96 ranger
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,147
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We have a few around here that races at the strip, thier "WICKED". It's a fun way to go fast without alot of money, light body + v8 = fast. Traction is an obsticle that you need to overcome with a p/u truck, but once you do, it's a rocket I often thought about doing a v8 1st generation ranger for the strip myself, could be alot of fun.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Waimalu,Hawaii
Well here is what I have so far to add to the lil ranger. I bought a 5.8 351-385hp W
crate engine like 3 months ago to go into a full size truck that I sold. As a long block,its supose to be like 385 hp. I m plan on up grading to full headers,from a 650-to-a 750 d.p. Holley,victor jr intake,MSD Distributor. I like to have a 5 speed,but I guess I will settle for a 4 speed that I have. I have a set of used latter bars and a
9 inch posi disc brake rear out of lincoln which mostlikely I will use. Like you said wicked maybe. If I can figure out what the other guys are doing to get the power to the ground. I am adding a little weight to the front. But the rears still going to be light.
I really don't want to narrow the rear frame for wider tires.
crate engine like 3 months ago to go into a full size truck that I sold. As a long block,its supose to be like 385 hp. I m plan on up grading to full headers,from a 650-to-a 750 d.p. Holley,victor jr intake,MSD Distributor. I like to have a 5 speed,but I guess I will settle for a 4 speed that I have. I have a set of used latter bars and a
9 inch posi disc brake rear out of lincoln which mostlikely I will use. Like you said wicked maybe. If I can figure out what the other guys are doing to get the power to the ground. I am adding a little weight to the front. But the rears still going to be light.
I really don't want to narrow the rear frame for wider tires.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Check out what gears are in that 9"...since it was from a Lincoln car, they're probably pretty high and not so useful for dragging, I'd say go for 4.10s!
Traction bars (ladder bars), plus moving ANYTHING you can to the rear. Battery, radiator, take your pick. Whatever works. If you can move the fuel tank or fuel cell back behind the rear tires, that's even better. Slicks are heavier than regular tires, which is a plus. Slicks alone will help a TON in keeping you on the pavement.
Traction bars (ladder bars), plus moving ANYTHING you can to the rear. Battery, radiator, take your pick. Whatever works. If you can move the fuel tank or fuel cell back behind the rear tires, that's even better. Slicks are heavier than regular tires, which is a plus. Slicks alone will help a TON in keeping you on the pavement.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 524
Likes: 0
From: Liberty, MO
Summit Racing (plus others) sells an in bed truck weight called ShurTrax. Its basically a big flat water sack with grommets on the corners to use ratchet straps or w/o to secure it in the bed. Depending on the amount of aqua used it can be up to 400 lbs (fullsize @56" wide) and 300 lbs (compact @48" wide). Most tracks will not allow things in the rear of a truck unless its very securely attached. I've heard alot of guys getting turned down for things like bricks, sand bags, and wood that they tried throwing in for the tractiont. It's $137 Fullsize and $119 Compact on there but I believe I've seen them go on Ebay for about $80.
With that sorta power in such a small truck, added weight wont hurt it at all if it means traction.
With that sorta power in such a small truck, added weight wont hurt it at all if it means traction.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,147
Likes: 0
The rangers that race around here all set level for better weight distribution, none of that nose setting lower than the rear like they come stock. You need ladder bars and slicks, I don't know what else they run, maybe 4-link suspensions and some of the fancier setups. I was thinking a fuel cell over the rear axle mounted in the bed might help.
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