1-TON Ranger Build

[cowboycarl888]

My 96 1 TON Ranger Build Thread starts here:
Here is a quick run-down of how my truck got to where it is now.. enjoy!

Here is the truck when i first got it in 07.

then a 4" RC lift with 33 BFG's

wheeled that setup hard for a while

then got some 35 swampers

wheeled that for a bit until i broke it!

went thru a blew bumper phase! haha

then SAS'd it beginning of last summer

wheeled it down at OSU this past year

then the carnage began! ripped off the ghey bushwacker flares on different trees and stuff.. made some flares.. painted the bumpers black. got some beadlocks and 35 bfg MT's

got a 8k winch

manual T-case swap

Next will be all the 1 TON swap content

 

[cowboycarl888]

last pics of the truck before the build started!

new bumper sanded down

63" chevys waiting to go in.. and also my 15x8 8 lug wheels

my shock hoops

 

[cowboycarl888]

painted the front end and put back in my stock corners

got a lincoln 220 AC buzz box welder!

did the 63 spring swap

bobbing of the bed

 

[cowboycarl888]

took the body lift out finally!

built some rear leaf hangers for the front springs

thats all for now!

 

[cowboycarl888]

got new tires!!! 38x12.5 TSL's with a good amount of tread!

Sold the beadlocks and yota wheels that came with the tires.. got a set of wheels for 20 bucks and mounted up the 38's.. i think it looks perfect for the amount of lift it has...

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[cowboycarl888]

started building the suspension for leafs..

chopped up the frame a little to make room for the hanger..

made the front crossmember/leaf hanger...

a little night shot w/ some rock lights..

 

[cowboycarl888]

Welded on the front crossmember/leaf hanger.. going to gusset and re-inforce it now...

just a pic of the garage, both parentals are no where in sight today so i have the area to my self!! messin around with the front bumper and winch mounting stuff too.

 

[cowboycarl888]

set up the rear the way i have wanted to... chopped the rear off... then got some 2x4 box steel.. welded between the rails and reinforced the heck outta it!! then moved the rear shackle hangers down a bit to help the angle and clearance...

 

[cowboycarl888]

i got my front bumper mounted up,

added some tube to extend the bumper out about 6.25 inches..

eventually im going to re-inforce it even more by adding some upper supports to stop the rotating force and some side supports to stop side to side movement.

 

[cowboycarl888]

then started working on the front suspension. messed around with the hangers and shackle angle, got it pretty decent i think... just under 45* with the weight on it. running expo rear leafs up front (56 inches long).. took out the overload, but maybe ill put it back in later? anyways.. then cut out the old coil buckets and tacked on the shackle hanger... i still need to brace it for more strength... still on the hunt for a 60!!

 

[cowboycarl888]

FINALLY GOT AXLES TODAY! WUN TUNS!!!! DANA60 and Sterling 10.25 with matching 4.10s!!!!

[/QUOTE]

 

[cowboycarl888]

started working on gettin em under... the rear was simple, since the rear was a dually axle the spring perches were surprisingly the same width as the ranger! so the rear was kind of a bolt in swap! Threw the axle under and bolted up the U-Bolts (15/16 socket size). This stuff is BEEFY!!

Took apart the front, hubs, brakes, spindles, and pulled the shafts... im going to clean em up and re pack everything with grease before i re-install. I need to run to the JY to get U-bolts for the front. and go to the auto part store for driveshaft U joint, then i need to brace and burn in the shackle hangers... umm... ya. that'll do for now

 

[cowboycarl888]

SURPLUS CENTER HYDRO ASSIST!!

 

[cowboycarl888]

mmmmmm!!!!

 

[cowboycarl888]

test drive today! flexes like a mofo!!! 1WD is poop. gona weld the rear soon.

 

[cowboycarl888]

got some more work done to it today, fine tuning i guess. took out the middle leaf from the chevy 63 pack and threw it in front. i need to throw another ranger one in back... then welded up the rear.. definantly need new tread in the rear and more places to flex it out...

 

[cowboycarl888]

ive gotten back into working on it the past couple of days.. sort of finishing it up!! When i finished the swap the rear end was sitting 2-3 inches lower than the front so Im still trying to work that out..

i welded in my shock hoops and painted the frame with flat black paint (97 cents at home depot)

i also painted up the front and rear axles and any other welds that were exposed.

quick pic with some lights, you can see the butt draggin a little!

then i painted the wheels black and got some properly fitting lug nuts, i wasnt to fond of the chrome at first, but its all they had, however i feel like it puts a nice touch on it?!

i also re-bobbed the bed a little shorter, so in total its about 12 inches shorter!!

then i managed to peel off the rest of the glue/residue left by the old rocker trim plastic pieces. SO here is how it sits now, i took out my overloads in the front to lower the front down, its about where i want it in the front, now i just need to get that back end up another 2 inches or so.

 

[cowboycarl888]

since im not going to flatbed it for a few more months i decided to work on the bed a little.. idk, its probalby a lost cause but it makes the truck look less of a POS!! so i pulled out that big asss dent on the driverside where i hit a pole/gate and sanded, primed, painted....

i still need t bondo, sand, prime, paint the bobbed area!

 

[cowboycarl888]

worked yesterday/last night, got the back lifted up and level with the front now!! then i did some testing and the rear is still smashing the bed. so i went and chopped the fenders more which makes the bed look SUPER SHORT!! but i like it!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 

[cowboycarl888]

thats all i got now, i felt like id update my thread for the NW people! the truck is almost done, all i need to make is a front shaft, leaf clamps, new rear tires, and then paint the bed and its ready to go!! let me know what you guys think!