Hey everyone! I have been on the site since December of 2007 but for those of you who dont know what I drive its a 1999 Ford Ranger XLT 2wd Green in color and completely stock. For about a year now I have been considering lifting the truck but figured it was to old and not worth doing. Back when I thought that I had probably around 92,000 miles on the truck now I am almost at 105,000.

You guys are probably thinking what changed my mind right? Well I took the truck over to Toreader4x4's (Justin) and he decided to bring out the jacks and show me how the truck would look lifted. Pretty much sold me there and that night went and bought the Summit Body Lift kit. Not only am I lifting the truck for looks I also want to learn more about working on trucks and with the great guys on the site that live around here now is my chance to do that !


Now lets get to whats going to happen. Here is my game plan. (The order of things to do is what I want to do first - Things may change)

1. Tune up- First of all before I get lifted Justin is going to help me change out spark plugs, do a radiator flush and everything else done in a tuneup.

2. Body Lift- Sitting next to me in my room: This means we will be having a MI body lift soon!

3. New Rear Axle - Im getting a new rear axle that will be a 8.8 with 4.10 gears with L/S

4. Spindle Lift with add a leaf in the back.

5. Tires and rims. 33's for sure but I dont know what brand or rims I want yet.

6. New exhaust

7. Clean up that annoying rust!


If everything goes according to plan I hope to be done with everything by early to mid July. A lot of it is going to depend on when and where the MI guys can help. The latest I would want to keep working on everything would be early September. I hope to get everything done before our terrible winter comes back hahaha .

Hopefully I can get the tune up done by the end of this month and then the body lift on by the end of next month. In that time frame I will be aggressively looking for a good new rear axle (if anyone finds one or knows of someone selling close to Detroit PM me). Then we will install the rear axle by mid or end June and get onto installing the spindles and add a leaf.

Well see ill keep my fingers crossed and hope this project turns out in time. No biggie if it doesnt because after all it is a work in progress. I will be running slightly larger stock tires with the BL for a little and maybe even with the spindle lift.


Here is somewhat recent pictures of my truck stock so you guys can see what im working with:





Here is the rust im going to work on getting rid of once im out of school:

This is my passenger door at the bottom.





This is the bottom of my tailgate: (starting to show from backside)






That is pretty much it for right now. Like I said I hope to have this done by summer at latest but with being a college student and having tight finances that may be tough because im going try and wait for deals as long as possible. Im thankful and upmost grateful I have Justin and most likely all the other Michigan guys who are willing to help me out.) Cant buy enough Bates to express my gratitude !!!!!!



Comments and suggestions are welcome guys. I will post pictures as they come with work done. Hopefully you guys keep on eye on this im interested to see what you guys think.

 

Spray on some rustoleom then spray on bedliner make it two tone.

 

looks like a nice lil to do list

 

I think I may do something along those lines.

 

Ya its going to be fun (rolling up sleeves)

 

Good luck man! I have a 95 ranger XLT and i have some nasty rust starting on both the drivers side and passenger side of my extended cab. (its worse on the drivers side)

I know it bugs the crap outa me.

Best of luck with your truck!

 

Things have been moving slow with the project but we are picking up steam. Thanks to Justin for all the help on Monday to get the tune up done. We (he lol) changed the plugs (Autolite Double Platinum) , wires, pcv valve, fuel filter, belt, radiator fluid, oil and then cleaned out the engine real nice.

When I find my camera cord I will post a couple pictures of the day. We are striving for Monday to do the body lift so hopefully soon we can get it on.

 

nice get some pics when done.. now hurry

 

New bromance in the making?

 

Well today was the day!!!!! :-) Items 1-5 with the exception of 3 have been checked off.

First of all I would like to extend a very generous thank you to Zach (Redneckstone) and Tyler (0RangerEdge2). Without them my truck would be sitting stock still so I appreciate all the help with the lift. I want to give an even bigger thank you to Justin (Toreador4x4). If it wasnt for Justin lending his garage, parts and knowledge I would not have even taken the step to mod my Ranger. You always lend a hand when I need it for the truck and that means a lot. It helps having someone who takes pride in their work to learn from. I honestly can not thank you enough!!!!! You have been A HUGE help!


To get started I must say from the get go that we completed the body lift in less than 3 HOURS! Everything went in and out smoothly and there were no major snag ups (Thank God). Just before the body lift was done we looked at the rear axle 8.8 4.10 L/s axle I got. Unfourtanently the pinion was jacked so I have to get all new gears. Something had to go not according to plan right? haha We are just going to have to wait a few days while we order a set of 4.56's instead. Once the body lift was done Tyler and I went to pick up parts from the auto store while Justin and Zach installed the rear blocks and front spindles. Front spindles were done in less that 20 minutes! Once back from the auto store we replaced both front and rear shocks, front brake pads & rotors and wheel bearings. Talk about a busy and.......expensive day lol.

I will try and let the pictures explain everything!

Stone starting out the process shortly after 9:05 am by removing the bedliner:



Zach and Justin removing the hitch:



Now thats teamworK! :





Hard at work:


Harder at work:


Even harder at work:


I dont know what Justin is planning on doing to Stone........ahah




Great Success!:


Damnit his axle is @$#^ed





This..........


Led to this.............

ill let Zach explain the story behind that lol



These tools helped out a great deal:







Halfway there:








Peeling away the carpet:


MMMMM new front brakes:



Why my truck is getting an alignment tomorrow:


They decided to play a joke and initiate me into the BL club ahahah



Random shots!


Santa looks a little different during the summer:







Prepare yourself for this next picture









Seriously.........






No joke.







Send kids out of the room.





Warned you.

Group shots:

First to last:
David, Mine, Justin, Tyler, Justins Dad.







Before:


After:




Now all we have to do next is:
1. Lift the back bumper after the hitch gets re welded on.
2. Get an alignment which Justin is doing today.
3. Put on the tires
4. Get new gears and swap axles
5. Everything else that comes with owning a truck! lol





That That That Thatssss all folkssssss

 

good job, must be nice to have people close to you that are willing to help and have the knoledge!

so what kid of tire are you going to go with?

 

After alignment, tires and gap guards, right before Greg came to get it

 

nice!

 

much better... didnt i just see this truck again LOL

 

looks great. are those freddies old wheels?

 

ya

 

Must have better finished pictures! lol. It was a fun project. That axle is screwed though....I don't even want to see it again unless I'm stealing the trac-lok from it.

 

Tyler you keep talking about stealing the trac-lok...


Keep dreaming ahahah


I feel like a kid on Christmas right now I honestly love it! :-)


Tomorrow I am going to clean it up really nice and possibly put my tonnaue cover on

 

gregs currently rubberizing his interior before he takes any pics

 

Looks sick! Glad to see my wheels on 3 different color trucks lmao looks awesome man, get more pics up!

 

nice work justin, and you get to play santa after all! truck looks sweet

 

Looks good

 

Looks really nice! We need some more pictures!

 

looks great. that sucks about the rust on the truck. i would go crazy if i found any rust on my truck. so thats what 6 inches of lift and 33s? more pics!

 

what rust... ? the usual any vehicle thats seen salt rust...

lol you poor southern boys dont know how good you have it