So, finally decided to buy another ranger for the donor of my axles instead of my daily. Original plan was to SAS my 2007 extended cab on some 33's, but I found a 1998 single cab with an OHV motor for the right price. It is red, but will probably paint it white because I absolutely hate the color red hahaha and a flat bed is also in the works after I've got the axles underneath it. Currently the engine is being rebuilt by a mechanic my Dad works with, he's pretty legit and I'm confident i'll have a solid powerplant. It is an automatic trans and the electric shifting transfer case, the t-case will be replaced shortly after the axle swaps.Plan is to also bob the frame and build a little flat bed for it, again, this is going to happen after I wheel the **** out of it for a while. As far as fabrication goes, I'm fairly experienced and am very confident in my welds, spent 3 years going to school for welding and fabrication... I am by no means a mechanic though.

Front axle will be a 1977 Bronco 44. I've got an Eaton detroit locker, 4.88 gears and a set of cheap chromoly shafts from Jeff's Bronco Graveyard. Also, bought the complete rebuild kit for the knuckles outward with mile marker hubs from Bronco Graveyard as well. RuffStuff specialties 3/8" steel welded diff cover looks pretty sporty on the axle, I also has a Artec truss for a wagoneer 44 that I plan on making work for my Bronco axle, if I decide to go links this will be a solid point to weld my link tabs to. Still haven't decided on leafs vs links for the front axle yet. Does any one know of a ranger guy using the TrailGear 3-link kit for a tacoma??? I know a guy who knows a guy that works at TG, supposedly he can get me some deals on TG products. Either way I go, it'll be about 4-5" of lift and a lot of fender cutting for 37" tires.

Rear axle will be a 1997 Explorer 8.8. Full spool and the Yukon Super 88 kit which includes c-clip eliminator, chromoly shafts that are drilled for 5x5.5 to match my front axle bolt pattern. RuffStuff cover and a homemade truss that will sit between the spring pads. A set of Chevy 63" springs with the RuffStuff Specialties swap kit for the rear suspension.

Still not sure where I'm headed in terms of braking and steering, obviously I'm going to need the bigger master cylinder with the proportioning valve for my 4 wheel disk brakes. And the plan is to fabricate some sort of hydroassisted high steer. Again, my mechanic working on these components is pretty great, he's built a few different toyota rock crawlers, one of them is a mean *** FJ45 on tons on 40" stickies and the other is an old *****'s (or maybe you'd call it a chevy with a *****'s grill?) on tons, 5.3 swapped and 40's. Currently we are both tag teaming a whorerunner on Chevy half tons on 35's. Anyways... back to rangers....

Tires and wheels are still up for grabs, I'm leaning towards 37x12.50r17 KM2's or Cooper STT Pro's, but it really just depends on what I can find used for now. Would love to go the beadlock route but in California the chippies love to F%$# anyone with modifications to wheels, steering, etc. so we'll see what happens. Just like anything, it only takes time and money... and after the axles and suspension I'll be left with little time and NO money.

I'll be posting pictures as often as I can, but this is a work in progress and I'm taking things slow, one piece at a time.I rarely go on the internet anyways, but I am mostly posting this thread for myself as it will be a great thing to try and stay organized and look back at some day.