I have a 2000 Mazda B2500 sitting around and I have a few ideas of what I could do with it. I'm not a noob to cars and I've had several projects in the past - just not a Ranger/Mazda B.

The thing is: usually when I start a project I can find many examples online to draw inspiration and ideas from. With this one I can't find any examples of what I am imagining. So, I'll run my ideas here and maybe someone can give me some input or opinions.

This is a 2wd regular cab truck with an auto trans. I'm thinking of building it into a fun and mean looking street truck.

My ideas -

Body:

It is currently dark green with some dents and bad paint. I live in southern Arizona, so not a speck of rust. I like the bed that came on the Mazda B but just to give it a more unique look I was thinking of swapping the Ranger stepside (or 'flareside') onto it, give it more of a muscle truck look. I think that bed with the Mazda face would be a great combo. Has anyone done this? I'm thinking the body lines would still line up because the Mazda shares the same cab as the Ranger, no? I'm also thinking of painting it that burnt orange color that came on some late 90s Rangers.

Suspension:

I'd like to do as much as I can with the suspension to make it handle as good as a truck can. Big sway bars, urethane bushings, better brakes, etc. I want to lower it too. It's hard to find good examples of a truck that is lowered for a performance look and feel. If I google "lowered Ranger" I get lots of ridiculous looking (to me) trucks sitting on the ground on air bags with big, chrome rims. I'm going more for a race look - imagine the Nascar truck series, but not quite that low.

Can anyone show me examples of this done right? I can't seem to find any. How do these trucks take to lowering? Are there good aftermarket parts that will give me what I'm going for?

Engine/drivetrain:

A 5.0 swap would be great and if the rest of the truck turns out the way I want it will likely happen. The little 4 banger in it now is running just fine though so I would put the engine off and build the suspension with the idea that a heavier V8 will be going in later.

Interior:

Some Recaros would be nice.


So, is this doable? I love the way the Ranger/Mazda B is built and the way it looks. I own a Tacoma that I love but it would never work for what I envision. I abhor Chevy S10s and there aren't any other mini trucks that really appeal to me for a project like this.