Well, I gave the Bronco to my wife so now I need to build a trail rig for myself. I had originally started building this vehicle as a tough truck to beat the crap out of but now I really want something with some real off-road capability.

This truck was rotting away in the weeds out behind my dad's shop due to being abandoned by a customer. After 7 years, I decided to take ownership of it.

Vehicle
1984 Ford Ranger Single, Cab Short Bed
Monster 2.0L 4 cyl, Manual Trans, 2wd

Plans
302 V8
NP435 if I can find one
np205
3 linked Dana 44 out front
4 linked 9" out back
Air Shocks
37s

The truck


Disassembly Begins




Parts Pile Begins
The axle in the middle is the 9" that will be used. Out of a 77 F-150.

77 F-150 Dana 44


Fred

 

nice, cant wait to see this. i am in need of a good build thread.

 

I'll be watching this thread. Good luck with the build man!

 

Sweet! I want a stove in my garage too!

 

LOL Powder coating

 

Cant wait to see how this project goes!

 

We were slammed with cars at the shop so there really wasn't any room to squeeze the Ranger in, so it will sit outside until there is a path to move it.


Once I get it in, it will rest in this space so I decided to outline the build. LOL



The front will be a 3 link suspension so the axle wedges have to go to make room for the link brackets.





These are the brackets and heims to be used. I may go with a 5-10 degree offset (angle) on the lower links since the axle is much wider than the Ranger frame. These are from Ballistic Fab.



More tomorrow.

Fred

 

Haha I can almost see it. Looks good!

 

Man, Where do you find the time! i would love to have a shop to get to do all this stuff.
my current hobby is just buying and selling beaters, i would love to actually SAS a truck and run the hell out of it.

 

I'm actually a teacher so during the summer I have a good amount of time to work on projects like this. It doesn't help that I have way too many projects going on all at once but I get to get a little bit of work in on each them.

 

Took down the wedges on the other end of the axle today.


Some spray paint to prevent rusting.


Then removed the hubs, spindles, and got started with the knuckles until I realized I need another special tool (bought the spindle nut socket today, now I need the balljoint adjusting tool :bang:)



Fred

 

You use an angle grinder or just sand the axles down to get them clean?

 

subscribing

 

Awesome! Will be following

 

Damn you. Looks like your going to get yours done a lot faster than mine. You and i are doing the exact same build lol.

 

I like this build a lot.

 

I use an angle fringed fitted with a wire wheel to get it cleans and used a very mild flapper disk/wheel on the spots where there was pitting or stubborn spots.

Cool man, we can share info and tips.

 

Wirelessly posted (Droid2)

Subscribed, I love the first gen Rangers.

 

wow nice start !

looks like its gona be a beast!

 

Thanks for the positive comments. After working on the Bronco for 4 weeks straight from sun up to sundown and on my Mustang project for the last 7 years, I thought I was getting a little project'd out. But I'm really anxious to build this one.

Well, the shop has been slammed and undergoing some much needed changes so I still haven't had time to pull this thing in. In the mean time, I;ve been hacking away at the axles.

Decided to get started on the 9" tear down. Pulled the 3rd member and started cleaning it up.



Won't need these anymore.




Now to clean this thing up.


I have been running alot of number, measurements, and set-ups through the 3 link calculator and it looks like I finally came up with something I'm happy with. Once the frame is in with the axles under it I can see how feasible this will be. If anyone sees anything wrong with my design please feel free to chime in.


Fred

 

shinny! then is this proyects time!

 

You need to get off the internet and get to work on yours.

 

Yeah yeah yeah. I'm waiting on materialshould have been here already

 

Progress still very slow until I can order parts.

Removed the leaf spring perches from the 9.


Dropped some Ford Red on the D44 cover. I will upgrade to a Ruff Stuff cover down the road but for now this will have to do. I know, it looks pink in the picture.



Picking up a NP435 tomorrow.

Fred

EDIT: Also looking to do a 3 link wishbone in the rear now instead of the 4 link.

 

This makes me want a beater rig lol builds coming along great tho