my 91 ranger build so far

[nlacoss]

Here it goes die hard ford folks that think only a ford motor will do might be offended. I have a 91 xlt ranger that was stock as a 2.3l 2wd truck. Started by installing a 12 bolt rear and dana 44 out of my 78 k15 that i had built for bogging. Drove for about 2 yrs that way until motor gave up. Now I am in the process of dropping in a 5.7l vortec that previously had lived in the 78. Widened front of frame to 36" custom built crossmember and prototype heim shackles if they work well will use better joints and fab new ones that look better. Long way to go lots of welding and cleanup work to do still tell me what you think so far.

 

[nlacoss]

Thoughts on tilting cab welcome too. Thinking about it

 

[Ford78]

Just put a Chevy cab on it.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Those are some scary shackles....

 

[dSINtia]

Love the effort being put in... good luck.

 

[nlacoss]

Yah the mock ups look really bad have cycled them fully and they seem to work really well no adverse effects. True ones will be tig welded, laser cut, and have ballistic joints

 

[nlacoss]

Lol different is what i am going for to many chevys round here. Plus its to prove anything can be done with the right amount of effort and imagination. Have drawn up plans for full composite step side bed as well to go with composite front as well. Now where does the money tree grow again?

 

[nlacoss]

Didn't like the way things were turning out so started over. New cross member

 

[nlacoss]

so the saga continues slowly. Weather here in the midwest along with kids haven't allowed me to really do much. Bought new lift kit from offroad motorsports and am going to coils up front not sure what my final lift numbers will be. The kit is a 6in for the xj made by zone. With the sas i figure the lighter springs might help with flex and ride

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Progress is always good! Keep whittling away.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[farmer]

Like the fact you decided to go different. There's a lot of cookie cutter swaps out there, its refreshing!

Now that you're going to a coil front haven't you lost all reason to widen the from of the frame? just thinking body mounts would have to be moved ect...

 

[nlacoss]

The actual reason for widening the frame was to allow for standard full length headers to fit. Otherwise I would have been limited to either custom built headers or stock manifolds

 

[nlacoss]

Also allows for the stock chevy 4 core radiator to fit nicely