Hey guys! I just inherited my Dad's 99 Ranger as my DD. I was suppose to be getting a old 2005 Jeep but things didn't work out and now i got this truck on my hands! I'm actually extremely excited because of all the potential these trucks have!
Back on topic for a little... So bascially im a highschooler who is avid about power sports, i go wheelin weekly in my friends rigs and can't wait to bring mine along! The truck is bone stock right now and i was wondering what your guys would do to it to first of all make it more off road capaible but none the less, more beefy and tough looking if you know what i mean! I plan on getting a PA Body Lift, some 33's, And neat little prerunner tailgate tirecarrier, but thats really the only things in the plan!

Where do you all get off road front and rear bumpers? What other suggestions do you have to give my truck a beefy stance and look overall!? Thanks in advanced guys!

 

I think the Body lift and 33's would be a great start! Crank the torsion bars and add some rear lift shackles after.

 

Ditch the mudflaps

 

Thanks for such speedy replies! I was looking into a front end conversion because im really not into the 99 grill and headlights at all... i really like the 2002 style. Is it hard to do a front end conversion? What all needs to be switched out?

 

Its easy dude. You need a new header panel, grille with surround, headlights and corners. You can keep the stock bumper or get an 01-03 bumper, but you will then need lower valance, bumper, bumper filler and foglights if you want them. It gets pricey dude. I converted my 01 to 06-08 front end and with chopping the hood and the parts it ran about 1500.00

 

Okay that sounds reasonable, I plan on getting a winch bumper in the future so i could care less about keeping the stock bumper... Where do you aquire all the parts? (Im assuming junkyard) Would i need a new hood?

 

Your hood will be fine. I got all my parts aftermarket from a company on ebay. It was worth it. I figured If I am doing the swap I want to use all new parts. I did look at junk yards but every ranger I needed parts from had a crushed front end lol. Basically all you need is the header panel - 100.00 aftermarket ebay type w/shipping included, and grille with surround - 56-60.00 ebay again, shipping included, headlights and corners - I sell them lol and also headlight retaining brackets and some other small things like screws and stuff

 

Instead of the whole bumper, you could also buy a bull bar. The bigger tube ones that are functional make the front end look mean, specially when you color match.

Please don't buy spacers, go for larger tires instead and get the real look.

Don't get rid of the mudflaps imo, i wish i could install them in the front and save myself the grief of spraying the bottom of my cab with rocks...

 

Spencer ,

Don’t get caught up in the mod-ding game, it can cost you money and you will find some of the mods are a waste of time, money and energy.

If you want to change over the front sheet metal get an 01-03 Honey Comb Grille and Power Dome Hood setup.
I have seen one truck that turned out really nice with it, he had a 99 and swapped.
Maybe even consider changing to the ‘06+ door mirrors, I here you get better rear view from them and I am in that process too.

Cranking the T-Bars and adding larger tires will look good but you get side effects too.
A harder ride from the t-bar crank and 33” x 16” tires are in the “E” Load Range and those will only add to the lousy ride you end up with.
You will get more bump steer, the Rangers are already known for that so it gets worse, and you being a new driver, stay away from that.

If you can get new rims, 15” and end up with a lower load range and it might help but the crank T’s are ready not the thing to do IF you want a good riding vehicle.

Also 33” tires - if you go there, you will have to remember that the larger tire will equate to, a loss in power and a decrease in gas milage. This maybe a problem when you are still in high school and IF money is tight, going out friday night would mean more to me than the RIGHT LOOK !

If this is going to be a daily driver and you want reliable transportation for the lady friends, consider just doing cosmetic changes for now, i.e. Frt end sheet metal/plastic, maybe a new sound system - head unit and speakers, (although you have something in your profile) maybe bucket seats if you don’t have them and a center console and then there is painting the interior.
One other mod is the Fog Light On with the high beam mod, there is a how-to on the site… this was the best mod I have done, cheap (free) easy to do and it fills in the missing light when high beams are on.

Main thing, step back, look at what you want to do, consider all of the consequences before hand and the affect they will have on the truck, your money and your getting to where you want to go, then think about doing them and get all of the info up front.

I am an older member of the site and have had rangers/mustangs for a long time, I have done 5.0 swaps, worked on SAS setup even though my truck doesn’t have it YET, and I do not regret any mods, except my latest tire pick, and all of the mod were thought out in advance.
Yes I take a little longer to get things done than other that jump right in but my money was hard earned and I want the best I can get.

Good luck with the mods, pick and choose and keep it rolling.

