98+ Ranger Stockfloor BD Question

I know that I have to Z the front of my 99 Ranger to make it lay flat on the frame, because of the engine crossmember. But how would that be done if I was going to stockfloor it also? Should I Z the frame first, then stockfloor it, or try to somehow work the Z into the stockfloor when I slip the new frame into the front clip?

I'm seriously thinking about doing a stockfloor this fall, but I'm trying to think a lot of it out now so I won't have a ton of questions later.

if u are gonna stock floor it u might as well get rid of the ford front suspension entirely but if u did want to save it just put the front clip as high off the ground as u want it and weld the frame to it. ...i wouldnt really call it a z anymore because it is apart of the frame as a whole but the concept of raisng the front suspension and engine crossmember are the same..i am personally just using a toy front suspension clip and box tube for the rest and actually keeping the toy front fram clip a lil off the ground so that i can keep all stock suspension and lay 20s with no camber..

Z it first, then work the amount of BD into the front core support mounts when you go to lower them

ok so after I Z it and BD it, am I lowering the mounts as much as the bodydrop PLUS the Z?

yeah, your goal is to get it to lay completely first then do the body drop

Gotcha....so after I do the Z, should I brace it all up with plate, or leave the bracing alone until I do the bodydrop? I just don't want to do something and then have to cut it off, ya know?

Also, just to be clear...if I Z the frame 2" and do a 3.75" BD, then the front mounts get lowered 5.75" and my motor goes up towards the hood 5.75"?

Sorry for all of the questions...I just never really contemplated a bodydrop on this truck until recently.

chris, check out clenzer72's profile. They did a good job at working the new frame into the huge front clip. looks like they sat the front clip on the ground on the crossmember and then tied into it with the new frame. I wouldn't really call it a Z either, it's just attaching the new frame at a low point. But front frame horn wise I think that you might be correct with the combining of the Z and the bd.

Yeah, I was just thinking....

Level the floor as good as possible.

Cut the front clip off and stabilize it so it won't go anywhere.

Build the new frame and make it kick upward after the firewall to meet with the front clip.

Sounds about right?

yeah that's what i was getting at. doug's (clenzer's) profile doesn't have his pics. I'll see if i can find them for you.

here's his profile before the bd.
http://www.streetsourcemag.com/Profile.aspx?Profileid=20838

he's over on RPS too

Edited: 5/2/2006 12:35:07 PM by butter428

I found a few pics but it's not letting me link them.