]

Well I got my lift in, I am pretty happy with how the truck sits now. I have to get my shocks as it is a bit bouncy.

I got a pretty good deal on a new pair of 2.5 inch lift rancho's so I ordered them today. It is dark out now, so I will have pictures tomorrow.

 

[2004xlmiller]

you know those are leveling keys. those who sell them as "lift kits" are ripping people off..

 

[mitch4x4]

Well I almost sit level with a new f 150 so its a pretty good lift. The block in my 08 was 1.25(back), the one in it now is 3. And the keys, well you could go probably 3 or more inches but I don't want to keep the CV's at that kinda angle.

 

[mitch4x4]

Well It's pretty much all done now, I got my new rancho shocks in the front. I am still waiting on the rears. there is a lot more wheel gap than pictured, I think I will be getting 285 75 16 or 33's for sure this spring. We will see how this lift handles what I do, If I don't like it I am probably going to drop the big bucks and get a super lift. I am considering a body lift but Im not a fan of the wimpy bumper brackets and whatever else.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

[mitch4x4]

Well I have not done much to the truck as Christmas is coming up so lot's of other places for money to go. However I have been trying to think of a practical way to mount some spotlights behind my grille. I have a trans cooler or oil cooler in the way so I could not use the normal mounting point. Plus my grille is not like the honeycomb style so behind my grille would be a waste of light.


So I came up with this

I found that you have JUST enough room to drill a hole on the upper part of the plastic behind the grille (where the grill bolts too). Now with the holes drilled I still needed to figure out a way to mount the lights in the grille, So i took measurements and cut (grinder) the holes to just fit the lights. I did not cut the holes in a square they are both oval so it doesn't look really out of place. I have a new black billet grill coming for it anyway so I figured if I did screw it up it was a lesson learned LOL

 

[K.Strong]

Nice. Checl out weezls build thread. He has lights behind the same grill.

 

[mitch4x4]

Well like some of you have seen the truck is now gone After all the junk I have drove over the years this is the truck I finally smash. Well I am alright at least besides my ear getting almost removed. Now on to battle the insurance company to get me a replacement truck.

 

[2004xlmiller]

pics?

 

[mitch4x4]

My ear was almost removed, had to have plastic surgery to put it back in place. Not a very good way to spend my sunday.

 

[K.Strong]

Holy crap! Glad you're OK.

 

[2004xlmiller]

damn man thats really sad to see. glad youre alright.

 

[mitch4x4]

Thanks guys, it could have been worse. My girlfriend was with me and she never had a scratch thank god. I must say tinting the windows was the best thing I did to the truck, the officer at the scene said if I didn't have the ILLEGAL tint (his words haha) on my windows we could have been in a lot worse shape, but the tint kept most of the glass in tact and off of us when the windows went out.