I-Beam Front end ?

  This is directed to anybody with good info for me. I have put some time in on quite a few extensive suspension set ups, and my buddy was wanting me to z his front end on his 97 or 98 stnd cab ranger. It is already bagged so it will be just a case of doing the frame. I have faith I can do it correctly, but I would like to get all the tips or even pictures I can get on this. I searched the forums and all i could find was people doing control arm front ends.   So far i know to brace the front horns, and of course measure measure measure. But im not sure about the amount im going to need to actually take it and if there is any clearance issues I need to know of before I go to cutting.    Any info I would help.

I guess the I beam guys dont get on till later tonight.  Dont be shy to throw out some info.

Ford switched to control arms in '98. Before that it was all I-beams. I know guys with the '98 and later have to Z their frames to get them to lay out all the way. I've never heard of Z-ing the I-beams. Do you know why your boy want to Z?

shouldnt need to z a beamed ranger unless your body droppin it

I have no idea. but I have heard of it done. I really haven't looked at it good but im pretty sure the crossmember is lower then the rails. I could be wrong but thats just what I remember from the last ranger I did.

The transmission and radius arm cross members hang below the frame, suicide doors makes raised cross members to take care of those. Check out their site.

what about the oil pan? 

That should be fine, but  if his wheels are big enough you'll have to notch the engine cross member. The I-beams could hit it when the truck lays out.

like previously stated the tranny and radius arms are easy, as for the oil pan, on my 91 i have to notch my djm dream beams to clear it but i believe it depends on the engine...

Find out exactly what year the truck is, because if it has ibeams it isnt a 97 or 98, they stopped putting beams on them in 1996, And if it does not have ibeams it will need z'd in the front because the engine crossmember is lower than the frame rails and it will not lay out without z'ing the front. IF it does have ibeams then you do not need to z the frame at all, it can be laid on frame with a new radius arm crossmember and transmission crossmember. And if you bodydrop a ranger with i beams you do not need a z either, i know of plenty of rangers that are bodied and there is no need to z the frame.