Correct. 2.5 X 8" Coilover and 2.5 X 8" triple bypass shock. I'm going to ditch the front hydro bump until I determine that I need it.

 

Looks like you could put the stock bumps back in. Damn im excited to see actual progress on a dbr kit with a bypass

 

yeah me too,its a serious idea I'd consider some day. When you've run this kit hard you can realize a true benefit to the added shock. But first I'm going to mess with my valving some and see what I can squeeze out the current setup.

 

With enough work, you should be able to get your performance pretty close with a single coil over. I have seen and ridden in some single coil over trucks that work extremely well. For me it was an easy choice since we were starting from scratch with the engine cage. With the bypass, we should be able to get the front suspension tuned without having to break the shocks down multiple times. Plus the valving in the coil over (coil carrier) will provide additional bump resistance to support the bypass shock when needed.

 

yeah exactly. I would only think about adding it when I fully cage the front. So while I'm in there I can re-arrange it slightly and add one. It also depends on what I do for a new motor. I'f I stay 302 I can leave it and add on. But if I go bigger and need space i'll have to outboard my shock hoops some how. Its that or I'm going all out and pushing it through the firewall. so I don't have the heads/headers in the way of the shock hoops. That and gain some nice weight distro. As it sits with the 302 in it,I'm not quite sure I could even fit torque monster headers. maybe have to go turbo 302 with custom manifolds :)

Can't wait to see the DBR Taxi tearing it up. I've always thought it'd make a sweet rig,more buddies along for the ride haha. Also seeing your pics reminds me I have to make my heim joint steering rods.

 

Yeah, I can't wait either. Originally I was torn between doing another Ranger, a Sport Trac, or an Explorer. The further along this one gets, the more excited I get about the decision I made to go with an Explorer.

I have been trying to figure out a way to add a tie rod boot to the heim steering setup. Getting dirt and road debris into the rack certainly does not help in the effort to extend the life of this weak point. I need to make some measurements, but a 3rd Generation 4Runner boot looks like it might just fit. A shock boot would be the next option. Let me know if you have any ideas.

 

yeah I'd like to research something for it as well. cause looking at it I did notice that being open to the elements. I can see a shock boot with cv boot straps on each side maybe working. or maybe even safety wire etc. that or some kind of smaller cv boot like you mentioned.

 

I saw shock boots made for sprint cars that would work great for the inner heim steering on the ranger. Now just need to find them :|

 

Hey quasi did you have any clearance issues with the kings and the lower spring retainer?

 

No problems at all, but I was running the raised coil seat. With this build I am ditching the Kings and am running ADS shocks.

 

those bypass shocks you had in the rear of your ranger were ADS too right? If I remember right anyways.

 

You have a good memory. Now I will be ADS all the way around except for a pair of King bump stops that I am going to retain. ADS makes a great shock and they are local to me.

 

are their bumps any good? I want to get a pair for my rear setup. And I'll be looking for going bypass out back and new coilovers up front some day. So I'm always game for a company thats out of the big 3 and has a really good product. how do their prices compare?

 

I have not run their bumps but have heard good things about them. If I didn't already have the Kings I would run ADS bumps. The ADS shocks compare to the King race series, but their prices are closer to the King pre-runner line. Let me know when you are ready and I can PM you contact info for ADS.

 

yeah that'd be great, thanks

 

Took the Ranger on it's final journey today.











R.I.P. - On to bigger and better!

 

haha, yeah it's kinda one of those awww poor lil guy moments. Always reminds of the junkyard scene in brave little toaster bahaha..

those fenders crap or something?

 

Yeah, driver side was torn up from the collision and both sides were warped pretty good from sitting on a tweaked truck for 2.5 years in the AZ sun.

 

yeah no doubt, doesnt look so bad in the pics. Any new work on the exploder?

 

Hoping to have some picture worthy progress by Wednesday. Trying to bring the cage though the firewall has proven to be a major challenge. Since I am trying to keep the wipers, AC and heater, and stock dash as well as maintain the ability to remove parts off of the engine - there is not much room left for tubes.

 

Here are a couple of progress pictures:

Leaf spring/axle at 1/4" from full bump (upper shock mount is not installed yet):



Start of the cage (rusty, small diameter spreader bar is not part of the cage):



Dash mocked up with cage:



We won't be winning any awards with this build for tightest cage, but we are keeping the stock dash (removable) with functional heater, ac, window wipers, etc. The only thing that we have had to delete is the AC blend door actuator. The cage is also set up so that we can keep and recover the headliner. Due to limited space behind the dash, we have decided to not run the window "V" bars at this time.

Our goal is to have the main structure of the cage complete by the end of this week, including the rear shock mounts. The Explorer should be sitting on 4 wheels by early next week!

 

That's looking good. Planning to do an "X" behind the front seats?

 

looking great! makes me wanna get started on my full cage,but gotta get into my house first. Gotta love how ranger dashes etc already have the spots for tube to pass through haha

 

Rear shocks mocked up. 18" travel:



Start of rear shock mount:



Cage progress (excuse the temporary, rusty spreader bar):





Full droop exterior shot (rear doors ready for fiberglass):

 

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