So, I got an idea.

[Scrambler82]

IMHO... the Ranger on EB Frame is a great idea.
Mine is a short box std cab, 111.5" WB, but the EB Frame will still need to be stretched and I think the over all out come will be more than worth the work.

My reasoning for the swap would be I like the Ranger and what it is, to keep it longer it will need a better frame and drive train; in cometh the Early Bronco Frame.

Also, if money is no problem, there is a frame company that has a stretched frame for 111.6" WB and should be able to build one for 125" setup.

Good luck on this swap and I will be watching.

Also again, your ext cab will fit with a really short bed or flat bed with cage.

Vote for the EB Frame swap.

 

[Redneckryder]

I never said money was NO problem, but the wife gave me an allowance of tax money, so that's what will fund the build. I am pretty decent with a welder, and I think I can stretch the frame right. I can fabricate stuff if the need arises. I want to keep the ranger body, because I love my ranger. I also want a v8 (Especially a 289....wanted one for years, don't really know why....) and a solid front axle. Why a solid front axle? Dunno....personal choice. I personally think they look tougher. Being as how all of this is already mounted to a frame, I am making life easier on myself by bastardizing a bronco frame in the name of my happiness. LOL. I welcome any input, prefer constructive, but my skin is pretty thick. As soon as I buy the frame (if it's still there when I get money), I am starting my build thread.

 

[Scrambler82]

Didn’t mean to imply either way on the money situations… was just stating that a stretched frame was available and it is expensive.

I too want to keep my Ranger because I like it too.
I want the 5.0L, a solid axle in front and a better frame and all in the same project that is why the EB Frame came to my mind; I hope to keep this truck for a long time.

I am hoping to find out just a little more on the EB Frame, like how the two frame compared for rail shape, any differences in the ups and downs and will it affect the alignment of the cab and bed. How tall will the body mounts need to be.

Have you looked into the actual shape of the frame and have you seen any Rangers mounted on the EB Frame and how they sit ?

I wish I could find one to see how someone else did the project.

 

[03xlEdge]

I never said money was NO problem, but the wife gave me an allowance of tax money, so that's what will fund the build. I am pretty decent with a welder, and I think I can stretch the frame right. I can fabricate stuff if the need arises. I want to keep the ranger body, because I love my ranger. I also want a v8 (Especially a 289....wanted one for years, don't really know why....) and a solid front axle. Why a solid front axle? Dunno....personal choice. I personally think they look tougher. Being as how all of this is already mounted to a frame, I am making life easier on myself by bastardizing a bronco frame in the name of my happiness. LOL. I welcome any input, prefer constructive, but my skin is pretty thick. As soon as I buy the frame (if it's still there when I get money), I am starting my build thread.

You do realize that you'd have to extend the frame of the Bronco 22 inches? If I did my math correctly. The wheelbase of an Early Bronco is 92 inches, the wheelbase of an extended cab Ranger is 114 inches. I like the whole idea of putting a Ranger body on a Bronco frame, I even thought about putting a Bronco body on a Ranger frame before. Have you checked out the frame of the Bronco? There are 8 body bolt locations on it. The front four are pretty specific while the rear middle bolts bolt up above the frame, and the last two ones in the rear bolt up in the frame. Also if you do pursue putting the Ranger body on the Bronco frame, why don't you put in a 351W? Just a little food for thought.

 

[Redneckryder]

Last time I looked, ex cab wheelbase is 125....so I gotta go out 33 inches. I figure I am going to have to make my own body mounts for the frame....no way are the ranger's gonna line up.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Hmmm... Shouldn't be to bad to fab body mounts. All the bolt-on suspension parts will be a huge bonus, much easier than fabricating a SAS.

 

[Redneckryder]

That's what I am hoping for....

 

[Scrambler82]

Hmmm... Shouldn't be to bad to fab body mounts. All the bolt-on suspension parts will be a huge bonus, much easier than fabricating a SAS.

And the steering box has its place.

Does anyone know if the engine and the front wheel centerline align with the Ranger engine bay and fenders ?

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

And the steering box has its place.

Does anyone know if the engine and the front wheel centerline align with the Ranger engine bay and fenders ?

That all depends on the arm mount/ transmission crossmember that you fabricate. Set it where you want.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Scrambler82]

That all depends on the arm mount/ transmission crossmember that you fabricate. Set it where you want.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

So what you are saying is that the engine mounting needs to be relocated ?

I was hoping not to move any engine/trans mounting.

 

[PanamaExpat]

33 inches of frame stretch on an offroader sounds pretty radical to me. But what do I know I am just an old hillbilly electrical engineer. Can't be any worse that what I saw on Detroit City Motors last night. They thoroughly screwed a 1926 model T to build a dragster out of it. All they saved was part of the original body and just part of that. What a waste of a nice restorable treasure. They could have used fiberglass as they built the frame for it anyhow.

As you can tell I got this thing about shredding old classics.

 

[cammeddrz]

I welcome any input, prefer constructive,

how about this?

Last time I looked, ex cab wheelbase is 125....so I gotta go out 33 inches. I figure I am going to have to make my own body mounts for the frame....no way are the ranger's gonna line up.

I have been there, done that, i did what (for all intents and purposes) could be called adding 18" of frame, and i built up body mount brackets for the broncoII body. i literally did all of that in a weekend or so.

that was 4 years ago, i am still driving it to this day
here is the 18" sleeve, my frame was 6" inside, and so i sleeved 6" channel iron waaay up through both ends, and boxed it at the joints to boot. (it has about 36" of weld per joint) it wasn't finished in this pic but you can see the 18" stretch

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

So what you are saying is that the engine mounting needs to be relocated ?

I was hoping not to move any engine/trans mounting.

Dunno about the engine... all I'm saying is that the front axle can be centered in the fenders, by moving the radius arm mounts or changing the length of the arms.

I imagine it would be very close. The engine might be a little further back. But that's ok because if you slide the cab rearward a hair, it will pull the tires away from the front fenders where they always rub first.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Scrambler82]

Dunno about the engine... all I'm saying is that the front axle can be centered in the fenders, by moving the radius arm mounts or changing the length of the arms.

I imagine it would be very close. The engine might be a little further back. But that's ok because if you slide the cab rearward a hair, it will pull the tires away from the front fenders where they always rub first.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

I thought you were referencing the Trans Cross Member not the Radius Arms.

Since the suspension will be already attached to the frame i was hoping to determine the engine fit, bronco vs Ranger in reference to the center line of the front wheel-well.
I have asked on ssssooo many sites but have received no answers; I guess most people think if I don't know that, I shouldn’t be doing this.

thanks for the info, something more to think about.