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Ford Trucks \  Layin out a 98 ranger....

Layin out a 98 ranger....

Ford Trucks Make Specific
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replies 17
following 7
 
974door   +1y
What's involved? Mainly the front.
msturg   +1y
To just lay engine crossmember you need to relocate battery, fluids, pull the wheel wells of course. DJM arms are probably your best bet to use still, moog ball joints. Notch for tie rods. Will need to cut spring pocket out to fit especially if you go with something like the RE7.

Depending on wheel and tire you are running you might need to pull or notch the AC. The last thing I can thing of is camber/castor bolts to help with the camber

If you want a lot of pics and details best bet is to search on rangerpowersports.com Also check out Brian at IllusiveFabrications.com, he knows plenty about the rangers and sells everything you would need.


974door   +1y
Thanks bro.
974door   +1y
So the engine crossmember hangs down? Ho much of a "z" does it need? Any aftermarket crossmembers?
msturg   +1y
Well 2 things, if it's an extended cab it isn't going to be nearly as noticeable. Also there are not a ton of Z'd rangers out there maybe 20, 30 at most.

The frame hangs down 2". If someone tells you they z'd theres' more then they are an idiot. Or they did it to have the motor even further out of the hood in an effort to try and fix camber. If you Z the frame, at least with a 2.5 you will have to notch the back of the cab for the driveshaft and raise the tranny tunnel about 1".

Also, if you are doing an extended cab you need to notch the back of the cab for the driveshaft no matter what.
974door   +1y
When you sy the frame hangs down 2"s, is that in the front? Thanks for all the help, by the way.
msturg   +1y
yeah the crossmember hangs down. Nobody makes a smaller crossmember
974door   +1y
I just talked to the guy and it's a reg cab. I am gonna go look at it tomorrow and get a better idea of what you are talkin about. Is it a pain in the ass to z one? as far as relocationg eveything?
msturg   +1y
Lets put it this way, I would definitely charge more. You will most certainly have to lose the AC. Depending on what motor he has you might have to modify the throttle cable bracket possibly, not sure if the 4.0 would need mods or not. My EDC mounted vertically would just barely rub the hood with just the Z.

I mean beyond that it isn't too much more work if you are familiar and confident in frame work. I'm sure that there is something I'm forgetting but it should be just real small stuff.

Oh, one thing I just remembered is you have to make a transmission crossmember that goes inside the frame rails and is higher than a normal tranny mount of course since you are raising the motor.

If I had to do it over again I would have just done the traditional the same time I z'd the frame. The cab is already gutted for the most part anyways. The front frame horns are also loose when you're moving the engine cradle up. 3 more days of work with relocating and cutting the cab and welding it back up you have a bodydropped cab and it doesn't take much to bd the bed either. Just something to keep in mind depending on if the customer is willing.
974door   +1y
If I z it, what are the biggest wheels I can run and keep the a/c?