new to ford!!!

[powerwagon]

well maybe you guys can help me . i just bout a 89 sb 5speed ranger with a offroad bed for 600 bucks it all redy has a 3 inch body lift but i want a 4inch suspension lift wuts the best all around good ride for under 600$ i hate this i beam crap (im used to my dodge powerwagon good old d 44s) so ill plan on shortining a 44 for it later. it looks like it all redy had a shackel flip unles ford did it from factory?

 

[powerwagon]

any one? can you good guys help me. i dont car if its a home made lift that i have to fab up cuz that ant no bid deal my dads got a metal shop and we are certified in tig and stick

 

[JohnnyU]

So swap in a pair of axles. It's not that hard. I would try to avoid the junk D44 axles though, especially the early Dodge with small bearings and internal hubs.

Ford 44's can be had for next to nothing. Pair that with a 9" (found in the same trucks typically) and you have a decently capable rig that can safely run a set of 37's.

If you want to get a good quality kit for the TTB for under $600, your best bet is to keep youe eye out for a used James Duff (3") or Skyjacker (4-6") kit.

 

[Scrambler82]

In my '88 w5.0L, I ran the SkyJacker, Soft-ride 4" Lift, no body lift and it worked out OK but the ride of the Short bed-Std Cab leaves a lot to be desired anyway.
It worked OK off-road but not as well as the solid axle truck I ran with.

The Early Bronco, if you can locate one, would have both the 44 and 9"er, matched gears and the correct width for the Ranger.

If you are one to cut the housings down then get a set of axles from a 79 to early 80's Bronco, the 44 frt diff has a high pinion and the 9"er in the rear is a little more heavy duty, cut them to fit and have to it.
Those are the axles I am looking for.

luck

 

[4x4junkie]

The Skyjacker kits are among the better kits available. A standard 4" Class 1 kit with AALs & ext. shackles would probably set you back around $700 I'm guessing (there are cheaper kits out there, but you do get what you pay for).

I have the Skyjacker on my Ranger (with rear lift leaf springs), I think it rides fine. You can never expect it to ride like a luxury sedan though being that it's a pickup truck with a light ass end.