i-beams

i just baught a 87 ford ranger to lay it out enough for a bodydrop do i need lowering i beams? or can i just use the stock ones

Edited: 1/13/2006 6:50:09 AM by Lowlowriderbike

you need dropped i beams get the DJM "dream beams" (round ones) they are suppost to be better, everyone says they are better and they are easier to do a bodydrop becaue you dont have to cut as much,

try using the search next time, there are about 50 pages on this

yeah i looked searched for it but nothing really anwsered my question on weather or not you have to have drop beams or not. cant you just build your own or notch the stock ones?

notching the stock ones doesnt raise the spindle location to help you get closer to the ground. Have you looked at the I beam? good luck building your own and making the spindle bolt up properly. If you can hey go nuts.
Also, the stock I beams are cast, and its stamped right on them..do not heat or weld. So u cant reinforce them if you notch them.
And its the DJM drame beams that are the round ones. Those are what you want. The chassis tech ones are square and will be a pain in the ass from what I've heard.
If you have the know how, put a control arm front clip on it and save yourself the headache of an I beam front end.

what control arms would you recomend?

guys run toyota front clips. just lob the ranger frame off the firewall and attache the yota clip in its place. just make sure its all squared up. You'll have to make motor mounts and custom frame horns to fit the ranger front end, plus adapt the steering. Some guys keep the ranger front clip and just use like an aftermarket mustang 2 control arm setup.
Check out www.rangerpowersports.com too, theres pretty good info over there.

next month we are developing a setup that will slide in over the Ranger frame in place of the stock engine crossmember (the one that holds the beams) and uses control arms. sort of like a Mustang II for minitrucks that will use Toyota spindles.

^^^ that would be sick. i'd hate to wait for it though.

hey michael when do you think you will have that ranger setup done and available

probably by the end of Feb. Im finishing up a bag setup on a fullsize chevy. just finished a Colorado and the chevy only needs the arms mounted, bags installed, tanks installed and its done. just a rolling chassis is all this guys is needing.

The Ranger will be taken apart by my brother and then Ill do the crossmember, then it will be installed and put back together. the arms should be no big deal. Im hoping I can make it use the same tube arms that a Toyota uses.
if not then it will use some one offs that ill make a jig for.

Im super busy on control arms so ill be doing this on saturday and sunday and evenings, plus ill have my brother doing much of the work.

if any of you are familiar with the MustangII setup, you know that it basically slides in over the stock street rod or old car frame and either bolts in or welds in.

the Ranger frame is pretty simple looking after you cut the rivets off the crossmember that holds the beams.

email me if you would like more info on this. builtbybyc@aol.com