TRS-2 Opinions Wanted

[Jim Oaks]

I'm not one for body lifts... but regardless of how you get your extra inches, I think your tires are gunna look too small. Those giant front wheel wells you have will look mighty empty with the 33''s. I think it would look really good on 35''s after those few inches.

PS, love the truck, the build in ORA is what brought me here.

I'd like to eventually have 35's. I need a little extra tire clearance though.

just curious, but how did you want to repaint it?

It will still be blue over white with the red stripe. No stars this time. Hood will still have a military tribute. No manufactures decals anywhere. Just a TRS full color logo on the bed side like TRS-1 has.

BTW, Thats the truck that got me to join this place...the truck that started it all for me. you got yourself a beautiful truck there Jim. Do you still have TRS-1? thats a purdy truck too lol

I still have TRS-1. A friend of mine just cleaned out a space in his shop so I can bring it over and start working on it. We'll be stripping it down and boxing the frame.

All I can say about TRS-1 is it's an old mud truck that still has a good body and healthy motor and years of neglect.

Once we get the frame cleaned up and boxed, I'll be putting my Dana 60's under it. Unfortunately I don't have that good of a cash flow to jump in and build till it's done, so it may not get done until next year.

Since it's and old school 1983 Ranger that's more of a mud truck, it's getting 6-inch chevy leafs front and rear. My goal however is to make it look clean like the truck came that way.

Why chevy front leafs and not coils? The Dana 60's are leaf sprung axles. In 1983, you would have found leafs under the front, not coils. Plus it will be an easier and quicker conversion. I see a lot of solid front axle Rangers with coil springs and radius arms, and I just didn't want to go down that same road with everyone else. Why Chevy leafs? Because Chevy had a 1/2-ton front leaf where Ford 1/2-tons were coils and I don't want 3/4-ton leafs.

So while a leaf suspended front axle isn't going to be anything new and exciting, I'm going to try and concentrate on building an old school truck and concentrate on a nice clean conversion that will look nice.

That truck is built the right way, and should stay that way. We can't have our ''leader'' rollin around in a truck built using the technology of the backwoods bowtie boys!

Actually, the technology is old and pretty basic.

I want to clean this truck up and get it looking good since TRS is having a 10-year anniversary. But I don't want to do too much to it otherwise.

Strangely enough, Vanessa will probabaly have the nicest Ranger in our garage. We won't be able to get her one until next year, but we've already got some of the plans laid out for it. It will still use a 8.8/D35, but benefit from upgrades such as the D44 knuckles, better hubs and roll on 35's.

 

[Jim Oaks]

TRS-2 Is awesome the way it is, why not put that time money and effort into TRS-1?

It has a lot of body damage that needs straightened out, a few rust spots starting and the hood decals have cracked from sitting out in the elements over the last few years.

I need to go buy a stud welder so I can start fixing some of the panels.

 

[97BlackBetty]

Personally, I have a hard time spending money when I cant gain performance out of the mod. If the clearance you need is to stop the tires from rubbing, then sure a body lift would solve that problem. I dont think this is the issue though, seeing as how the 6 inch lift was designed with 33's in mind and you are also running Fiberglass flared fenders. Besides, a body lift wont help if you are wanting frame or axle clearance. A simple solution may be coil spacers in the front (Legal in Ohio), and an add a leaf in the rear. My problem with an add-a-leaf is that it stiffens the leaf pack, which may or may not be a benefit.

Another option to the rear may be extended shackles, quick gain of ~2 inches, with the added benefit of more travel and better articulation. Of course then you might as well swap in the Chevy 63's while you have it all apart, and before you kow it the truck is in the garage with no drivetrain, and you are in debt up to your eyeballs.

Just a few of my ideas, more or less thinking out loud.

 

[Gotta_gofast]

Under the TRS-2 truck site, toward the bottom you mentioned upgrading to a D35/44 hybrid with D44 knuckles. Then, find some aluminum wheels and go 35" rubber. I think that might be more beneficial than the extra lift. After all, you can always go back and lift it later!

 

[CopyKat]

I say leave the height alone and put some 35's on it and trim the fenders if you need to. Pushing the axle forward 1/2" to 3/4" will help with the tires contacting the back of the fenders when turning and stuffing a tire. Flattening the firewall seam will help a bit more.

Keep it as low as you can Jim. If you put more lift on it it's just going to be another mud truck.

I say go with the D44 outer swap and put 35's on it. I'll likely be going 35's in the next year or to myself. Just something to fill the wheel wells better than the 33's

 

[4x4junkie]

I'm pretty sure the difference in the '95up body lifts is because of the airbags (another member also mentioned the steering extension is different). I couldn't tell you if the '94 kits can be made to work though.


If you want to get the 2" out of the suspension, swap to the 8" coils and use extended shackles instead of add-a-leafs (an AAL isn't going to do a whole lot on a lifted spring pack anyway).

Just be sure to get the larger pitman arm from Skyjacker (or you can modify a Superlift Superrunner kit to work with it. Look over that steering article I sent you for the Mag, should help).

 

[Totalled]

Needs some 36x13.50 Iroks...

 

[Redneckryder]

I FIGURED OUT YOUR PROBLEM!!!!! i think i could allow you to trade me straight up trs-2 for my 1992 x-cab 4x4. you wont have to worry about adding a lift, you can start from scratch...i know its a giant concession on my part, but i would be willing to step up like that for the good of trs.