newb need advice on 1984 ranger

[mustangguy21]

i am new to the site, and was wondering if i could get some advice. I know you probably have heard everything I am going to ask, but could not find all my answers using the search. I have a 1984 ranger regular cab short bed 4x4 2.3l truck that I am putting together. The truck will be used as offroad only and whatever travel to get to the trails. also I would like to try to do everything myself and on a budget, have fab skills and tools. My questions are as follows:
1. How to get really good flex from the Dana 35 ttb.

2. How to get good flex in the rear. I know the overload springs are holdiong it back.

3. Also, I have a body lift, but no suspension, and want to run 33 inch tires, i am building a flatbed of sorts for the rear, and will cut the front fenders, I just didnt want to throw the alignment way out. So basically have stock suspension with good flex with 33's. About 1 more inch or so of lift should do the trick.

Any info will be greatly apperciated.

 

[crawlin91]

so if i understand this correctly you want to keep your stock suspension

1. First off look in the tech library as there are lots of good articles on this. Then remove sway bar, add coil spacer, build longer radius arms

2. Belltech or homemade extended shackles, source some 63" chevy springs to really get it flexing

3. cut fenders and wheel

 

[4x4junkie]

I would do a coil spacer lift on the front at the minimum just to get the axle a bit further from the frame for more travel.
For the rear, a set of extended shackles works nicely. Also, flip those overload leafs upside down, should give you a bit more flex without the springs fatiguing at the leaf perch on the axle (I wouldn't remove them entirely).

Welcome to the site

 

[mustangguy21]

appreciate it guys, i think I am going to do the coil spring spacer for sure. Also what would be a good coil spring to run that is softer. i was going to take the rear overload completely out considering i am not going to be driving it much. I think i will also make my own shackles for the rear.

 

[4x4junkie]

That's asking for the leaf to get bent or broken at the axle perch. I'd just turn 'em over so the very slight arch they have faces downward. This way when the axle tries to wind up on the springs, the OL will still be there to keep them from twisting into oblivion.

For coils, if you want something soft, front coils from a Jeep Grand Cherokee might be what you're after. They're a tad larger diameter than the stock coils so you'll probably need to modify the mounts a bit.
IMO, I'd be running a small-medium suspension lift on it if you want a lot of flex. Even with spacers, the axle will be a bit close to the frame to allow much uptravel.

A 4" susp lift using a pair of coils like the ones I run on my BII (Skyjacker 6" XJ) would probably work well on your 2.3L Reg cab truck. Extended radius arms will also be needed too though (not sure what your budget is). If that's over budget, then I'd just run spacers on the stock coils you have now (provided they're in decent shape).

 

[mustangguy21]

Ok. So I am going to make some coil spring spacers and shackles myself. Also, is the dana 35 ttb wider than the dana 28? With the 2.3l, what gear should i run with 34"x10.50 tires. I want to be able to drive it to the wheelin spot. I was thinking 4.56 or 4.88. Thanks for the input guys.

 

[4x4junkie]

The D35 is 1.5" wider overall than the D28.

For those tires on a 2.3L I would go with 4.88 gears IF you have an overdrive transmission. If you don't have OD, then go with 4.10 or 4.56 (IMO, I'd swap a 5-speed in and use the 4.88s. You'll make much better power in 1st-4th gears this way).