Ok just wanted to start off by saying hello, I am new to this forum, And would like to share my build with you , as I have read alot of great information on this site.

Well, my Bronco 2 has been alot of fun, hauling me and 3 other friends on all my wheeling adventures, but since we make most of our trails by running over the trees then going back thru and cutting trails out, the body has started to get into pretty ruff, shape, also it does better with 2 people instead of 4people anyway, well, I came across a great deal on 98 Ranger Regular Cab complete truck, and I'm going to swap the cab and front clip and then build a tube bed, with all my recovery supplies mounted in bed, also plan to increase wheelbase 3inches or so with 3 or 4link rear, Friday and Saturday I unhooked everything on the Bronco Body and will get it pulled it off, You may be wondering why a 98 Ranger as more fab work maybe? well i like how 98 and up reg cab, has several ,more inches of seat room and didnt want to use an extended cab or older cab with less room, I wanted to be very comfortable.
here is list of my mods, Narrowed Dana 44 High Pinion 4.88 Gears aussie locker, 9in rear disk brakes, James duff longarms, 4.0, 5spd, atlas II 4.3-1 Low range. will get pics asap. Let me know what you all think and if you have seen where anyone else used 98 and up body??

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_2439.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_2440.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_2395.jpg

That is a few pics, when i was measure for shocks, just to show you how my bronco flexed which I thought was real good, now will give you some pics of current progress.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0296.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0300.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0305.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0306.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0308.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0347.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0348.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0345.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0346.jpg
couple pics with out the body

that's gonna be awesome. i've never seen a ranger on a B2 frame. i know a lot of guys put the ranger body on the full size bronco frame.

Lots of progress on disasembly has been made, bronco 2 body has been reomved and rolling chassis is back in my garage, took ranger cab off and hauled back to my house, needs set off to the side for now, Big news is just came across the right deal at great time on my SOHC desires LOL, 99 4door Explorer 160xxx miles auto bad tranny, 15 mins from us, hoping to pick it up tommorow listened to it run, noticed slight sound of the cam chains? that these engines seem to have, but Im gonna allready have it pulled and would be not to big a deal to go ahead and do new upgraded fix to the motor, not sure what all they do, chains, slidders, tensiors? i looked over wiring and i think using this motor will work out alot better, all the wiring looks alot more similar in the explorer as the 98 cab, like brain box is exact same location, i think everything can be changed, may actually use the console and everything from explorer it has tilt wheel and i has PATS so will need all the wiring to stay the same, i have hopes to also install the overhead console thingy that shows temp, directions of travel and so on. possibly headers and minor motor mods, any and all thoughts are appreciated, i removed seat belts and everything since going with cage and harnesses. I will upload some pics, and try to keep you all posted.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0338.jpg
My explorer i just picked up, runs good, make little rattling sounds for 1st 1-3 seconds at startup but after that cannot hear any odd noises, even in the 2000-3000 range as some describe to hear it most, at this point likley will install as is cause i know it runs, get everything working, then pull the motor and go thru it, I have been reading up on that sight and plan on doing this myself, may also see about some perforamnce mods and other things since i will have it opened up anyways.

can anyone help me and tell me why, i cant start a new thread in the parts 4sale section, says i do not have access, and i will be parting the rest of my explorer and 2 others we have.

can anyone help me and tell me why, i cant start a new thread in the parts 4sale section, says i do not have access, and i will be parting the rest of my explorer and 2 others we have.

Have you tried reading the stickies at the top of the forum?

but since we make most of our trails by running over the trees then going back thru and cutting trails out,

I hope this isn't public land. :nono:

Project looks good though! :cool:

No its private land , we have to 300 acre farms, each are about half woods, I would never make my own trails on public land, + we rarely go to any offroad parks as any good one is 2hrs + away, and we have our own land so were just making are own trails takes alotta time and work.

No its private land , we have to 300 acre farms, each are about half woods, I would never make my own trails on public land, + we rarely go to any offroad parks as any good one is 2hrs + away, and we have our own land so were just making are own trails takes alotta time and work.

I see. Nice to have some private land to do as you choose! :)

oh hell yeah!! nice rig before, after = nice!!!

yes having our own land is what keeps me planted to my little town in Missouri other wise I would move out west to Arizona most likley, but o well. Tonight, i got transfercase out, driveshafts, fuel line, rear brake line, im getting so exciting, have to get strip, as getting frame sandblasted Sunday.

yes having our own land is what keeps me planted to my little town in Missouri other wise I would move out west to Arizona most likley, but o well. Tonight, i got transfercase out, driveshafts, fuel line, rear brake line, im getting so exciting, have to get strip, as getting frame sandblasted Sunday.


