Thought i'd run this by everyone. In a few years after i get my 76 hiboy where i want it. I am thinking about building a straight up trail rig. I figure if i take my time and buy one thing at a time i can do this. Since i don't want alot of weight i'm gonna locate an 80's Ranger drop the egine,tranny,transfer case and both axles. Build a 351 or shoehorn a 429 or 460 in it hooked up to a 435 and a 205 running on D60's front and back with probly 40's with the usual locker's and winch and rollcage. I can at this time get a 351 Clevland and a racing fuel cell from a friend out of a 76 bronco he is parting out. I know this can be done with time and money cause i have seen rigs more wilder than this. I don't know what will be simpler coils or leafs i'm thinking leafs would be easier since i will want some clearance. Since i would lose some clearance with radius arms and traction bars or 4 link in the back. Yes i know with adding the heavy engine,tranny ,tc and d60's those add weight but with going with a small 80's ranger i think it will even out. I will put most of this together myself but somethings i will have to have someone else fabricate since i don't have that ability to weld.

 

sounds good except don't put D60's in. put D60 up front and a 1 ton axle out back, not a 3/4 ton! a 14 bolt, D70/80, or sterling 10.25/10.50 would do better!

do coils, they offer a lot more than leafs. although both setups take a lot of tweaking and tuning to get them where you wanna be.

READ READ READ.... and then read some more. then get out experiment some and then come back in and read. you'll learn something new everytime! do your research and THEN start cutting/welding. you'll save time and money that way!

-cutts-

 

i just remembered i have a buddy that did just what you wanna do, i went to skool with him and we hit a lot of mud holes together... it has come a long way from where he started.... http://www.auburn.edu/~smithbj/

the john deere theme came from a front loader tractor that he had and he took the front clip off and siliconed it to the hood (it's still there but now it's riveted in)

-cutts-