Topic: 89 ranger crawler?????

[wattacrawler]

wanting to build a good crawler out of my semi stock
89 ranger 2.9 shortbed. is this possible  , if so where do i start? if not should i just buy a used crawler to get started? thanks for any advice., bryan.....

[rEdnECkwHeE1eR]

Its probaly going to be more $$ to build a ranger then a toy but it depends on how you build t . But go for it what I think would be way cool is Swap in a 302 with a T18 or NP435 or (I guess you could use an auto ) hooked to a Dana20 tcase and use a marlin crawler (I think they still make this) Use a D44 front with a 9in or D60 rear, you could use leaf springs all around for simpleness or leaf rear coil front for more cool or even coils all around or if you are going all out coil-overs or quarter elp. And top it off with some 38s or 39s and you would be way cool and different. But it all depends on what level of fabrication, mechanical and well money. Also if you just like to do easy snow runs and moderate trails theres no reson to have such a truck that you will never use. Since you live in wash Im thinking you would go with out the mar crawler, leaf spings, big tires and big power power because theres so much mud up there but I could be wrong.

[BigMike]

85yota03 and 89yotaIFSman:

If you notice, this is wattacrawler's first post. And I am sure he does not wish to read anyone slamming Fords for any reason. So lets keep this post friendly, and if more people post some useful info like Redneck's post, then wattacrawler's question can be better fulfilled.

Thanks!
BigMike

[85yota03]

alright sorry, i guess with the right amount of money and alot of time he could make a rock crawler

[85yota03]

how much money exactly do you have watacrawler?

[webilt]

alright sorry, i guess with the right amount of money and alot of time he could make a rock crawler

.

I have a friend with a 89 Ranger,, he is running 33 Boggers,513s, detroit in the rear 8.8 axle,loc-rite up front, it's a 4cyl,5-speed,, he is also looking at lower t-case alternatives,

but as for a wheeler,, this truck can keep up with us, NO-PROBLEM , and he has about $2500.00 invested
and not a whole lot of time in to it,, I have decided that not everything HAS to be a Toyota to be out on the trail to wheel

[BigMike]

Isn't it cool though, "not everything has to be a Toyota" I can remember when Marlin bought his truck and was wheeling, Toyota pickups were laughed at. Hah, if they only knew what Marlin was about to write the History books on the rise of Toyota 4WD Pickups....!

Hey wattacrawler,

Some of our Suzuki owners have made their own bellhousings. In your case for instance, they would cut your bellhousing and then cut a bellhousing from say a W56 (Toyota 1985-current 4Cyl EFI 5spd) transmission and then tig weld the two together making measurements for the input to clutch disk distances and making sure that it actually lines up straight. Maybe they sit an engine block (in our case the same engine as yours) on the ground and then the Toyota trans and then align and weld.

Now they can run anything that we offer. Done deal.

If you've got some other Ford buddies, maybe you could make a few dozen for some extra $$green$$

[mr4x42u]

I had built a tuff truck out of a ford bronco 2 with all stock drive train and a 302..33 1400 boggers and longer shocks and it would jump mall building with a single bound..Yea givin it was all cut up and looked nothing like a bronco,and had a lift.The only problem I had was the front hub assy.Blew'em out all the time.Could have been from the 10+ ft of air landing in 4wd but I could have fixed that with a front end change.But I liked the awesome soft landing of the split front end.At any rate one more thing to keep in mind is d44's out of a scout 2..Perfect and cheap for a ranger.I think anything after 77 will be disk brake too.I tossed a set under my jeep and got the whole scout for 300 bones! :up: :idea:good luck