RockRangerII the build up.

[RockRanger]

Got today off of work so I had a chance to do some work on the truck. as mentioned before the front springs were way to soft and needed a bit of a boost. Looking at the springs I had laying around I decided the second leaf in a ranger rear spring looked like it might work perfect. It has a bit of arc init to help with lift and is almost twice as thick as a yj spring so it will stiffen the pack up and not let it sag as bad. However on one end it was about 4" to long and would have over hung the end of the spring. Nothing a grinder couldnt fix So I cut down the sping and put it second in the pack and took out the smallest leaf to still keep the number of leafs at 5.

Also because the driverside spring perch sits on the differential it made that spring perch 7/16" higher then the passanger side spring perch. So I made a 7/16" spacer out of a piece of 1/4" and 3/16" steel then drilled a hole threw it. I then put the center pin through it as if it was another leaf on the passanger side spring.

I also now have the two rear sping mounts bolted solidly to to the frame. the front crossmeber is tacked onto the frame and put the weight of the truck on the springs. I really like the height that the truck is sitting at now. However the springs are so soft I can rock the truck a good 3" just by pushing on the cab. I might have to add a front swaybar to make it somewhat streetable. Ill know that once I take it for a drive.

My hysteer knuckle is on its way back from being machined so once I get it back I can figure out my steering.

Now on to a few pics.

 

[RockRanger]

First pic shows how much I had to cut off the ranger spring to make it fit in the YJ spring pack.

Second pic show part of the pack. You can see where I added teh ranger spring in. It is the thickest one.

The third pic is the spacer I made and added to the passanger side axle to make up for the spring perch height difference.

 

[RockRanger]

Here are a few pictures of how it looks with weight sitting on the front end. I like the height and I am pretty sure I wont have the tires makeing contact with the fenders with how far I pushed the axle forward.

 

[RockRanger]

Also here is one more benefit that I have found with the waggy axle vs others. I dont think I will have issues with the engine cross member making contact with the diff.

 

[FROADER]

Looking good Matt. How much longer do you think until you're done with the swap?

 

[RockRanger]

For the axle swap I still need to:

1. setup steering
2. set caster/pinion angle
3. Make shock Mounts
4. Install longer brake lines
5. Modify the front drive shaft
6. Finish welding everything I just have tacked right now.
7. Hope that it is somewhat steet driveable cause the suspension is super soft the way it is now. if not figure out how to put a front sway bar on it.

things to do till its halfway wheelable again

1. Install new gears and buy a locker for the explorer axle I got
2. Install explorer axle
3. Figure out shock mounts in the rear
4. Install longer shackle on rear suspension and hope the heights turn out about right.

Things to do before I am really able to go wheeling

1. build doubler and install it
2. Install BII gas tank and build skid plate for it
3. Build new tranny cross member
4. Move stock tcase skidplate back and beef it up some
5. Build new front bumper for the winch I am suposed to be getting any day.

Still alot to do and not alot of time lately to do it. At the rate I am going hopefully I will have it ready by thanksgiving. I would like it done sooner but who knows with how stuff keeps coming up.

 

[FROADER]

So by next weekend then....?

 

[RockRanger]

Well Im heading for mississippi friday and wont be back till next saturday so I miss the next two weekends to work on it. Then after that who knows when I will touch it again.

 

[redranger4.0]

if i may ask why would you go with a front shackle design?

 

[410Fortune]

You are an animal
To think with lockers this sucker will already be more capable then your old Ranger, so I hope you have a helmet!

 

[RockRanger]

if i may ask why would you go with a front shackle design?

With the desgn of the frame on the ttb setup I feel that there are to many draw backs to a rear shackle. With the front shackle the sping sits kind of low up front but there is nothing in the back to get hund up on. If I went with a rear shackle The shackle would have hung many inches below the frame creating a rock anchor. I would also have needed some type of drop brackets up front as well. Basically the same as the shckle stick out front. With the combination of all that I would have ended up with a truck that sits much higher then I wanted. Plus when you put the shackle in the back the spring sits more at an angle like this / but with my setup the sping sits more like -- that. In turn it could make it much harder to get the clearnce right for a compltely histeer setup.

