Wohlf 16's 99 Ranger build

[Josh40601]

I quit about a month ago. I will chew for about 2 months or so, then quit for a year, then pick it back up. Just miss the taste of some good ol cope. I hated snuff though. More of a Cope Long Cut. Nothing flavored, just plain long cut. Gold Top. mmmm

 

[wohlf 16]

really need to find a place to go play. Can only do so much in the driveway and the woods at my place arent really big vehicle friendly. Couple of my friends talked me into this.

two wasnt enough so we added a couple spares.

 

[wohlf 16]

I drove it to work on thursday to show a couple guys. I had said that I hooked the speed sensor up to the t-case and noticed that my odometer was moving but not my speedo. Well I drive 17 miles to work and it only said i went 1.7 so I think somethin may be a little off. Makes me wonder if I get the right speed gear for the t-case and the 5.13s in if the speedo will start workin. If I figure somethin out maybe I will do a right up on it for sas 98+ rangers.

 

[wohlf 16]

Anybody ever used a mini spool? Im thinkin about goin this route for the front. Its like 65 bux on ebay. Im gonna prolly buy a no slip for the dana 60 cause it might still see some road action. Havent updated forever cause nothins changed. Still dont have my gears in and im done buggin my neighbor. Goin to tackle it my self here shortly. Try to post pics of it when it happens.

 

[Josh40601]

glad to see you are back at it. Mini spool in the front shouldn't be too bad, but just be ready for some breakage. I can't remember if you said you went chromoly or not, but lockers and 44 U-joints never get along. It will last for a long time, just be careful, and dont go whompin on it in the ruts and rocks, just slow and steady and you will have no problems.

Just an fyi, I have taken my ranger through some stuff that people SWORE i needed a front locker.... Well, i didn't. I have only been to one spot that i needed a front locker, and that was because the rock was flat and taller than my front tire.

 

[wohlf 16]

Sold my goodyears and wheels and bought me some swampers and nice wheels. Sold the goodyears and wheels for 500 and bought 38 15.50r16 super swamper ssrs for $250 and bought some 16x10 eagle alloys for $200. So im on top $50 and I got tires that might actually do somethin off road. They dont have a lot of tread on them but they should last me a long time concidering Im workin on the truck more than using it. Poor pic but will get a better one when they're on the truck. Still aint done my gears. Added up what it would cost to buy all the tools to do it myself and now im goin back to thinkin about payin my neighbor to do it.

 

[kris97ranger]

even close to bald swampers still rock

 

[wohlf 16]

That was my thoughts. Especially since I got them for dirt cheap. I priced a set new of the same size and my total came to over 2000 shipped!

 

[wohlf 16]

Question. If I add a Panhard bar to the front end will it take away the flex im getting side to side when I turn the wheel? I noticed it bad yesterday when I was checkin things out. It looks like when I turn the wheel my shackles move to the side Im turning the wheel. I hope its not flexing the frame that bad but it still makes me nervous. And If I dont do something soon will this eventually crack the frame?

 

[Josh40601]

yes it will stop the side to side movement. As far as your tires go, you can groove out SSR's about another 1/4" and still be completely fine. Good find

 

[wohlf 16]

Thanks! It just worried the crap out of me. Guess Im gonna have to rework some stuff. I looked and it seems like my mount for the panhard bar is directly in line with my shock. Tryin to get things done so I can take it to Lima for the 4x4 jamboree. It will be a 120 mile plus one way and I havent driven it 100 miles in 3 years.

 

[wohlf 16]

And because Im a photo slut Im gonna post some more pics. This also shows you how dumb ohio is. The snow pics were takin one day and the sunny with no snow was takin the day after.

 

[Josh40601]

looks sharp as hell with those wheels and tires on there!!

Another thing to look at is switching your shackles. With the shackles up front, its gonig to allow the axle to "float" back and forth. Using solid mounted hangers in the front (similar to BTF kits for CJ's), this will allow a much more stable ride.

I did this on my CJ and i had no PH bar and the rig cruised down the Road at 80 like it wasn't nothing

 

[kris97ranger]

it also helps off road. one day ill flip my samurais around when the suspesion compreses the axle moves forwards towards the object your trying to get over it causes it to bind up and get stiff. its just harder to bump over rocks and things

 

[wohlf 16]

Gonna keep the shackles the way they are. I had shackles on the rear before and it hard mounted on the front and didnt really care for that setup. But Josh are you talkin about keepin the shackles on the front but just using a different kind of shackle? I think Im still gonna do the PH bar though but I have a question about setting it up. Ive seen a lot of guys setting it up to the front side of axle but if I did that I would have interference with the tie rod and drag link. Can I put my panhard bar right in line with my axle? I had a ph bar from a wagoneer that had the bend for the diff and everything but now I cant find it. Plannin on makin my mount outa 1/2'' steel this weekend. Wouldnt use 1/2'' but a guy I know gave me a huge piece for free.