Hey everyone,

I felt like writing and diagramming today so I started a multi-part writeup on lifting Rangers. Here's part 1, outlining the options considered:

The Ranger Owner’s Guide To Getting A Lift | Pierre Séguin

I'd love to get the members' feedback on this.

Thanks!

 

Good little write-up. Interested to see the actual how-to section.

 

Thanks, ME00Stepside! I'm working on the rest. Just posted Part 2, which is all about preparing for the Superlift install.
Ranger Lift Chapter 2: The Superlift K358 Kit | Pierre Séguin

Part 3 will be the Superlift How-To (mostly referring to the manual but with caveats and gotchas highlighted, as well my photos and links to the better install threads for more photos)

Part 4 will be a quick post about tires, rims, speedometers and gearing

Part 5 will be the complete coilover how-to

Part 6 will be the complete Skyjacker spring how-to

Any suggestions are welcome.

Cheers,
P

 

Awesome write up I skimmed it but will give it a more thorough read tonight. Keep it coming and let us know if you need other pictures or info.

 

Really good write up. send me your grille

 

thats a nice write up, im thinking about the IFS lift and coilover setup

 

Thanks, all! More to come tomorrow.

@ JD M: Looks like we already have the same grille!

 

Chapter 3 is posted! I decided to do a brain dump on wheels and tires, since it logically comes right after the lift itself.

Ranger Lift: Wheels and Tires | Pierre Séguin

More to come!

 

my avatar is old lol I don't have that one anymore.


I'll check out the new chapter once I'm back home

 

Awesome write-up. What is the difference in the leaf springs? Im putting on fr36s next weekend with my lift.

 

Great write up man!

 

Thanks guys! I'm going to work on it some more today but I've got other stuff going on so I'll probably post Chapter 4 tomorrow.

@ Blacktruckbrown: using the Superlift shocks and no blocks, I didn't notice much of a difference in ride. Maybe the tiniest bit stiffer but barely noticeable. Going around corners, the body roll feels a bit different. It's not rolling more than before, but it's like the axis changed a bit. Nothing too noticeable, just a very slight change in the feel.

 

Same bolt sizes to mount them? A forum member has reported having different sized bolt holes. From my measurements on my 2003 the holes are 1/2 inch as they are my the fr36s.

 

@ Blacktruckbrown

The front bolts on the newer Ranger are a size larger than the rears, so they don't fit the FR36s. Check out this older post of mine, which I'm using as the basis of this writeup I'm working on.

https://www.ranger-forums.com/suspen...n-done-139723/

This will be included in Chapter 5, which I plan to post tomorrow.

 

Chapter 4 posted!
Ranger Lift Chapter 4: Coilover Conversion Overview and Planning | Pierre Séguin

This chapter covers all the prep work needed for the coilovers (assuming you've got a Superlift).

 

Thank you. I recall reading that thread. I have a 2003 Ranger, does that year apply to being a newer ranger? Were you bolts noticeably different in size? I took a rough measurement using a caliper on the end of both leaf bolts and got 1/2" inch.

 

The FR36S application list goes up to 1997, so my unconfirmed assumption is that any model year after that would use the larger front bolts. (Otherwise, there's no reason for Skyjacker to not expand their application list and sell more springs, right?)

My stock front bolts were noticeably larger than the rears. Unfortunately, I wasn't working from measurements - the guy at the spring shop was grabbing spare bolts out of the bin til we found one that fit the Skyjacker's sleeve.

If anyone else has done this, it would be great to get better info on this because I want to include it in my how-to guide!

Worst case, I'll have to pull a bolt and measure it properly at the fastener store. I'd do this today, but I'm halfway across the country from my truck for the next week. :-(

 

Blacktruckbrown, did you see this? Could be useful:
https://www.ranger-forums.com/suspen...needed-108637/

 

I had not seen that writeup before. Thank you. Ill be tearing into my truck next weekend and ill post what I find so you have it for your writeup and to be useful to other members.
Thanks for your help

 

Chapter 5 Posted! Leaf Springs:
Ranger Lift Chapter 5: Leaf Spring Swap Overview & Prep | Pierre Séguin

 

Here's the leaf spring install writeup:

Ranger Lift Chapter 6: Replacing the Leaf Springs | Pierre Séguin

I'd appreciate any feedback you guys have to make sure this is as accurate as possible. Also, any photos you'd be willing to have me include would be great, too, as I didn't take many pics during my own install.

Thanks!

 

Ranger Lift Chapter 7: Installing the Superlift and Coilovers | Pierre Séguin

I've got the last chapter posted. It could use a bunch more diagrams and photos, but I will add these later. I've also posted the full shopping list on a single page.

Ranger Lift Appendix: Full Shopping List & Budget | Pierre Séguin

With your feedback, I hope to make this as accurate and helpful as possible.

Cheers,
P

 

Hanger Bolt Size Info:
1983-1997 Ford Rangers Use M14-2X110mm (120 & 140 Will work too with a few washers)
1998 and up I have no clue yet what size they are until I remove them but it doesn't matter anyway.
Metric Bolts this size are hard to find. I bought mine at Viking Bolt in Tigard, OR.
I recommend buying them from McMaster-Carr.com

Some have opted to just torque them down, and have reported no problems. If you worried about it do as stated before and weld the washers together and to the hanger so the bolt doesn't have any play available.

More info as I get it...