Project: Mr. Bad Motor Scooter - 92 Ranger

[99RangerKrazy]

Ok, so I guess I will go ahead and begin my official project thread.

Starting with:

92 Ranger 4x4, 2.9L, A4LD, regular cab, long bed, manual transfer case, manual hubs.

It has the Ford 7.5 rear, Dana 35 front, 4.10 L/S.

What it looked like when I bought it in June 2008:

First thing I did to it:

Well, the A4LD decided to crap out on me already..surprise, surprise.. (the guy I bought it from had it rebuilt about 5,000 miles ago). So this Spring I'm going to take it over to Aamco and diagnose the tranny to see if it's totally fried. If so, manual tranny is going in.

In the meantime, until I get the tranny looked at this Spring, I have decided to flat bed it. I also put on a new Flowmaster 40 series. So far I have shortened the frame to about two inches from the leaf hangers. I used 4" by 2" boxed steel to finish the frame:

The plate that is near the rear crossmember is for a rear winch.

Today, I got the roller fairlead put on:

How she sits as of right now (working in gravel sucks ass):

I'm going to be starting the flatbed this weekend (hopefully). But I might have to put it off a little further because of school work/papers. I'll keep this thread updated as I do new stuff to it.

Thanks for looking! All comments, suggestions, etc are welcome!

 

[Rangerman4158]

Looking good I like the shortened frame and the flat bed will look nasty! You going to put anymore lift on it or leave it stock?

 

[99RangerKrazy]

Yeah, eventually it's going to get lifted. I want to go somewhere in 33-35 inch tires, but nothing bigger than that. At least thats the plan for now

 

[99RangerKrazy]

Hey, can a mod edit the title of this thread to "Project: Mud Duck - 92 Ranger"

Thanks

 

[smallfarm123@aol.com]

not bad looks good and i no wat u mean gravel sucks untill i got smart and cleaned out my garage and got heat in it

 

[BeaterMan]

lookn good

 

[99RangerKrazy]

Grac, grac! Yeah, gravel sucks..we converted our garage into our pool table/poker room so we don't really have a garage anymore. I might have to move to the driveway here soon.

 

[99RangerKrazy]

Little update -

I finally got started on the flatbed. Here's what I was able to get done today:

Started with:

The start of the foundation:

Front crossmember on:

I should be able to get a nice chunk of it finished tomorrow, I'll keep y'all updated.

 

[86 slo-vo]

nice truck man...thats exactly what im looking for

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

I don't get it??

Are you making the "bed" or flat section that high off of your frame ? If so "Why?" I would think you would want it down on the frame, and how are you going to anchor it? Bolt on or welded on?

Other than that - nice truck

 

[99RangerKrazy]

It's kind of a flatbed..sorta not really. Flatbed is probably the wrong term to use for it. Those are going to be the sides of it. The flat part of the bed will be down at frame level, but then the sides rise 12 inches for walls. It'll make more sense when I get more done on it tomorrow.

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

Ok that makes more sense - I suppose you are going to have some sort of fenders? Almost like the old Willys step sides - that would look cool. Thanks for the clarification - Good Luck

 

[RacinNdrummin]

If you want I have an FM146 from my 90 b2 available, and im fairly local, and I might be headed over the pass tomorrow afternoon. Itll get you around that A4LD til you can get an M5OD. Pm me if your interested.

 

[99RangerKrazy]

Ok, here is where I ended for the day:

First "bottom bar" put on. It's the level where the flat part of the bed will be.

The beginning of the fenders:

My dad was nice enough to give me a hand, which was definately helpful - notice all of the cardboard over the gas tank:

The fenders complete (minus the welding near the gas tank, it's just tacked on over there) :

Finished for the day:

I should have this baby done by next weekend (minus the rollbar). What do you guys think of a rollbar made of square tubing? It's mainly because the rest of the flatbed is square tubing so it'd kind of match. Also, the only bender I have access to is my buddy's Harbor Freight pipe bender, which isn't really adequate for bending tube (it puts little dents in it). What do you guys think? Grac!

 

[Branman]

Looks good, but don't go with square for the roll bar. Just my .02 cents.