This will be the thread that I will update with my Suspension Instal Progress instead of making new ones everyday. So lets get started.

All photos have been resized to 800x600 for easy viewing.

To start here are the basics. I have a 99' 4x4 Ranger. The kit I am installing is the Long Travel Suspension from DixonBrosRacing (www.dixonbrosracing.com).

I started the install on Monday, 5-16-05, and am now two days into the install. So onto the pics!

Day 1

The Begining. The truck got my Mustangs parking spot in the back to be worked on.



Bumper off, for easyer access. This was the first problem, I bent the plate/bolts holding it on and had to use the Sawzall.



Pretty simple, tires off.



Second problem, when I bent my crossmember I also bent the Torsion bar adjuster bolts above the plate making it impossible to get off.



Day 2

Passanger side Spindle/Axle assembly off.



A BIG thankyou to Gil and Aaron on the tips to get the Torsions off without taking the adjusters off.



Passanger Side suspension off.



Again, havent moved to the other side yet.



Workin' on the driver side.



Upper Ball Joint off, working on lower. I used a pickle fork because I am not reusing the ball joints and after 6 years they were pretty well on there.



Spindle/Axle out.



Look Ma' no suspension!



Again.



Started cleaning the frame up with a "flapper disk" and my grinder to get ready to weld the shock hoops in after the stock mount is removed.



Ended the night on this.



That is all for days 1 and 2. More to come tomorrow!

Before anybody asks, no the jack is NOT supporting the truck, it is on the stands. The jack is there just incase and has no weight on it.

 

awsome, cant wait to see it when its all done!

are you using your flux cored hobart to weld it on?

 

Very Nice Progress. Keep them coming, done good so far.

 

Yes I am going to use the hobart, but I have gas and solid wire for it. I feel confident in my skills and in its ability.

 

cool, i wouldnt trust any skill and a flux cored mig on that.

also, what are you doing for steering?

 

he isnt, its now coil overs

 

Yea, torsions are not going back on, or did you want to know what came off?

 

dang, it looks relaly awesome. Can't wait!

 

very nice :) its coming along

cant wait to see the finished product

 

Very Nice!! I Want One Too!!

 

Update

Day 2

Today was a day of lots of grinding and cutting.

I started at 11am since I had the day off work and no finals and ended at 9pm.

Before shot. I needed to cut and grind off the stock shock mounts.



My trusty Sawzall got a lot of use today.



After many hours of grinding and using the flapper disk this is the result, a beutifly clean frame.





I then mached up the engine hoop with the shock hoops.



Shock hoop. Primed and painted ~75% so it would be easyer once on.



Finished the night by tach welding all the parts into place and fully welding one Gusset in, only 7 more gussets to go and the hoops.





More to come tomorrow!

PS I still have to take a photo of the arms powder coated, but they are the same color as the engine hoop, Metalic Silver.

 

Very Nice... Well done.

 

oh it looks so pretty :)

your moving along.

 

It looks so good I almost want to break out the Mothers polish and shine it up some more lol...

 

Wow thats some good progress. Keep the updates coming!!!!

 

UPDATE

Day 4

Not much to say today, but it was a BIG day.

I got ALL the welding completed. Along with that I bolted on the Engine Hoop and primed all the bare metal that was left. Onto the photos!

 

it was looking great when i saw it the other day, i can't wait to see it again

 

D, They are "B" bars, so yea.. if you want em' their yours just figure out how to get them to ya.

 

i wanna see some more progress!!!

 

Since these sites been down, heres the updates.

UPDATE

Day 5

Took the day off basicly. I put the lowers, coilovers, and bumps on to make sure that everything is right. Then put the final coat of paint on to dry over the weekend.











UPDATE

Day's 6 and 7

Well I had been working so hard on the truck, I decided to take a break, so no more progress happened this weekend except paint drying. But the axles should be in tomorrow and I can get this wraped up.

Here is what I did this weekend instead :D

Went to The River, Parker Arizona.


(thats me if you ever wondered what I look like.. )

 

looks like everything is coming along well!

 

Where in Parker did you stay Jason. Our house is in the Keyes...

 

We took my buddies toy hauler and stayed at Buckskin..