I have also seen a shackle front suspension on BII and wheeled with him and it worked well. I hope this suspenion lasts a year or two then I will swap it out for a 4 link set up. Plus jeep used it 50 years so it must somewhat work

 

[RockRanger]

You are an animal
To think with lockers this sucker will already be more capable then your old Ranger, so I hope you have a helmet!

Once it cools off in the desert I hopefully will be heading out to DB1 place and bending up a cage for it. Just a matter of time before I go belly up so I better add the cage sooner then later. Plus I have actually thought about a helment once the cage is in. I know as time goes by I will get crazier and crazier and I might as well try to protect myself somewhat. Have you seen any pictures of that jegs cage you mentioned in another thread? Ive thought about going with one of those as well if it can be tucked up pretty tight against the body.

 

[410Fortune]

I saw one installed in a BII over on therangerstation.com forums.

DB1 has a bender and die's?
what a jerk!

 

[Nick26]

With the desgn of the frame on the ttb setup I feel that there are to many draw backs to a rear shackle. With the front shackle the sping sits kind of low up front but there is nothing in the back to get hund up on. If I went with a rear shackle The shackle would have hung many inches below the frame creating a rock anchor. I would also have needed some type of drop brackets up front as well. Basically the same as the shckle stick out front. With the combination of all that I would have ended up with a truck that sits much higher then I wanted. Plus when you put the shackle in the back the spring sits more at an angle like this / but with my setup the sping sits more like -- that. In turn it could make it much harder to get the clearnce right for a compltely histeer setup.

I have also seen a shackle front suspension on BII and wheeled with him and it worked well. I hope this suspenion lasts a year or two then I will swap it out for a 4 link set up. Plus jeep used it 50 years so it must somewhat work

I've also read that when you have the shackle up front it rides a little rougher cause when the wheel hits a bump the axle does not swing back. Instead it swings forward which in turn also helps in getting over obstacles.

 

[RockRanger]

I've also read that when you have the shackle up front it rides a little rougher cause when the wheel hits a bump the axle does not swing back. Instead it swings forward which in turn also helps in getting over obstacles.

True but you also run the risk of bending springs easier with the way I have my suspension setup. As far as the rough ride. I dont care where the shackle is on a truck with 35s and soft suspension it sure isnt going to ride like a caddy and handle like a porche.

 

[RockRanger]

Finally got a chance to work on the truck today. Got the spring perches welded on to the axle. Welded the suspension brackets onto the frame, however I might add another brace to the shackle hanger. I havent decided yet. I also got the aussie locker installed in the front end as well. I test fit the outers and everything fits so I got all the right parts to convert the front axle to 5 on 5.5.

I also played with my doubler a bit today. I have one hole that needs to be re drilled about an 1/8 of an inch then add a fill hole and a drain hole and it will be ready to be welded up and installed.

Tommorow I have off work so hopefully I can get the ranger spring buckets ground off the frame, figure out what histeer arms I need that will fit, get some f250 shock mounts and hopefully get the brake lines figured out. Hopefully I will get it all done before I leave for the the chargers game. If a can get a few more weekends clear I might actually have it driveable someday.

 

[DB_1]

DB1 has a bender and die's?
what a jerk!

Heh heh...but you got the 5.0 so i'm just as envious

Yeah, get that thing drivable Matt and come on over. It's starting to cool off out here finally...good tube bending weather

 

[RockRanger]

I am hoping for middle of november to have it ready for a run Then after that I will concentrate on the duel cases. I also have a winch coming in the next week or so so we will have to build a bumper at the same time

Today I worked on it a bit. I am having a little trouble getting all the steering to clear correctly. If I try to place the drag link under the springs on the stock location the tie rod hits the springs. If I put all teh steering on the hi steer arms then I am going to have to cut a good chunk of the engine cross member to make it clear. I think if I shorten my front shackle an inch or so then add some 2-3 degree caster shims to the springs it should allow everything to clear then. Also need to pick up some ford shock tower mounts and get some brake lines and the front will be done. I need to still get a locker for the rear and install teh explorer axle and extend shackles. If I can get enough time off work I should be able to make it by november I hope.

 

[FROADER]

Middle of November is the perfect time for Truck Haven.

 

[410Fortune]

oh oh oh November 'eh? Winter wheeling CA style.

Matt, it is that odly shaped Ranger x member that has the clearance issue?
This thing is giong to be a monster with the dual cases, can you say "tractor?"