Parts interchange? bumpers, beds, etc.

[JoshT]

I am planning to do some work to my '99 Ranger in the (hopefully) not too distant future. Part of it is going to be some styling changes and paint work. Kind of need to have some of those styling changed done before paint. I know that the entire front end can be updated by swapping out the header panel, hood, grill headlights, and bumper. I don;t plan to go that far though, and am interested in what parts can be matched up.

I intend to keep a little hint of the '99 in the grill and headlights. I'm not against swapping to newer headlights, but I kind of like the 99 headlight style (with clear lenses) better. Will stick with the '99 style grill, but probably change to painted if my bumper plans will work out. Again I'm not against updating to the 2001-2003 style grill and headlights, but I think I like the 99 style better.

I know that the 1998-2003 hoods will interchange. I have a 2001-2003 power dome hood that I intend to swap in place of the factory aluminum hood. I've seen enough pictures to know that it will match up with the 1999 style grill just fine.

Bumpers. For my plans with this truck I'm really liking the 2005-2007 STX bumper. I'm sure it will bolt on, but will this fit up to the 99 style grill and headlights properly? I know that on the full size trucks they made the grill taller and the bumper shape changed. I've never seen a 1998-2003 Ranger beside a 2004+ Ranger in person to compare.

Bed. Once again I'm thinking about the STX styling here. I've always liked the Mazda B-series bed, am I correct in thinking that the STX uses the Mazda bed sides? It would probably be easier to find a Mazda bed near me than a STX bed.

Is the inside of the bed dimensions the same between my existing long bed and the STX or B-series bed? I have a low profile Bakflip G2 bed cover for my short bed styleside, and I'll keep the regular bed if it won't fit the others.

Between the of beds, will the tailgate and taillights interchange or do I need to get a those to match the bed? I know they don't interchange between styleside and flareside. I'm just asking about between styleside, STX and B-series.

That's all I can think of for the moment, but there may be more.

 

[Ranger850]

@JoshT You seem to be correct on a lot. You might want to check rear tail lights. I know the STX bed is very similar to the Mazda bed, but the Tail light area is where there may be differences.

 

[JoshT]

You seem to be correct... a lot.

Tell me something I didn't know.

Remembered to check out RockAuto for part interchange. Looks like STX and standard beds are different. Haven't had any success with interchanges between the Mazda and STX though. They are visually different, since the Mazdas have an amber turn signal lens and the Rangers are all red. Unfortunately that doesn't tell me if they will physically bolt in place of each other. I know wiring may be different, but I can handle modifying that if they will bolt into the bed.

Hoping someone will chime in that has run the later bumper with the early grill and headlights.

 

[Ranger850]

Tell me something I didn't know.

Remembered to check out RockAuto for part interchange. Looks like STX and standard beds are different. Haven't had any success with interchanges between the Mazda and STX though. They are visually different, since the Mazdas have an amber turn signal lens and the Rangers are all red. Unfortunately that doesn't tell me if they will physically bolt in place of each other. I know wiring may be different, but I can handle modifying that if they will bolt into the bed.

Hoping someone will chime in that has run the later bumper with the early grill and headlights.

This guy did it. Put a Mazda bed on his Ranger. He keeps calling it "Mazda/STX", as if they're one and the same.

Redirect Notice

notice the tail lights in tis one.

 

[Curious Hound]

This guy did it. Put a Mazda bed on his Ranger. He keeps calling it "Mazda/STX", as if they're one and the same.

Redirect Notice

View attachment 86090
notice the tail lights in tis one.
View attachment 86091

Looks like he did a decent job on it.

 

[Ranger850]

Looks like he did a decent job on it.

 

[JoshT]

I know the bed will bolt onto the frame. The question concerning the bed were if (a) my styleside, flush mount, tonneau cover will fit; (b) if the STX and B-series taillights will interchange; and (c) if the tailgates interchange between the the styleside, STX and B-series?

Still unsure about the taillights and tonneau, but that appears to be a thunderbolt tailgate spoiler so I'd guess that the tailgates interchange.

 

[JoshT]

Well... the more I look at and think about it the less sure I am about the STX/Mazda bed. I do not want a flareside (stepside) bed. I do like the overall shape of the STX/Mazda bed. That said, I've noticed that those beds have an slightly different shape or body line around the wheel arches. It matches the Mazda front fenders great since they have the same body line, but the Ranger fenders don't share that line. Since I noticed the difference my eyes are drawn straight to it and it bothers me.

While I may be second guessing the idea of the STX bed, I'm becoming more and more confident that I want an STX front bumper. I'm now also certain that it will fit. The problem is finding the parts. I've been searching and have not been able to locate new parts for the STX bumper. I can find the brackets and I think the metal upper bumper is available, but I can't find the lower valance piece. The used ones within driving distance aren't in good enough shape to buy.

 

[don4331]

My daughter has B4000 (December calendar girl/truck) - I can assure you the tail lights are unique - I had to order the specific ones for Mazda.

The tailgate is same, so I think most tonneaus would fit - we had the one from my '98 on her's but she didn't like the red cover on her gold truck.

 

[Ranger850]

Well... the more I look at and think about it the less sure I am about the STX/Mazda bed. I do not want a flareside (stepside) bed. I do like the overall shape of the STX/Mazda bed. That said, I've noticed that those beds have an slightly different shape or body line around the wheel arches. It matches the Mazda front fenders great since they have the same body line, but the Ranger fenders don't share that line. Since I noticed the difference my eyes are drawn straight to it and it bothers me.

While I may be second guessing the idea of the STX bed, I'm becoming more and more confident that I want an STX front bumper. I'm now also certain that it will fit. The problem is finding the parts. I've been searching and have not been able to locate new parts for the STX bumper. I can find the brackets and I think the metal upper bumper is available, but I can't find the lower valance piece. The used ones within driving distance aren't in good enough shape to buy.

I've noticed that body line too. I wasn't sure if the Ford STX bed had that or not. It was one of the minor differences I was referring to.

 

[Ranger850]

This seems to answer That question. Real STX, has the same body line.

BUT maybe some "Edge" style fender flares would cover that up. ???

 

[JoshT]

Yep, STX bed and Mazda bed are exactly the same. It's a minor difference, but its one that would bother me.

Fender flares would cover that up, but I'm also trying to get rid of fender flares. My 99 has had them since new, and I never really like them.

I'm starting with dropping the truck to the level I want it, from there I'll see how the rest of the parts are going to work out.

 

[Ranger850]

Most Mazda's have flares, too. Looking at some pics on the internet, I bet the front fender would swap over too, without doing a complete Nose swap. The body line, around the headlight area, right where it come down behind the blinker, looks exactly the same.

 

[don4331]

If you look at my daughter's truck - you will see front bumper goes straight across - no dip like Ranger.

I don't know if you could easily cobble together the Mazda front fender with lights/grill/bumper/air dam of STX (with enough body working skill anything is possible).

Her Mazda definitely has different flares than Rangers do.

 

[JoshT]

Like the Mazda bed, don't care for the front fenders. It would actually take a full nose swap, something about a difference in marker light shapes. I prefer the Ranger front ends.