Ranger drag racing

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Dec 6, 2006 | 09:11 PM

Magic

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From: Waimalu,Hawaii

Ranger drag racing

This might sound crazy but a friend drag raced a little ranger,powered by a 351c.i. 450 h.p. windsor last year. Now over the next few months he is getting ready to build a new ranger. But with a little more power and he was thinking of using a lil ranger 4 X 4. For traction not off road. I told him I would ask if anyone has ever done this. Or if anyone knows how much abuse that the rears and transaxle will take. Yes its a lot of power,but running a beefed up automatic, is not as bad as a 5 speed standard. He might have something,because the off road rangers take a lot of abuse, but I cannot say.

Dec 6, 2006 | 09:24 PM

fordboy_52

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From: Abilene Kansas

your looking at a total rear end front end and transfer case rebuild / replace. i dont think that you guys have done your research. you lose too much through the transfer. id recommend a normal rear wheel drive setup

Matt

Dec 7, 2006 | 05:58 AM

wendell borror

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Ihe offroad rangers aren't spinning 4 wheels on dry pavement with 500 hp either, parts will break. The 4x4 system a lone adds wieght and drag to the truck, There's 5.0 rangers up here running the 1/4 in 10 and 11 seconds and thier 2-wheel drive. Get the truck level for better weight transfer, get traction bars and slicks, Some of these ranger up here may have 4 link rear suspension or some other fancey stuff. Talk with other ranger drag racers and see what thier doing. A 4x4 will cost you more races, than it will win you.

Dec 7, 2006 | 07:33 AM

RangerPilot

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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)

I agree.

The less weight of the 2WD Ranger will be a bonus as well, plus less to build and less to break. Slicks and a beefed up rear axle will give you plenty of traction, even with a 351 that's well well built.

Dec 7, 2006 | 11:12 AM

rubydist

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From: Denver

I don't think its quite as cut and dried as what the posts above have said.

A 4x4 would be much easier to drive, because you wouldn't be worried about traction nearly like you would on a 2wd truck. The losses through the transfer case are not a big amount, contrary to what was said earlier.

At the same time, the 4x4 is definitely going to be heavier, and that will cost time.

Overall, I'd say that the 2wd could be faster, but the 4x4 could be a lot more consistent, and consistency is what wins in bracket racing.

To make it work, you'd need to stuff in the F150 or Expy trans & t-case to be able to handle the power. It can be done, but its a challenging task.

Dec 7, 2006 | 01:36 PM

monsterbaby

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From: iowa

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubydist

To make it work, you'd need to stuff in the F150 or Expy trans & t-case to be able to handle the power. It can be done, but its a challenging task.

first the F150 tcase is the basic same as the ranger tcase just longer which leads to the second part and that is it won't fit between the frame rails. If you need to run a lot of hp, non of the chain driven cases will live long at all about all you can do is run a NP205 which will fit between the frame rails of a ranger or another choice would be the old bronco Tcase as it's narrow also but I wouldn't put more than about 400hp through it and never ever use nitrous. the NP205 will handle more torque than the frame will so that one will work but it weighs a nice healthy 200+lbs.
The next issue for drag racing a ranger 4x4 is the only choice you are going to have for a front end that will live on dry pavement under full power is the D44 out of an early bronco the D28 and D35 fronts don't hold up to a V8 under full throttle starts worth a darn even in mud let alone on pavement. Well to do a SAS swap you need to lift it about 3-4" which isn't going to help stability or wind resistance but it can be done.
I can go on but don't see a point.

Dec 7, 2006 | 01:59 PM

Alan D.

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From: Slatington PA

Awck naw, you can have a shop fab up a custom 4wd system for you, i did it for my ranger. but i dont have 4wd, i have AWD because i cant turn it off, and it places 33% or so to the front tires, and the rest to the rear. it's really costly, but you want the added traction, thats how you dress these things to kill. and that they do. I am currently holding the fastest 0-60 time in a 6 cyl truck on the tracks records. the only way to get complrable traction is with sand bags, and some good slicks. which end up at the same weight anyways.

Be carefull though, i have the 4.0L i punched out to a 4.5L, and turbo charged it. the only problems i expeience is that it gets really floaty above 120. feels like if you trun the wheel you'll roll it. i'ld never drag an auto. i know someone who did. he is currently trying to find a manual. i'm also not sure of what'll happen with more than a 351. I think you'll need a better tranny with those added horses/torque. i'm soon to be replacing my clutch. and you can burn rubber off of all 4 wheels, but it's really hard on the system.

note i would have the fastest, but those dodge srt-10's blow everthing away, even those anoying 2 lb rice rockets.