Australians are best known for adding suspensions lifts and snorkels to their Ford Rangers, but Dave Gardner from Gardner Mods had a different plan for this Ford Ranger.
Gardner Mods got the vehicle after it had been written off from water damage and set out to make it a tire ripping machine. They originally thought about putting a Coyote 5.0L V-8 in the Ranger, but after pricing a motor and measuring the engine bay, they realized that they didn’t have enough room, and the cost would eat up too much of their budget. They managed to find a wrecked Holden GTSR with a good 6.2L Supercharged GM LS engine. The engine comes from the factory with 577 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque.
To accommodate all of the V8 power, the Ranger was reinforced all around, removing all unneeded materials, and stripping the interior to the bare frame. Each bumper front and rear includes multiple metal braces, strengthening the ranger’s exterior. On the inside, a full, custom roll cage stretching to the rear of the bed, was installed to maintain the trucks structural integrity, since the majority of weight had been removed. In the bed, one of the coolest aspects of the truck is the golden twin piped exhaust. The pipes exit directly out of the center of the bed giving it a classic supercar look. Since the plan was to drift the Ranger, it received a steering angle kit, 9-inch limited-slip differential, and a full widebody kit complete with a low, drag styled spoiler.
The Build Break Down:
- Engine – 6.2L Supercharged LSA V8 (out of a HSV GTSR) with 18% Overdrive Pulley – Upgraded Valves and Valve Springs – Custom Grind Camshaft To Suit – ATI Superdampner – Accusump – Custom Catch Can By
- Kays Fabrication – Custom Intake By Kays Fabrication
- Cooling System – Custom Made by ADRAD – Twin Aeroflow Oil Coolers – Powersteering Cooler Supplied by Burson Autoparts
- Oils – Martini Racing Sint 30R/T Engine Oil (Smurfs Blood) – Racing Formula RF-700 Brake Fluid
- Brakes – DBA X Gold Street Series Rotors – DBA Xtreme Performance Brake Pads – Wilwood Brake & Clutch Master Cylinder – Wilwood Clutch Pedal
- Fuel System – Taarks Fuel Cell – Taarks Surge Tank with Twin Walbro 460 Fuel Pumps – 1000cc Injectors – Aeroflow Fuel Rails – Taarks Fuel Pressure Regulator – Running E85 Through E85 Compatible Teflon Taarks
- Fuel Hose and Dash Fittings
- Suspension – Custom 4 Link Rear Suspension by Kays Fabrication – Viking Coilovers – Modified Front Knuckles by Kays Fabrication – Modified LCA’s By Kays Fabrication – Custom UCA’s – GKTech Tie Rod Ends
- Drivetrain – Hyper Series Twin Plate Exedy Clutch – Custom Lightweight Flywheel – TR6060 Gearbox With Customer Shifter Kit By Malex Motorsport – Custom 2 Piece Tailshaft – Modified Factory Ford Ranger Diff
- ECU – Link G4 Thunder ECU – Link MXS Strada Dash – Link ECU Lambada Sensors – Link ECU Fuel, Oil and Coolant Sensors
- Tuning – M1 Tuning Oxenford by Ben producing 600hp & 1200 NM of Torque
- Wiring – 12 Volt Performance Custom Mil Spec Wiring Loom – Engine Protected By PDM Supplied By 12 Volt Performance
- Interior – Sparco GRID-Q Bucket Seats – Sparco Harnesses – Sparco Steering Wheel with Quick-Release – Custom Roll Cage by Kays Fabrication
- Wheels – Lenso Spec X – 18×9+00
- Tyres – Nexen Nfrea SURG4
- Exterior – Utemart Flares – Wrapped By Clarkesigns – Custom Rear Window Spoiler – Custom Tailgate Spoiler – Custom Side Steps
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About The Author
Jim Oaks is the founder of The Ranger Station, one of the longest-running Ford Ranger enthusiast communities on the web. He has spent over three decades owning, modifying, repairing, and driving Ford Rangers on the street, trail, and cross-country routes.
Since launching TheRangerStation.com in 1999, Jim has documented thousands of real-world Ranger builds, technical repairs, drivetrain swaps, suspension modifications, and off-road tests contributed by owners worldwide. His work has been referenced by enthusiasts, mechanics, and off-road builders looking for practical, experience-based information rather than theoretical advice.
Jim’s hands-on experience includes long-distance overland travel, trail use, drivetrain and axle upgrades, suspension tuning, and platform comparisons across multiple Ranger generations. The content published on The Ranger Station is grounded in first-hand experience and community-verified data, not marketing claims or generic specifications.
