Thinking about putting in a BL in the spring. How hard is it to install? what tools/machines or w/e are needed in the install and about how long does it take?
My truck is the daily driver and i was just wondering how long it will take and how hard it will be to install.

Thanks

 

A torch will help a LOT getting old body lift mounts off. Other than that, normal tools. The install instructions has a list of tools, and I know I've seen instructions online somewhere. The sport trac required a sawzall for stuff, but I don't recall that for the ranger.
I took 2 days to install the sport trac body lift with a friend, but were missing some tools, didn't have a torch at first, and were moving pretty slow really. You and a friend should easily be able to get it done in a weekend with the right tools and good workspace.
If you have a lot of rust plan for extra time. Remember to start spraying bolts with pb blaster or something a week ahead of time, a few times, and get a torch to heat the body bolts up.

 

PB Blaster (penetrating lube), you need to put it on the bottom of the bolts a few days before you do the lift. A good ratchet and socket set, having an impact is nice. a cheater pipe, locktite, LOTS OF METRIC WRENCHES AND SOCKETS (we didnt find one standard bolt on the truck). Thats about it and i did mine with my bro-in-law in about 13 hours and we were watching two little boys. So take a weekend off and get-r-dun.

 

Here's what I used, PB Blaster, torch, 600 ft-lb impact, breaker bar, 19 socket and deep socket, the deep socket comes in handy doing the bumpers. And then a grinder to get more core support bolts out cause they were rusted to the bushings.

 

i am also doing this in the next few months but will be doing it by myself
do you guys think i could start on friday afternoon and then finish by saturday
im pretty good with tools and such and have every thing but is there any thing that i would need two people for lifting the bed, bumpers etc.???

 

when i did mine it took me a little over a day. when u do it, plan to take a couple days off just to make sure. the only power tool i used was a drill with a 1/2 drill attachment. i dont really remember what i used that drill for but yeah. no impact wrenchs or anything like that. all hand tools. if i had power tools it wouldve been a lot faster. difficulty wise, its fairly easy. just follow the instructions.

 

Yeah you can do that, the bed is the easiest so I would start there. Thats what I did, I did my bed friday night and the cab sunday. And the finished the rest up over the next couple days lol

It is a easy thing to do overall though.

 

sweet thanks guys as soon as these tires are gone im gettin the bl and 33s
sorry to thread jack but has anyone ever used the summit kit
id like to save some money if it is very similar to the PA kit

 

yes thats exactly the one that i used. saved a few bucks and it has the same parts as the PA kit.

 

Thanks for the info. I am also waiting on my tires to wear down but im probably buying the BL either today or tomorrow and just have it sit for a while

also, should i get adjustable shackles or can i just leave mine on

 

You can just leave yours on, it'll be fine.

 

also little note on top of everyone else. 98-00 if you have the stock bumper with fogs you will need to "grind" or "sawall" the front frame supports for clearness for the fog light housings it shows you in the instructions...


***this is not needed on 01+ trucks***

 

^He doesn't know what he's talking about. This guy drives a 1987 Honda Civic with spinner hub caps.

-don't listen to me.

 

ah John your back i missed you ****** LOL...

 

haha 91 civ is where its at

 

kay,dumb question time.

What's the advantage of doing a body lift if you have no suspension work or just a very basic lift like torsions and shackles?

 

Fit bigger tires.

 

thats quite a good advantage lol.

 

Yep, the bigger tires then in turn give you more ground clearance and you get more room to flex.

 

Makes sense to me. All this lifting and 4 wheel drive stuff is all new to me as all I've done before or been around is lowered, airbagged and juiced trucks.

 

My truck had 15 and 18 mm sockets. No 19 mm on my 99. Have a good impact gun or a strong arm with a breaker bar. I used PB blaster on my bolts. There is like a T55 socket that you need for the bed bolts. We bought the air impact kind to make it easy. Overall, the bolts were easy to come out except for the front two where I had to use the breaker bar. I have a big impact to and it was just not moving on the front bolts. Be careful with the front ones because they were starting to wear down on the front and close to snapping.

 

Two guys and a 30 pack of Miller Lite. Start at 7pm Friday night be done well before the sun comes up Saturday morning. Tools include but not limited to: impact socket set, grinder, breaker bar, impact gun, floor jack with about a 6" or so long 4x4, and a can of P.B. Blaster.

Just some advice run down to the local hardware store after you get your b/l and get some lock nuts and washers for the bolts they give you. Them cheap **** things (I forget the name) Ford uses to hold the stock bolts in will more than likely strip out on you. If not than you return the lock nuts and washers. This is kinda like plan B. incase plan A. don't work out for you.


***************************IMPORTANT************** **************************************

When done check all clearances on houses and wires under the hood!!!

Double check the E break cable under the truck.

 

Me and my dad didnt know what in the world we were doing when we did my body lift. Just do a little research and performance accessories supplies really good directions so use them. It was not that hard at all just time consuming with all of the little things that you have to do. Over all it turned out great and im running 33's. For the price you cant beat it.

Advantages: run bigger tires which increases ground clearance, the lift is cheap which means u can spend more on better tires and some nice wheels to boot

Disadvantages: gaps btw the frame and bed so get gap guards or make some, you can see more of the frame but step bars help hide that, ride comfort is about the same as stock

 

Same here^ might have my dad help me for a bit, I have the tools although I don't have an impact, and I asked for a breaker bar for christmas. I'll just take the weekend off and do it!

 

Dont forget to have a BFH on stand-by