Thread: Straight Axle Ranger Build

Well, I have had a couple people tell me to post this build up on this site, and I finally gave in. I am getting close to getting the SAS done, but there is still much more I plan on doing to the truck. I will post up pics and info from beginning to where it is now.

Here is the truck nicknamed "D-Ranged" when it was all stock except some rims

Here is the truck after i finished the D44TTB and 9" Swap and added the 35's


Here is D sitting at Loftis Motorsports with the TTb still in.

A front view with the diff removed but the arms still in place

A pic of the rear

Here is a picture of the new axle that is going in

The coilovers im using. the springs are 300/450

Here is the pic with the front end stripped. Sorry the pics are so bad, my camera was in Kentucky so i had to use my phone. All the TTB stuff is gone and out of the way

Front axle mocked up


got the pictures of my Ballistic Fabrication parts. A big thanks goes out to Dave for helping me out with the order. I got the D44 cover, the Ballistic 3.0 joints and the adjustable tracbar mount.



Here is the front axle set under the truck.



The mount and Ballistic joint all tacked up




Here is a look at one of the top tubes. Notice the bend angles. Plenty of room to turn the tires, plenty of room for upward and downward travel. Notice that the rockslider is in the way. They are being cut off and remade later.


The locker ready to go back in.

Here is D sitting on the ground. The front have jackstands




The arms are in place


Here is a look at the driveshaft and pinion angle

4/21- Engine cage has been started. Coilover is mounted. Here are some pics. They are kind of crappy because they were taken with my Iphone, but I promise i will get some good ones once the cage is finished.

the coilover mounts are tacked to the backside of the knuckle. Once they are finished, i will get some pictures up.

The tube on the right is tacked in, the other two are just sitting there as mock ups. The coilover tabs haven't been put on yet.



Here is a good look at the arms. They still been to be boxed in, but man they look kick ass

---------- Post added at 09:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:21 AM ----------

Got the ol gal on the ground. This thing is huge. The distance between the axle and frame is 14". From center of the hub to top of the arch is 34". It still will settle out a bit, so it should drop about 4 inches up front. Enough typing, here are the pics





---------- Post added at 09:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:24 AM ----------

Brake lines, limit straps, hubs back together, drive shaft in, ready for steering and track rod








---------- Post added at 09:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 AM ----------

So that brings us pretty close to current. I have the steering done, but no pictures posted, they will be tonight after work. Went with a Heimed CrossOver setup. Looks awesome. The Track rod will be on heims as well. The Ballistic Cover is too close to the steering rod, so it will need to be modified.

Here is a list of what is left...

Trans cross member
gusset top of engine cage
Build battery mount, and run wiring into the cab
set the backlash and put the axles in.
Put rear shocks on
Wire everything back up and reconnect all the smog equipment
All the parts are here, we just have to get it done. We have been busting our asses to get it done for Halloween Weekend, Just keep posted. I'll be posting updates a lot here these next two weeks

thats one hell of a different approach to a ranger!!! wat it gonna be, a rock crawler or a prerunner?

you keeping the 4.0 or are you gunna drop a v8 in?

Originally Posted by dezert_nerd

thats one hell of a different approach to a ranger!!! wat it gonna be, a rock crawler or a prerunner?

more of a daily drivable rock crawler that will go fast across the dirt to the trails

Originally Posted by zac92ranger

you keeping the 4.0 or are you gunna drop a v8 in?

Chevy 5.3 or 6.0 later on. The 4.0 is staying for now.

sounds good. looks like a clean build!!!

different from what we usually see on this forum but it looks like itl be a fun truck! keep updating us on its status

Thanks for the kind words fellas. Here is the newest update

Steering all tacked together! Track rod is in too, but I havent gotten pics yet


Here is the steering arms.


This is ride height. damn its a big Ranger...


Front view

......looks rad josh def. going to be cool seeing this thing cruising around the dezert.

thanks josh!

Update:
Well, I went out to the shop last night, the track rod is NOT in the truck. It is bent and ready to be installed, but isn't. There was no change to it since last week. At this rate, really worried about getting it done by Halloween. We did get the battery relocated to inside the cab (took the rumble seat's place). Truck should be started and running tomorrow. Going out to work on it Wednesday, Thursday, and all day Sunday. Hopefully we will get some good ground covered then...

got a good amount of work done last night.

All the wiring is done, just need to mount the fuse box and battery.

Track rod is all tacked in and good to go. We have to notch the crossmember because it will be limiting travel.

Front wheel spacers are on.

Getting closer! Here are a couple pics.

One at ride height


and

one at full droop

ok, so i have been slaving away on this thing like a ... well... anyway....

