Ranger???????

Bullardbs

Bullardbs

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Location
Thomasville, NC
I just got a 85 Ford ranger 2.3 efi manual trans reg cab 4x4. I dont know if I should lift it and run 33s and just keep it stockish. Or should I swap in a dana 44 and 9" and run 35s or so and go that route. Just dont know what to do it has the weak dana 27 I think front axle so dont want to put money in the stock axles to gear and lock them so what do I do.
I plan on building a truggy out of this later and want to run a 2.3 turbo to have something different.
Any help?????
 

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Its all in what your interest are, I've built nothing but Rangers and B2's for the same reason. Being different! Take at least this advice-don't put any money into the stock axles, I did and the 28 front grenaded constantly. Search for the "Surgery" thread for my basic build. These days people are building alot bigger axles than the half tons, I had mine on hand with alot already invested in deep gears and detroits so I decided to run em. I don't know how aggressive your going to get but you might want tons but with your engine choice the lighter the better. By the way the swap isn't all that hard and can be done on a tight bugdet if you intend to do most of the work. I don't know of any prefabed aftermarket support though.
 
I was thinking of running the dana 44 and 9" and running 35s for now and going bigger down the road when I can get a trailer to tow it around I need it to be streetable for now
 
I ran 35x15.50 on a B2 and broke the stock front stub at telico after bouncing it a few times but other than that they held up well. I'm no longer a wide tire fan but the 34's I plan to run are already making me wish I'd bought bigger. Are you going to double the cases? I believe your engine is a four cylinder, I'm not good with the displacement numbers. I'm running a 5.43/5.38 gear combination. I'd love to see the turbo set up you got in mind.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
I ran 35x15.50 on a B2 and broke the stock front stub at telico after bouncing it a few times but other than that they held up well. I'm no longer a wide tire fan but the 34's I plan to run are already making me wish I'd bought bigger. Are you going to double the cases? I believe your engine is a four cylinder, I'm not good with the displacement numbers. I'm running a 5.43/5.38 gear combination. I'd love to see the turbo set up you got in mind.
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Im looking to run a 35 12.50 but yea the 2.3 is a 4cyl anyone know what gears I should go with. I would like to swap in a 4 speed with the granny 1st also on down the road

I have a lot I want to do but the wife and money say it will be a while
 
Bullardbs said:
Here is a link to the engine set up I want to run
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Turbos.html
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Thats what is in my ranger. If you want some more info on the swap check out Turboford.org and you are welcome to come take a look at mine. I only live about 20 min from T-ville.

I ran the stock dana front axle in it up to 32 inch tires before I ever broke it. The early bronco dana 44 swap is not hard. I now run XJ 4.5 coils and it has good flex. If you just want some room to run bigger tires for now I have a set of cut out flairs I might sell.
 
sam(slim) said:
Thats what is in my ranger. If you want some more info on the swap check out Turboford.org and you are welcome to come take a look at mine. I only live about 20 min from T-ville.
I ran the stock dana front axle in it up to 32 inch tires before I ever broke it. The early bronco dana 44 swap is not hard. I now run XJ 4.5 coils and it has good flex. If you just want some room to run bigger tires for now I have a set of cut out flairs I might sell.
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Did you swap it in yourself? I'll have to do that.

I want to run 33s or bigger so I guess I need toswap in some other axles. I have read about the eb 44 butthen you have to convert it to disc brakes and that can get high price wise. So I guess I need to just go with the dana 44 and 9"
 
I did all of the engine swap myself. The hardest part about the swap is moving a few wires around for the ecm swap. The 76 and 77 small broncos had disk brakes from the factory.
 
with 35's and a 4 banger you should go with no higher(numerically lower) gear than
4.88. someone correct me if i am wrong. i had 4.88 in my 84 yota extra cab with the 22r and and 33's and it was pathetic going up a hill.
 
ranger

I ran a 2.3 with 4.56's and 35 boggers,locked front and rear and beat the snot out of it,with a dana35 and 8.8rear,(I even know were a bunch of them are at cheap:huggy:)I wheeled at tellico and coal creek pretty hard with it only problem or parts to break was hubs or axle joints at full steering lock(that was probally right foot error???),as far as lift go 4" 33/35 and still drive on the street or go with an 8"skyjacker 38's and buy stock in your local alignment shop
 
tombstone said:
I ran a 2.3 with 4.56's and 35 boggers,locked front and rear and beat the snot out of it,with a dana35 and 8.8rear,(I even know were a bunch of them are at cheap:huggy:)I wheeled at tellico and coal creek pretty hard with it only problem or parts to break was hubs or axle joints at full steering lock(that was probally right foot error???),as far as lift go 4" 33/35 and still drive on the street or go with an 8"skyjacker 38's and buy stock in your local alignment shop
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Were you need to tell
 
I'd get a full width D44 and 9".
 
Alot more explorers had the 4.10 gears than rangers. There is a place I have bought A few ranger parts from down in Lexington betwen I-85 and B-85 on new 64. I will try to find the name of the place.
 
the name of the place is louya. he specializes in rangers and explorers. it is on the right side of new 64 going toward lexington. up on the hill.
 
tombstone said:
I ran a 2.3 with 4.56's and 35 boggers,locked front and rear and beat the snot out of it,with a dana35 and 8.8rear,(I even know were a bunch of them are at cheap:huggy:)I wheeled at tellico and coal creek pretty hard with it only problem or parts to break was hubs or axle joints at full steering lock(that was probally right foot error???),as far as lift go 4" 33/35 and still drive on the street or go with an 8"skyjacker 38's and buy stock in your local alignment shop
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(8"skyjacker 38's and buy stock in your local alignment shop)
Not really i have an 8 inch on an explorer and have put over 50,000 miles and only had it aligned once.When you lift them you have to buy the good alignment bushings.I have a dana 35 front with 3.73's if you are interested.I could probably find a lift to if you are interested.
 
jovibuilt said:
(8"skyjacker 38's and buy stock in your local alignment shop)
Not really i have an 8 inch on an explorer and have put over 50,000 miles and only had it aligned once.When you lift them you have to buy the good alignment bushings.I have a dana 35 front with 3.73's if you are interested.I could probably find a lift to if you are interested.
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I just want to swap in the axles and lift it just enough to clear 33s will be trimming the fenders also so could get buuy with 2 to 4" lift so if you can get me what I need let me know
 
I have not had any luck finding the front axle anyone have one laying around any gears will work I can just regear it for the right price
 
Louia's Auto.

(the junk yard on 64)
They have axles. have you called?

its a ranger graveyard (4wheelers gold mine)

i might go with 4.88 gears. also, with a Dana 35, your going to want to look into a manual hub swap.

i also would like to recommend agaisnt the TTB swap. find you a jeep axle (same strenth and lug pattern). pay some one to fab up a front suspension (bout the same price as a good lift). and not have to worry about eating tires. the TTB is a big heavy beast too. and awkward to work with.

skyjacker Class II suspension was my favorite for this set up.
 
having trouble with the title right now so may end up starting a project with something else really dont want to dump a lot of money in something that I cant title
 
what kinda title trouble?
 
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