Autos are LONGER? I thought it was the other way around? Obviously, I should have paid more attention to bed length and ext cab vs. regular cab. (I forgot to write it down on my notes on a most of them... d'oh!)
Here's just the Ranger/Exploder ones I measured the other day:
(note, these are VERY ROUGH dimensions +/-0.5)
90 Ranger 6ftbed stdcab 2wd A/T 47.5 Steel
93 Exploder 4dr .............2wd A/T 51.5 Aluminum
95 Ranger 6ftbed stdcab 2wd A/T 47.5 Steel
90 Ranger (bed?) stdcab 2wd M/T 50.5 Steel
87 Ranger ....................2wd M/T 57.0 Steel
92 Exploder.................. 2wd A/T 54.5 Steel
95 Ranger 6ftbed stdcab 2wd A/T 47.5 Steel
84 Ranger ....................2wd M/T 57.0 Steel
That's what I'm seeing a lot of. Doesn't it seem counter-intuitive? I understand if you're making one that it would be a necessary measurement, but otherwise, wouldn't the "tube yoke" dimension add in a lot of variance to the center to center measurement? Last time I had one made (for my 4.6+280z) I gave him my center to center, then subtracted the center to yoke flanges on both ends which gave us the weld to weld.
Did any 2wd shortbed, std cab autos come with an aluminum d/s that you know of? I've never run an aluminum one, but the general consensus is that they are a bit smoother as far as vibrations are concerned. (I'm not OVERLY concerned about the 5# weight savings, or the rotating inertia business.) And when you say 'body setup' do you mean body style, (generational bodies ie. 89-92,93-97, etc, or just 'standard cab, short bed' body style?
Thanks again for your help!