Christian

Hey guys

Me and my buddy want to raise my 2wd Ranger, and convert it over to a 4wd. The reason why we are getting excited about this is becuase a guy at school with a raised F-150 rolled his truck, and is willing to sell the components fairly cheap. The truck was orignally a 2wd as well, and was converted to a 4wd. Is it possible to take the parts from this 1/2 and make them fit on the 1/4 ton? We would be taking the front and rear axles as well as all the related suspension components, as well as the transfer case, and 33 inch tires mounted on a set of five lug 15 inch wheels. The wrecked truck has a 302 under the hood, and my buddy is wondering if his 2.9 litre's 4 speed with overdrive transmission will bolt up to the transfer case or not.

Sorry for the incoherant post, but I'm hoping you guys get the basic idea of what we are trying to do. Basically put a 4x4 F-150 suspension onto a stock 2wd Ranger suspension to raise it up and convert it over to a 4wd, with the possiblity of eventually installing the 302.

SCrew

The biggest issue, I think, will be the length of the axles. They will be a bit wide for the smaller truck. Also the spring perches on the axles aren't going to be in the right spot for the Ranger. Alot of variables , frame width, axle length, drive shafts, crossmembers for tranny & transfer case.....etc. Not a easy chore for a do it yourselfer.If you have the ability it could be an awesome lookin' Ranger!
Good luck........given time, anything can be done.

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..........BRIAN..........

2001 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4.6 V8
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JohnnyO

You didn't say what year either truck is, but regardless it's going to involve a bunch of welding and fabrication. Again, the axles will be a lot wider than the Ranger body. Swapping in a V-8 is fairly easy as long as you use an automatic tranny, there are kits to do this. Since you need a front axle anyway, get one out of an Explorer, it's a Dana 35 that will hold up to the V-8. Many Rangers have a Dana 28 front that's not very strong. Also get an 8.8" rear from an Explorer, a 2wd Ranger most likely has a 7.5" rear that again, isn't as strong, also the Expy rear is a 31 spline whereas a Ranger 8.8" is 28 spline. With that stuff you can use stock Ranger/Expy lift parts. My advice, use the F150 driveline but forget the axles. Too wide and the F150 IFS front would be about impossible to make it work.
P.S. They're about as scarce as hen's teeth now, but early Bronco (66-77) axles are a slam dunk in a Ranger as far as width and diff location plus you get the strength of a solid front axle.

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'03 Taurus wagon, Silverstars, Yoko TRZ's
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