RockRangerII Refresh

I am going to be going through my 93 ranger and giving it a refresh. I bought the truck in late 2004. Other then a rancho lift kt it was an all stock stripped truck with a 4.0 manual trans and tcase. No AC cruise or power windows. The perfect basic wheeling rig.

Here are the specs of how the truck currently sat before this refresh.

4.0V6 all stock
Stock 5 speed
d.d. machine duel case setup with manual 1350 front and 1354 rear.
Front axle is a 1984 Jeep wagonner dana 44 converted to 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern 4.88 gears and an Aussie locker
Three link front suspension using 8" skyjacker TJ springs.
Rear axle is a 1992 explorer 8.8 4.88 gears and welded spider gears.
63" Chevy springs with a bellteck shackle.
BroncoII tank behind the rear axle
Warn 9.5 XP winch behind the front grill.
Interior roll cage
37" MTR on 17" steel rims

Untitled by dresselhausfc, on Flickr

I took the truck down to King of The Hammers and few years ago and did some wheeling and managed to crush the bed good. Broke both front hubs and all 4 front axles, bent the rear driveshaft and ripped a shock mount off. Due to life getting in the way it sat on the trailer for 18 months before I even touched it again. Now I plan to give the truck some love and get it back on the trials again.

 

[josh40601]

damn that's cookin and bookin.

I'm thinking 2021 at the latest will be my next trip at the con. Possibly next year, but doubtful. 2020 going to mexico with the wifey, so doubtful then too. 2021 looking very promising for a Moab and rubicon trip though

 

[mounty71]

Is smog an issue for you with the B2 gas tank? Considering going that route one day.

 

[tdavis]

With a pre-95 vehicle in California, it's not.

Only on the OBDII engines/vehicles does it become an issue

 

[mounty71]

With a pre-95 vehicle in California, it's not.

Only on the OBDII engines/vehicles does it become an issue

If you have any more info, would you mind posting in my thread here, so as not to derail this one? Thanks.

Info Needed - Rear Gas Tank in 2nd Gen

 

[RockRanger]

So the ranger hasn't been getting any changes as of lately. Most of my free time has been going into Tracy's Jeep. I did take it up to the snow one day. I was with my father in law in his blazer so I didn't push it far. the 3 feet of snow was enough.

20190211_100920 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20190211_100903 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20190211_100843 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

I built a new front bumper for Tracy's Jeep.

20190205_192217 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20190213_150510 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20190213_150548 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20190213_150520 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

 

[RockRanger]

But after wheeling in the snow I have finally had enough of the axle wrap I am getting so I am working on solving that. I started by deciding to remove the factory block on the rear suspension. However I didn't want to lose the height as the truck sits level. So I built drop frame spring hangers and shackle hangers for each end of the leafs. Each one drops 2 3/8 of an inch to keep at the same ride height. as I was before.

20190214_125522 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20190214_133226 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20190215_141141 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20190215_163249 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20190215_180704 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20190215_180700 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

 

[gmanpaint]

How is your pinion angle now?

Absolutely love those little tabs for set up and welding. Nice work!

 

[RockRanger]

Pretty much the same as I dropped both ends of the springs the same amount.

 

[RockRanger]

Put a quick video together showing how the front hanger goes together.

 

[Stic-o]

Looking good.

I have heard there is interest for light pod cowl mounts for the new Ranger. If I do some cardboard stencils for you maybe you can build some and make some extra cash.

 

[BKennedy]

I almost didn't recognize you with your "winter face".

 

[RockRanger]

Looking good.

I have heard there is interest for light pod cowl mounts for the new Ranger. If I do some cardboard stencils for you maybe you can build some and make some extra cash.

I can work with that. We will be down that way around Easter. Hope to be able to stop by and see you guys and get the doors out of your yard.

 

[RockRanger]

I almost didn't recognize you with your "winter face".

Been cold working on the east coast this winter. Should be gone here soon.

 

[Stic-o]

I can work with that. We will be down that way around Easter. Hope to be able to stop by and see you guys and get the doors out of your yard.

Sounds good, just let me know when your going to be passing through once we get closer.

 

[RockRanger]

So I did a thing. Cut the tube bed off from the hoop back. Time to build a new setup.

 

[RockRanger]

Desiigned and cut a new rear bumper assembly. This one will have better backup lights and the ability to install a fold down tailgate. This was just tacked up and a quick test. Now I need to weld it all up.

 

[RockRanger]

To help in future parts of this project I needed a smaller lower die in my Swag Off Road finger brake in my 20 ton press. So I 3d printed a new lower die with 3/8 solid rod on the bend point. We will see how long they last. To print 19 inches of die it to 980 grams of filament and just under 48 hours of print time.

 

[Rick]

Cool stuff Matt.

 

[RockRanger]

New bumper is mounted. I still need to wire in the lights.

 

[410Fortune]

Where your shocks mounted like that when you were getting all the axle wrap?
I know ford put the shocks one fore and one aft to fight wrap up, it looks from your project like it works! Since you have them both on the front of the axle and had bad wrap up looks like they were into something

New bumper setup is awesome!

These must be the spring hangers you are telling me about! Except on the blue 07 I inverted the shackles