I got a shit ton of work done. Here are the pics. BTW, THIS BITCH IS DRIVING NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

steering gussets



Trans crossmember


Upper and Lower Track Rod mounts



Keith, owner and fabricator at Loftis Motorsports is the guy who did ALL the welding on the truck. Here is a pic of him burning in the arms


After shots of the arms


Check out how we made the metal (Cold-Rolled Steel) "Mold" to the tubes. We will be plating in the rear part of the arms very soon.


rear end setup (for now )


Sitting on the ground, going through everything before driving her home


Took D about 25 miles, and everything was great, other than the alignment. We tape measure aligned it, but needs to be laser aligned. The wheel cylinders are shot, and I have a brake line that is drip leaking. Battery is shot, other than those, its all good

There will be MUCH more pictures now that the truck is back into my hands

both wheel cylinders are replaced, battery is replaced, all leaks are fixed. Finished painting everything, wired up the stereo, and gave it a bath. Going to start working on the front clip this week, hoping to have the 09 clip on by Friday. Cut out flares are on their way, so they will be next week's project.

looks nice. keep us all updated. more pics!

i fucking love solid axle rangers....

nice swap

lets see something more than a curb yeah? haha
looks good tho. good work

Originally Posted by half-ass astronaut

i fucking love solid axle rangers....

nice swap

Thanks man, I think they look bad ass too.

Originally Posted by zac92ranger

lets see something more than a curb yeah? haha
looks good tho. good work

mall rated FTW!

more pics bro ranger looks beast

sweet ride brother... think ive seen it on the rangerstation too right???

TRS, RPS, Dezert Rangers, and here. She's a hoe

Thanks for the kind words fellas. The rear brakes were not the problem, i guess i was just not paying any attention to my nose. The rear end is leaking through the axle tubes at the end that mounts up to the rear brakes. I am going to replace the seals tomorrow and try to locate some 6 degree shims. That should fix the rear. Then its time to cut the cross member and gusset the track rod mount. Then its time to wheel

09 front clip is on. Well, kinda. Ford wanted to be a PIA so they changed little things here and there to make it a PIA to swap clips and keep the older Support. I will not let them win.... I got everything bolted up, but there was one problem I couldnt fix without heading to the junk yard.... The hood latch. The latch mechanism on the 94 is super simple, just a plate that the hook connects to. The 09 hood has a bar. Going to the junk yard today to get the parts i need. I'll post up some pics here in a little while

looks awsome! yur mackin great progress with this build. are you gonna do a simple cage in the rear?

clip is on. Still need to take it on base to use the grinder and cut off wheel. (My complex wont allow grinders to be used) Still some mods needed to make it fit. Once I get finished and all buttoned up, I'll post up the step by step process in the Tech Library. Without further ado... Here are the pics:

this thing is badass! nice work!

thanks brother

that isn't fiberglass is it?

nope

got the clip all on. Still need to "waller-out" the holes in the top of the fender, but for a daily driver/trail pig, it'll do. Getting painted next month. Here are the pics.

i really thought it was gonna turn out lame. But fuck the truck is awesome man! Good work, i love what you have done so far. whats the paint color gonna be?

Thanks brother.

nice truck, i love the 09 clip. What size tires is it running, and what size coilovers?

35x13.5x15 Toyo Open Country MT's. 15" Aluminum Centerlines. Coilovers are 14" kings. I don't remember the spring.

Nice job on the swap! What did the front axle come out of? It looked like in some of the pics that the axle shaft weren't in, did you get those put in?

Axle is from a 78 Bronco. Of course they are in now. We didn't have them in throughout mock up. Hell we only had one balljoint bolt in when we were building it. I have two things to get it offroad worthy, shim the rear end so it doesnt vibrate the shit out of me, and cut out the crossmember so the track rod doesnt hit. Hoping to knock them both out tomorrow. we'll see.

so i got tired of having pictures of this big ass ranger only on the road. So i decided to go to some gravel.

Just lookin pretty


Lookin all big


Flexin


Front view. Yes the back tire is off the ground


So I noticed that the rear end is limited a lot compared to the front. The front was no where near bumps, and the left side rear was already about 6-8" off the ground.

that looks sick! looks like you have your rear sway bar on and if you took it off it wont rub really bad. get bed fenders!

looks good man are u going to run some glass on it or keep it stock fenders.

Originally Posted by Demo1986

that looks sick! looks like you have your rear sway bar on and if you took it off it wont rub really bad. get bed fenders!

Rear swaybar is not connected. Its not even there. I have flares that are going on. No fiberglass on my rig.

Originally Posted by cbrewer22

looks good man are u going to run some glass on it or keep it stock fenders.

I just put these fenders on. I'm running bushwacker cutouts.

bad ass i like it.. now that im keeping my expo im going the same route you went.....