 

throw a set of 32's and a body lift on it, it will look great. Other then that, save your $$$

 

hey i have a 99 ranger as well and i thought about the same thing..... the body lift will mess with alot of your other compounts like steering and electrial ... i put one on my truck and had all kinds of problems... the bigger tires are a give and take.... i went to a 30.5 inch tire on my truck and i still have the power and bettter gas mileage then the stock 3.0L.... (i took the body lift off and gave it a friend) my truck goes were ever my buddies truck goes and he has 35s and a 2 inch body lift. with a 5.0

in my opinion i would only worry about making the body of the truck exceptable to the offroad. like getting the lower trim down in line-x that way your paint doesnt chip like mine, getting rid of the mudflaps,(without them my truck looks taller), and the front end swap with a front mount reese hitch... i got one on my truck so i could mount and unmount my winch for the truck, im saving up to the front end swap on my truck but i only want to do it cuz i can black out my headlights and get the halo's for it and so i can put some fog lights in the grill, the 99 front bumper is mostly steel and its heavy duty. i hit trees and logs and all kinds of things and mine hasnt even dented yet, if your going to do the bigger tires and want more power i would just convert to the 5.0L its a strong motor and give amazing power. i plan on doing this as soon as i can find the right explorer, it kind of the same idea as dropping a 360 into a jeep wrangler....

BTW i just got out of high school in 2011. and the reiably is want i needed... i wanted and still want to and enjoy going off road but i dont much anymore at least not in my truck because mudding and offroad in general tears up the truck..... found out from experience.... i would even change your horn....
the most i go off road now in my DD is when i got my radio cranked up at the mud hole or when im pulling out my buddy cuz his truck broke again (broke because he takes it off road too much)

 

Don't take anything these goobers say to heart.

My advice:
Look in the Ranger Photo's on the site. Find something you really like, and ask how they did it.
Being in High School, i'm guessing your money is tight. So make sure you choose which mods you think will be more worth it than another.

 

Sell it and buy this.

 

keep it stock as a DD and buy someones old lifted jeep. Then you have a reliable vehicle and a toy . My truck is pretty damn lifted and has some alignment issues. I can't ever easily go back to stock either, lol.

Otherwise, if you really wanna do it....

Body lift
33 inch tires
front end conversion (piecing together the parts can save you a bunch of $$)
powerdome hood
aftermarket bumper.


All that stuff would be pretty sick

 

Throw some badass wheels and tires on it. Chrome ones for the bling bling attitude.

 

I'd go with this look:

 

Haha you guys are the best! This input is very eye opening! Thanks again! Well in response to some things you guys said about being a DD, i wouldnt consider it really getting alot of miles... (School is 5 miles away, all my friends live close) So i still would really like to go with 33's... On to the body lift, is there another option? Suspension lift?????? I know its gonna set me back ALOT but is it really worth it????

The money situtaion... Well im a lucky man, ive been saving my money since day one, to buy a jeep or some type of offroad vihicle, and since buying one is out of the picture, i have about 4,000 to blow on mods and such, and i still have a job, so paychecks are still coming in bi-weekly!

Sound system is already been installed, so im pretty much set interior wise...

My dad recently messed up the front shocks somehow, and they make a squeaky, creaky noise which or neighbor mechanic has diagonosed as a blow shock.. so im going to be purchasing some bilstiens or another top brand but havent looked into that yet...

Lastly, I really like the look of black rims, but idk if i can pull it off with a blue truck, i feel like its adding to many colorers into the mix.. What do you guys think!?

Thanks so much guys, im just a youngin trying to roll with the big dogs and i really appreciate such a warm welcome!

 

Make sure to add the specs of your truck to your signature when asking questions like this.

You can find the "edit signature" option in your user cp. Or under the "quick links" at the top right of the page.

You have a question about your truck...we see your sig...we can answer your question easier.

If you are looking for the cheapest lift, then a body lift is for you (a LOT of folks run them with no problems)
Simply cranking your t-bars will add a little bit to the front...leveling out the stance.

If you max out your t-bars, then shackles for the rear are a cheap lift method.

 

Chrome or billet alumumindumb wheels work out real well on blue trucks. Trust me.

 

Basicly what everyone else said.

BL
33's
Front end swap
Custom bumper

From my experience 33's have torn up the front of my truck so it might be better to lift it later...but its your money.

 

Can anyone point me in the direction of a front end conversion how to? or walk through thread? Getting rid of this tacky grille is at the top of my list! Is there anyway to just swap the grille??? Thanks!

 

The conversion is actually pretty simple. Everything just bolts on, bumper, grille (Clip on) header panel is bolt on as well. Once you start you will see how simple it is.

Pull the bumper off


Pull the headlights off and pop the grille out

Then unbolt the header panel



This is whats left and ready for the new stuff

 

Would something like this just work, and then i get new headlights and corners like this...

Bolt in grille: 42-0758 Paramount Restyling 4mm Aluminum Horizontal Billet Packaged Grille for 98-00 Ford Ranger at Andy's Auto Sport

Headlights: PRO-YD-FR98-C Spyder Halo Projector Headlights - Chrome for 98-00 Ford Ranger at Andy's Auto Sport

Corners: 2LC-RAN98-KS Spec D Corner Lights - Euro for 98-00 Ford Ranger at Andy's Auto Sport

 

It would work if you want to keep the 98-00 front end design. Then you will just swap out the headlights and grille

 

i just want to get rid of the retro looking grille. I hate the look of it, so i think with a new billet grille like this, some projector headlights w/ angel eyes and some clear coners would look great! Could you agree?