Ranger to Exploder

[Ranger Kip]

Okay, I am thinking about pulling a second generation Explorer frame from a body that I may be buying from someone.

I want to install everything on my truck onto its frame...

Is this possible? legal? expensive? hard?
and all in all, please be detailed, I need to know what to do in order for my first gen to fit onto a 2nd gen exploder frame....

My specs:
-1984 Ford Ranger XLT
-stock (basically) everything
-4x2 drive
-sing cab
-6' bed
-2.8L V6
-3-speed Automatic Tranny

Explorer Specs:
-1998 Ford Explorer
-mostly bare, has body (no doors, hood, etc.)

I am 100% clueless on how and what to do to move a ranger to an exploder frame!!!! help please?

 

[adsm08]

Possible, yes.
Legal, yes.
Expensive, maybe.
Hard, you bet.

Explorer frame is wider, body mounts are different, that Explorer is IFS, your Ranger is TTB, that means the front suspension is completely different, probably a lot of fab work there....

I'm sure there is something else I'm forgetting.

 

[tobyduck]

Yea, I'm pretty sure the motor mounts are different let alone the transmission. They were different from a 94' to a 98'..but worth the trouble for me. I would say hard, and be careful with the wires and sensors..dont want any random shorts, or else you would be spending some big bucks

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

the rear axle is spring under axle, while the ranger is spring over

 

[Andres629]

Wheelbase is about a foot shorter, with the Ranger coming in at 125.4" and the Explorer (assuming it's the 4-door...) comes in at 111.5"

Be prepared to do some fab work to the bed to make it fit, but it would be cool if you could make it work, that's for sure. If you're going to all that hassle might as well rip off the SLA IFS while the body is off and rock a solid axle.

*EDIT* My badness, just saw it's a regular cab. Your wheelbase is 107.9" so be prepared to do some moving of rear axle, or lengthening your box to get it to fit. Could move the rear axle forward about 3.5" and then chop the frame, that would put you at almost the right length. I still say rock the solid axle, too.

 

[Ranger Kip]

@ adsm08: Any suggestions?

@ everyone else: some instructions?

I am no fabricator, and I know vehicles about as much as a regular teen that was deprived from vehicles does. This is the first vehicle I have helped with since a NASCAR racecar back in the day with dad and the pitcrew.

 

[Andres629]

Well anything can be done with a little bit of fab work... however if you know about as much about vehicles as an average vehicle deprived teen, I'd honestly tell you to start a little smaller than this. However, if you think you are up to the challenge, by all means go for it. If you go and drop the body on the frame, you can see where the body mounts should be on the frame, then put them there. That's about all I can say. If you think you are up to it, all I can say is: Research!

 

[Ranger Kip]

whats a solid axle btw?

 

[cody93]

solid axels are were the axle shaft are a solid piece, instead of 2 in normal axle shafts. wich means that both ends spin the same, no matter what, wich includes having one wheel in the air and the other contacting the ground and yet still spinning the same

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

solid axels are were the axle shaft are a solid piece, instead of 2 in normal axle shafts. wich means that both ends spin the same, no matter what, wich includes having one wheel in the air and the other contacting the ground and yet still spinning the same

I am under the impression that solid axle refers to the axle housing and not the shafts; the solid axle swaps [SAS] I've seen still use two axle shafts. What you are referring to I'd call 'live axle' ;as used in some go-karts I've built. Both ends spinning in the same direction could be accomplished with posi/ l.s.d., or a locker, or welding the spider gears- a.k.a. a lincoln locker
Richard

 

[Andres629]

Yeah, solid axle (or "straight axle" as it is sometimes referred to) basically just refers to the housing of the axle shafts... it's all one piece, normally used on older half ton pickups, and newer 3/4 and one ton trucks.

Here's a good picture of a solid axle. Toyota mind you, but you get the idea.

Here's a shot of normal RBV suspension, the twin traction beam, or TTB for short.

And last, here's the IFS from the second gen Explorers and newer Rangers. IMO this is the worst suspension style on an RBV, but can work well if modified properly.

Hope these pictures help you to identify different 4WD suspension/axle types!

 

[Ranger Kip]

yup, they help
OKAY!

lets see, if I were to get this frame, what would I need to do to mount my engine, tranny, axles, and mechanical components under the body to the frame?

 

[Andres629]

I'm a little confused as to why you would want to swap in your 2.8 stuff in place of a 4.0... also wondering why you wouldn't just leave the drivetrain as is and just do a solid axle swap on the front end. Is there no motor and tranny in the Expo right now? I guess if I can say anything, I would tell you to leave as much of the Explorer that you can, and just try and "bolt" your body onto that frame.

 

[Ranger Kip]

all it is is a frame and stripped body....

 

[Andres629]

Then IMO I wouldn't go for it, much more hassle than it's worth, when you could try and find yourself a good Ranger frame to bolt all yer bits onto with FAR more ease than the Sploder one. Just my .02