So im staring this a little late but i bought a 1997 ford ranger extended cab 4x4 4.0 in september of 2014 and I've been collecting parts for it ever since.

 

This is what it looked like in september when i bought it for $800. A month later I bought the James duff stage 3 5.5-6 inch lift kit, 3 inch body lift, a cb radio and a fabtech spare tire carrier. I also bought pacesetter headers and a summit cat back exhaust.
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I haven't had time to work on it until a couple weeks ago because of school but I finally started on the motor. I pulled it apart and found out I had two cracked heads. Everything was surprisingly clean when i took it apart. I got new ones and changed the gaskets. I also bought new lifters and put them in while it was apart. One of the push rods had fallen out of place I also installed the headers and sanded and painted the valve covers blue. I did spray the front end with plasti dip as a test.
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In between all of this I started the suspension. I removed the tans cross member and installed the drop brackets for the radius arms. I don't know if this is common but i had to loosen a lot of the bolts on the chassis and spread it to make the crossmember fit. The chassis rails are straight and so are the drop brackets.
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And since nothing can go easy. Last week around 3 am the lift ripped out of the ground crushing a mustang and a snowblower that was underneath it and put a nice dent in the garage door. Broke a turning signal light cover and some new dents that will buff out. The lift had been there for 10 years and lifted many cars. The truck might have just been off balanced.
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Next step is to finish lifting the front, replacing one front spring hanger and lifting the rear, and then the body lift. I still have to order gears and tires. Im going with 4.88s and maybe powertrax no slips or lock right lockers. And maybe 36 tsl radials, 35/37 mtrs, or 35x13.5 toyo mt.

 

Dude.. wtf with the lift. I was looking through.. thinking.. this is great.. he has his own lift.. then bam.. noooooooo.. haha.

Keep up the good work.

 

Is that electrical tape on the headlights?

 

Just glad u weren't under the truck when the lift malfunctioned. And that no one was hurt

 

Yea its electrical tape. My friend thought it was funny to give it angry eyes.

 

Got most of the motor done today. Few things tomorrow and hopefully it will run.

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Finally got some work done on the suspension. Got the rear lifted and started the front.
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Today i noticed one of the caps was crushed on the drivers side u joint. time to get some spicer 5-760 u joints and tac weld the caps.

 

some parts showed up today. Warn manual hubs from jeep dana 35 ff (part #37780). I also got spindle nuts to convert to manual hubs (part #28068x). You have to get two of them. They are the same as the kit warn sells but are cheaper. I also got spicer 5-760x u joints.

 

Got the front lifted today. Was a pain in the neck with the drop brackets but its finally sitting on all fours. just have to install the shocks tomorrow.

 

 

Hopefully i will start the body lift soon and order gears and lockers. Still trying to decide what color to paint the truck.

 

shocks are in place. Still have to mount the shock mount bracket. No holes line up so i guess i have to drill new ones.

 

Need James duff traction bars? I have a set I don't see me installing. One bushing is jacked but a new pair from JD is $20.

 

Nice work man. Looks good

 

Thanks!

 

Ordered 35x12.5x15 goodyear mtr kevlars with pro comp street lock 15x8 tonight. Was gonna go with the 36 tsl radials but id rather stick with the 35s with lockers front and rear. Anyone have any opinions on lockers for the 28 spline 8.8 or dana 35 ttb. Ill probably end up with powertrax lock rights but i can't tell the difference between the no slip and lock right. is there any strength difference. I just know the no slip is quieter.

 

Got the pitman arm on today. Was a pain in the neck and took 4 hours of heating it, banging it with a hammer, cutting the sides, and using a pitman arm puller. I also got the steering stabilizer on. just have to weld the bracket to the engine cross member. I also removed the fender flairs and Im trying to decide if i should cut the fenders a little and open them up or just by a new front fender to get rid of the rust spot.
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So I just got a call from tire package saying that the goodyear mts have been on backorder for a while so i need to pick out new tires. I am thinking about 35x12.5x15 pibull rockers, 36x12.5 tsl radials, 35 toys, or 35x12.5x16 trxus mt. I want to be able to run the power trax lock rights front and rear without breaking all the time. I need help if anyone has run these tires or knows who has these tires and how they help up and how the axles held up with them. Or otter tire ideas.

 

I'd go with 35x12.5 toyo mt's. If you don't want your drive train breaking, don't beat the **** out of it haha. You can easily wheel without breaking stuff if you're smart about it.