new to forums, many questions!
 

hello all!!!


alright well i love my ranger and have been doing eveything i can to upgrade the danger ranger. i have an 02 2.3 2x4 ranger. i have put the ranger edge hood on it, and edge wheels, and 15% tint. i want to lift it up though and put some bigger tires.so..
1. whats the best/cheapest way to lift?
2. what size tires can i go with for different kinds of lifts?
3. what size tires can my danger ranger spin?
finally 4. is putting a locking rear differential worth doing?

1. Body lift (by itself); or spindle lift with blocks and/or add-a-leaf in the rear.

2. Figure 33's at the most. You're starting pretty far down with a base 4x2 instead of an Edge. Might have to settle for 32's -- but others can tell you for sure who have done it. Do a suspension and body lift and you might go higher. Pay attention to #3 below though: bigger tires really call for gearing change.

3. If you're willing to change your rear gearing, just about anything. However, even 31's will slow your 2.3 down. I put 31's on my daughters '98 2.5 liter and it's definitely slower in acceleration than it was with 28's or whatever was stock.

4. Yes, if you're going to offroad. My avatar looks like a capable 4x4, but actually it's a work in progress. I've been wheeling a 4x2 for years and for the last 2 years with a rear locker (Auburn ECTED). Sometimes folks I wheel with forget it's a 4x2 -- but it's no substitute for 4WD. Still, I've had a lot of fun and learned to drive it and got through a lot folks didn't think it could.

However, automatic lockers have issues if you like to throw your vehicle through turns under throttle. I suggest you save up for some kind of selectable locker if you're serious about wheeling a daily driver (as I am). It's worth it in the long run to preserve your street handling in my opinion.

what gears would be my best bet in the rear? and i can put them in my self (work at a body shop many mechanics) but how much would the gears set me back?

Gear size depends on tire size and desired characteristics. Pick a tire size and we go from there.

well my plan is looking like i want to do some blocks in the rear, and coil spacers in the front (hopefully 3 inches?) then 3 inch body so maybe 33's?

if you have a 7.5 rear end then gear selection is low with 4.10s, 4.56s...if you have a 8.8 then 4.30s come into playand those are good gears...esp with 33s or higher

he's got a 7.5.......go to a junkyard and pick up an 8.8 w/ 4.10 gears.....they'd work great for 31x1050s.

so would that work? spacers in the front coils, then blocks in the back?

coil spacers will give just wnough lift to level it out and if you raise the rear it will be unlevel again so lift coils and aal

aal?

Add A Leaf.....Like it says,your adding a additional leaf spring to your leaf pack to get more lift.