need some opinions boys.....ranger meets telephone pole

[99ranger4x4]

saturday night i slid off the road in a bad rainstorm and kissed a telephone pole. ill throw some pics up later but windshields cracked up pass door is fawked. now im in the mood to do a little work to get her back together.

should i go with a 2" body lift and some 33"s ? some custom rock sliders and tube bumpers? i have stock axles with 3.73 gearing. ist a 3.0 5speed ext cab 4x4. whats some opinions? will it be a dog with 33"s? is the body lift a stupid idea? i cant afford a suspension. fawkk.
Any opinions would be appreciated ladies

 

[Jason]

Have to figured out how badly tweaked the truck really is first?

 

[97BlackBetty]

Get those pics up, and then I am sure we can figure the best way to spend your money and allow you to have the most capable rig possible.

 

[dogboy]

I have no probles with Body lifts. They are a very good way to get that extra clearance you need to clear larger tires.

If you want to go with 33's, I would highly suggest a 3" lift, not a 2". I had to pound the backs of the front fenders to get my 33x12.5's to clear with 1.5" coil spacers. and even with the coils spacers and a 3" body lift, they wstill rub but only on the radius are, on the drivers side at full lock to the left.


As for 33's and the 3.0L, I'd say it would be a real dog. My buddy has a 3.0L 5spd (1993) with 31's and he says he would not go bigger without regearing.


I think your ideal setup would be coils spacers in the front with Explorer leaves out back, a 3" body lift, and 31's-32's (33's if you could regear).
Rock sliders would defentally be nice. Save alot of damage down low!


I have a 4.0L auto (now it's a manual, but I have only wheeled it when it was an auto) stock 3.73 gears, with coil spacers, Explorer leaves, 3" body lift and 33x12.5x15's on 15x8 wheels with 3.75 back spacing.

I am a firm believer that, that is the best setup for a daily driven, very capible wheeler. Although, 4.10's would be nice, and a locker in the rear, then it would be perfect.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I think your ideal setup would be coils spacers in the front with Explorer leaves out back, a 3" body lift, and 31's-32's (33's if you could regear).

A '99 would have torsion bars in the front... which simplifies the front with a T-bar crank to get about 1.5" of lift, which would probably match the amount of lift you would get out of the rear with explorer springs.

But honestly I would start working on the door and windshield before I started jacking it up.

 

[c_note]

you can clear 33s with a t-bar crank but it will be a dog. if you can't re-gear in the very near future, dont get 33s. to regear both axles cost about $500 to $600 in parts and about the same amount for just the labor. unless you canjust re-gear it yourself. its not too hard for the first time if your mechanically inclined and have access to the tools.

 

[99ranger4x4]

yeah i plan on having the windshield and pole damaged finished within a week or two. gotta find time with school. regearing really isnt an option because i just swapped this rearend in and it wacked me $225. i chipped the pinion on the old one. ahh stuff to think about. also i already did the tbar crank when i got the truck, for a little clearence on the 31's i have now

 

[Capt Jay]

Unless your ready to drop some cash, stay with the 31's.

 

[metalmacguyver]

The Pass side A pillar might be tweeked if the winshield broke because of the collision. If that is the case, it will take a bit of work to fix it.

Concentrate on one thing at a time.

Fix it.

Then lift it.

 

[99ranger4x4]

update:

got the door off with a little prying to get to the bolts. rocker is fawked. pillar is tweaked at metal mcguyver said, and the kick panel area is pushed in. I figure ive got two options.

1. cut the rocker kick panel area and seperate it from the firewall and replace it with the same piece off a parts truck i have.
2. I bolts in the floor to hold the chasis and cab then proceed to come-along/porta power the kick panel and a frame out a little? work on shimming the door hinges back out as best i can and the front quarter panel.

sorry for the lack of pics, my sisters cam is dead and my camera phone sucks. ill gert some up asap cause i need some opinions.