Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum but had a question or two..

I have an 04 XLT singlecab.

I'm looking to get a lift done to it and get larger mudtires.

I'm not exactly a mechanic and was wondering if anyone knew of anyone that installs them, atleast if anyone here lives in the Nashville area and knows of a shop. If not, a national place like Pepboys or something would be cool.

I called Pepboys yesterday and they said they only have kits for 4x4's.

Also, I know it's possible to put M/T's on Rangers because I've seen them before, However I tried to get them at Firestone and they told me that they didn't make any M/T's that fit my truck.

Any advice ?

I know alot of people say not to mess with modifying a 4 cyl. Ranger but I love this truck and plan to keep it forever.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks !

 

if i was you i would never go back to that place now, because theyre retarted.

im guessing youll at least get a 3 inch lift, soo you might be able to stuff 33s in there but im pretty sure 32s would fit good.

but im sure you can just find some mom and pop shop around there that would install the lift if you bring the parts.

 

Okay im going and try to help you as much as I can here as this is pretty much what im doing to mine .

Lift
You have 2 options here
1st - Body lift , it replaces all the body mounts and a few other things with basic hand tools and a few buddys to help lift (beer seems to be a good bribe ) you can do this your self , Performance accesories is the norm you can find them for around 200 on the net .
2nd - suspension lift , it replaces your spindles up front normally 3" or 5.5 " on a 4cyl I would stick to 3" . In the rear you either use AAL (add a leaf to spring pack ) or chevy drop shackles (they lift our trucks go figurre ) or blocks . I would use shackles because if you have some basic knowledge and good tool set you can do this yourself to .

Tires and wheels
the max tire size I would go would be 32X11.50R15 because your a 4cyl . also im asuming you have 14 inch wheels , so you will need some 15x8 wheels most common is steel wheels (black cragar soft 8's) you might want to stick with 31X10.50s as they would wiegh less , wich in turn does not rob your truck for power .

Gears
You probally have 4.10s (most comon on XLT 4CYL) but read on the side of your door jam for your axle code and post it up and we will decifer it for you to find out .

If you have 4.10s youll probally be fine , Although if your truck is real sluggish after adding bigger wheels and tires you can go down to 4.56s and regain the power lost .

If you have 3.73 youll have to regear more than likely .

As for the shop there should be plenty of 4X4 shops in nashville just look in the phone book and call around when you go to visit ask for before and after pics of vehicles theyve done and referances from customers and youll find a good one .

Now im sure after reading all this you have more ?s so feel free to ask theres a couple guys on here with this combo and its my plan to do this also with my 4cyl so im sure we can help you some how .

 

OT..Nick you need to drive to Kilgore to let me see that interior.

 

For the Axel code it says " 87 "

My tires are 225/70R15 and the Rims are 15x7.0J

if that helps...

I origionally went into Ford wanting a Mustang, insurance quote was $475 a month so I ended up with a Ranger.

This thing is as basic as it is, It came with a CD player and that's about it... manual locks, seats, mirrors.. I think the only thing power is the steering.

 

FYI the last year for 14" wheels was early 98...

 

yea the M/Ts not working on your truck...that guy should be fired...15x7s will be ok for some 32x11.50...but 15x8s can make it look mean with some good backspacing....

body lift is the cheaper way...never done one...but it would make a weekend project...

spindle lift (what i did on my 2wd xlt) took a few hours but requires more specialized tools...

that axle code is a little weird...you can get a better idea if you look on your differential, there will be a metal tag with some #s and letters on it...my guess is you have a 7.5 w/ 3.73s, thats what my 04 2wd xlt had...but maybe the 2.3 had a different gearing...is it stick or auto?

 

87
open 7.5" 4.10

 

i need to find that axle code sheet...haha

 

Auto.

Thanks for the replies and the help guys !

 

you live in Nashville? isnt there a 4 wheel parts there?

 

lift a 4banger? thats soooo unheard of

heres my old 01 4banger 2wd

 

I'm sure there is but they try to rip everyone off as one member near me found out and ended up buying a brand new Fabtech lift off of me for $200 less than they wanted for one.

Honestly I would call a few mom and pop type shops around. Any skilled mechanic can install one. Just make sure you get an alignment when its done. I had a customer flip their truck "due to alignment" cough cough

 

I haven't really looked to be honest...

At first I wasn't going to do anything to this truck, I had only bought it for transportation at first. I was going to buy a v8 4x4 F-150 to mod. Since, I've really gotten to like this truck.

I had asked a local mechanic about straight pipes and was laughed at when I told the make/model/engine. So I haven't asked about the other stuff.

I have another problem I'd like to ask you guys about to see if you've had the same, It's off this topic though..

Sometimes, I'll go to get in the truck and I'll have water in the floorboards on both the drivers and passangers side, just the floodboard is wet, the seats and dash are dry as a bone. The windows have condensation though.

I'm reluctant to think the windows are leaking because the trucks only 4 years old.

Has anyone else had this problem ? I noticed a small puddle under the truck today..

Any help would be cool.

 

I have to admit, that looks pretty damn good.

I'm not planning to go that high on the lift though... prob. half of that..

 

Im wanting to level my 97 xlt out and get some 15x7 and get some 30x9.50s...not really wanting a major lift jus something to help traction but im worried about my 3.73s

 

So what kind of rims do I have to buy to get M/T's ?

I just got off the phone with Firestone again and again they told me that there is nothing they can do for me with my stock rims..

 

with 15x7 stock wheels you COULD put 33x12.5 on. I dont care what firestone says,but I would go with 32x11.5 if it was me. I made 20 bucks when i got my 33x12.5 mounted with just a 3in body. The tire guy said i would rub at full lock and wouldn't shut-up so i said put 20 on it and we will find out.

 

But I would need to get the lift done first, right ?

 

I would lift it first. Its not recommended to put 33x12.5 tires on a 7in wide wheel but you can,people on here have done it. If your dead set on running 12.5in rubber than i would go with a aftermarket 8 or 10in wide wheel. If you plan to keep stockers then go with a 11.5. Some tire companies do make a 33x11.5 tire. If you did not lift it than you would have to do alot of trimming to run a 33 and you would still rub offroad and over hard bumps.