Road racing a Ranger? Could use advice!

[Racin_G73]

Hey, everybody:

I participate in a cost-controlled form of road course racing. You may have heard of it - the 24 hours of LeMons - or a similar series, Chump Car.

Both series have constraints on how much you are allowed to spend on the car/truck - $500 with an exception for anything safety-related. (Brakes, tires, wheels, fuel tank, fuel lines, windshield, driver comfort, gauges). You are able to sell stuff off of the vehicle (except for safety-related items) and deduct that from the amount you spend. So if you buy a $750 car and sell off interior components and trim for $250, you're good to go.

I've been tossing around the idea of racing a Ford Ranger for a little while now and have been doing a little research to that effect.

Some preliminary thoughts I've had - 2WD is the way to go, I'd assume. 4WD on a road course would be unnecessary, heavy and possibly gives me more to break. (These are endurance races, not sprints.)

The 2.3L would be an easy way to get started, as these are far more easy to find in my budget. But one thing I could do down the road is upgrade to a V6. How hard would that be?

Some have coached me that I should stick to the 1998 or newer because of its advanced front suspension vs. the older models.

So my ideal truck would be a 1998 or newer, 4.0 V6, manual trans, 2WD, short cab, short bed for close enough to $500 that I could sell off seats, interior, catalytic converter, chrome, etc. to get me down under $500.

But that seems like a pretty tough nut to crack. Did they even build them like that at the factory?

What's your recommendation to get me 'close'? A 2.3L with all the other boxes checked? An extended cab because the 4.0 V6 was more common with those?

Is there a way to convert a pre-1998 over to the 1998 front suspension?

I'm open to ideas!

Also, what are your thoughts on parting out the stuff I won't need for racing? Any of this stuff worth some money? Catalytic converter, seats, door panels, windows, window mechanism, A/C, chrome, airbags, stock steering wheel? How much is it worth? Every dollar helps...

 

[koda6966]

Advance front suspension means more stuff to brake.. I love my ttb ranger..

 

[Racin_G73]

Ever tried to take a twisty section like you were Mario Andretti - hard on the brake, lots of steering input, back on the gas?

I'm not opposed to giving it a try. But everyone who does the road racing is telling me to go for the IFS. I am definitely interested in what the Ranger community thinks.

 

[adsm08]

The pre-98 front end is much stronger and much more serviceable. Also parts for it are much cheaper.

The front of the frame with the mounts and what not are very different between 97 and 98 as well, conversion will be expensive if at all possible, not to mention pointless. You want a racer? Keep to the simple stuff. 93 3.0L 5-speed 2wd short wheel-base. That would be what I would look for.

The 3.0 is a simple engine, runs well, and likes high RPM. The 93 and 94 models will still have an actual distributor as well.

93 was the first year of the 3rd generation trucks, much more aerodynamic. In 95 they added more electronics, more stuff to go wrong, less control over tuning. 98 changed the front suspension, parts got expensive and I would stay away from that.

 

[adsm08]

Ever tried to take a twisty section like you were Mario Andretti - hard on the brake, lots of steering input, back on the gas?

I'm not opposed to giving it a try. But everyone who does the road racing is telling me to go for the IFS. I am definitely interested in what the Ranger community thinks.

Eff 'em. I used to drive my 87 like that when I was younger. I thought that thing was a race car (I still think it's a race car, I just don't drive it like one anymore). Heck, back in April I flipped a U-ie with tires squealing and smoke rolling out the back, just like they do in James Bond. You can do it, you just have to learn to listen to what the truck is telling you. Biggest trick to taking high-speed turns in one of these trucks and holding your stability is learning to break the rear tires free in the turn.

 

[Racin_G73]

Thanks for the info on the '93 - '94! That's good stuff.

 

[David88]

You won't make a Ranger, or any light pickup for that matter safe to race for 500 or less. Heavy front+light rear=trouble.

I did 16k worth of damage to my 01 Supercab when the rear wheels broke traction at 35mph on a curve.

Unless they specify truck, you need a car. A Mustang II would be a good one. Dirt Track car builders like to use the front end out from under them. I got a 4cyl one that would bury the needle in 4th gear, things are built like tanks too. Short, low to the ground, heavy body construction, add about 75lbs right over the rear axel and you got a race car.

If you find a hatch, you can remove the hatch back part and drop a fuel cell in the back. Fill the actual tank with sand for weight and run off the fuel cell.

 

[bobbywalter]

2000 or so 2wd turbo 4 cyl with a 5 speed manual


stouter spring-rate/shocks and sticky tires and lighter rims and a well tied simple cage and get after it.

 

[bobbywalter]

thats if they will let you use a junkyard turbo...

otherwise a body damaged repairable should fill the bill perfectly....its already smashed so it will be even more fun racing without worries of paint scratches.

 

[cody93]

a striped down gen1-3 outa be fun, 2.3 with a 5 spd is a good combo, single cab for sure.. strip the front of anything not needed and put your battery/fuel cell in the bed. ditch the ac and go with manual brakes and steering to free up a little power. my 2.3 can bury the needle easly in 4th gear. the 2.3 is a very stout motor.

 

[Mark_88]

You can use my Ranger on any day not ending in a Y...it's fast, furious, and has a built-in smoke screen like James Bondage...it's not turbo charged but I think I've managed every other charge the police can throw at me...

 

[racinrangers17]

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x167/charddotcom/racetruck2.jpg



oval track racing truck. 93 3.0 5spd manual

 

[86isuzu]

Somebody on here ran autocross in a white 98+ ranger. I can't seem to find my TRS calender (he's on there). Anybody happen to remember?

 

[Racin_G73]

Junkyard turbos are not only allowed, they're encouraged. As long as you document the purchase price and have room in your budget for it.

The $500 is just for the 'vehicle' - motor, trans, drivetrain, suspension and body shell. I can relocate the battery. And I was considering doing some other things to add rear downforce. That won't help much in a 35 mph corner, but then I can also upgrade the brakes without being penalized on the budget. So I should be able to make it stand on its nose when I want it to. That's why having more horsepower could be handy, in order to get back up off the corners.

There was a Ranger that ran in a couple of LeMons races own in the South. They went by Danger Ranger or LeMon Hauler.

http://lemonhauler.blogspot.com/2008/08/24-hours-of-lemons.html

They used a '95 as their platform of choice. I heard they blew the motor a couple times and haven't been back in a few years. If they were in my region, I'd be trying to pick their brains. But they've gone silent.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Somebody on here ran autocross in a white 98+ ranger. I can't seem to find my TRS calender (he's on there). Anybody happen to remember?

Ric/Reshred did his, he had a Nissan he normally raced though. I can't beleive I found the thread.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2043

The '98+ trucks would by far be the better handler... I don't hardly see picking one up for close to $500 that is competly trashed... not that $500 will get you much of a truck of any other year.

Racing a truck against cars is going to be pointless unless you like losing... if that is the case be prepared to be extremly happy