New to me 89 ranger

[Dakota83]

why did you go with a body lift?

 

[fishbone1]

I thought it would look different and it will give me more room when I put the 3.8 supercoupe motor in it next fall. After, I get the supercoupe motor, trans, and ehaust the way I want it I may be able to lower the body back down an inch or so.

 

[fishbone1]

It has been a few weeks since I posted. The motor is sitting in the truck. I also have the fm145 transmission mounted. The transmission engine and transmission came from an 87 ranger 4x4. I had to move the transmission cross member brackets slightly forward on the 89 2wd frame. I will be attaching a dummy transfer case to the end of the transmission. Then, I will try to figure out what drive shaft to get. The only problem I have ran into lately is my hydraulic line going to my slave cylinder is too short because of the 3" body lift. I made a tool out of an old distributor to prime my new oil pump and check that oil was getting to the top end. It worked perfectly. I also removed all the A/C components.

 

[mc_muench]

pics?

when you say dummy transfer case, what do you mean...IMO if you put a trans fer case in but want to leave it 2wd, put a real one in for the 4lo gearing

 

[fishbone1]

I will post some more pics tomorrow. I used a dummy transfer case from a 2wd bronco II. I am trying to do this as cheap as possible. I had a 89 ranger long bed 2wd with a seized 2.9 and no transmission. I found a wrecked 87 ranger 4wd that ran good and had low miles but a smashed front end. I am trying to use the two trucks to make one good usebale truck. So far I haven't run into any major obstacles. However, finding the correct length drive shaft may present a problem. So far the only new parts I have purchased are clutch kit, slave cylinder, clutch master cylinder, performance accessories 3" body lift, oil pan gasket, and oil pump. I am sure there will be more to purchase though.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

wow looks really nice and progressing really fast

i do like lifted 2WD's

 

[TS6034]

Nice project. There's nothing "lame" about it. Post up some pics.

 

[fishbone1]

I made a little more progress. The engine is sitting in the truck. I will also post pics of the transmission cross member move and the engine to body clearance at the firewall.

 

[jaymegriffiths]

I made a little more progress. The engine is sitting in the truck. I will also post pics of the transmission cross member move and the engine to body clearance at the firewall.

dude ur builds not lame the fact that u couldn't drive the donor is lame.
why not install the 4wd tcase and just not hook up a driveshaft? then if you wanted to convert to 4wd it would be a matter of sas or ttb swapping it...

 

[fishbone1]

I may be installing the 4wd transfer case after all. A friend is giving me one for free.

 

[fishbone1]

It has been a while since I posted. My project is taking a turn. I don't know yet if it is a turn for the worse or a turn for the better. I just purchased an 86 ranger 4wd. I think I am going to be putting my 89 body on the 86 4wd chassis.

 

[4x4b2]

if you do do the body swap, ill buy the grill from the 1986 ranger, mine is pretty smashed up

 

[fishbone1]

4x4b2
I will try to get some pics of the front end on here tomorrow.

 

[4x4b2]

ok cool thanks send me a pm with your price

 

[fishbone1]

I had a busy week last week. I removed the 86 body from its chassis and put the 89 body on the 86 frame and drive train . Now it is a matter of getting everything hooked up and working.