I would stay there too if i were you. They aren't making any more land....

Well its been several days and no update or pictures for anyone following my thread so thought it was about time, I had Bronco frame balsted and now have it primered havent got much further with it, ive been very busy parting out the blue explorer, which i have got what i paid and made quite a bit so far and still alot of good stuff left so i was pretty happy and went and bought another donor truck explorer sport trac and will be doing same thing but it has no body parts good other than tailgate but does have factory 4.10 gears and limiteslip, and good tranny and motor, I am actually gonna use Sport tracs motor for now so i can take my time redoing the 99 Ex engine. Let me know what you all think, also delay is since i didnt have anything to offroad im redoing my 84 short bed ranger for temp use offroading just have to be very careful in it

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0371.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0429.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/101_0428.jpg

the a-pillar is sheared in two.. THE A-PILLAR IS SHEARED IN TWO! im not even gonna ask what happened to that sport trac.

im looking forward to pics of the ranger cab on your b2 chassis.. looks like its gonna be a good project.

Looks like the A, B, and C pillars were CUT to get the occupants out, did not shear in the wreck

I need those door moldings off the pass side sport trac :)
when you part it out let me know, I have an 02 with some MILD damage compared to that SOB WOW

yeah, if they cut the pillars thats a bad wreck.

yeah, let us know if you part that thing out. i see a cuople things imight want.

Yea, Im definatley selling parts I dont need, so shoot me a PM with what you want, I am not selling motor, tranny, wiring. Also today Im off work, and working on my projects all day, will update pics later, just pulled motor and tranny from the 99 and trying to rig up front axle sitting under front so i can get it out of my garage. Might try to remove sport trac body today also, but its really muddy here so will be a mess. Bonue thoe is 70 degrees today wow!

Sorry been awhile updating Pics
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/bronco2guy/100_1022.jpg

nice, what are you doing for the rear

looks great.. i remember being at a local 'mud bog' a couple years ago and seeing a 89-92 ranger cab sitting on a b2 frame, they kept the ranger bed, just shortened it to fit on the back of the b2 frame.

what are the plans for the back?

I plan on running a small flat bed with tube sides, that can rub agaisnt tree's, the rear in pics is several inches long wheelbase than stock, on earlier cabsm that works pretty good, but the newer cab is larger, has more seat room, but takes up more room on frame. Bed will be one of the last things that gets built. next is running, wiring, and 4 link.

i was gonna say.. just tube the entire rear. kinda like a 'baja' series truck, with a huge spare mounted at an angle. just my opinion

Well not much progress, other than getting moved back into my garage, seems i keep getting bogged down with my other projects, but they are all wraping up so hope to get back on this one soon. been dreaming up some major creture comforts i want this truck to have, I plan on driving it to quite a few of the trip get togethers.

Looking real good! Have you figured a paint color yet? Remember we have a great powder coater on this forum!

Well, i have 3 base colors i'm thinking about, either a Yellow, Red or Blue? but havent decided forsure.

Also i have question/need help concern for anyone that wants to pipe in, Since using SOHC 4.0, but using return style fuel rail from 97-98, will i have issue running my computer that came from a 99??, Thinking i will need to be searching for complete wrecked 97-98 with SOHC more than likely.

That deep midnight blue is one of my favorite colors.

As far as the fuel rail/computer goes, Pm Don, aka--CDW6212R or Jamie, aka-- 410fortune, they can set you up with that info in a jiff!

Yep, I have been leaning toward blue.

That looks cool, we need to meet up sometime and do some wheeling in your backyard:D

Sounds good to me Chad, but we need to do some work to our trails so they dont scrape up your good looking rig! Most started as ATV trails and then got wider, and most of our offroaders, we are not concerned about body damage. We do plan on cutting alot more trails this fall/winter and getting them more vehicle friendly. I would like to have a group of people down from the forum for little get together. Also want to see your rig in person.

Here is a list of interior mods I have planned for this rig
Auxillory light switches, for reverse/side/and front lights
Cab Mounted GPS
CD player
CB
1 sub
cage
Corbeau Seats
5 point harness's
A/C
Electric rear locker? switch
Center Console/cooler

On this thread is a picture of flatbed idea I really like.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144891&page=10
Thread # 188