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2wd sas can it be done

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Old Feb 7, 2008 | 10:46 PM
  #1  
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2wd sas can it be done

ok i got A 1998 ranger 2wd withthe2.5 nothing special just got it running again after a broken timeing belt crankshaft pully crankshaft position senser and everything but other then that i wanted to know what all i would do a stright axel on the 2wd i think i need a dana 44 out of like and older wagoneer are something but i aint sure about all the brackets and what not and right now its just for looks till i can get a new tranny and a t case but its a working progress right now all i got is some air shocks up front which set the front about a inch higher then the back but its timeto do it right and have a damn ranger worth something
 
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Old Feb 7, 2008 | 10:57 PM
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This has been pretty well discussed on here.

It's easier/cheaper to sell it and buy a 4WD. Way too much effort involved.

If you still want to, you'll have to of course do it all custom. The 2.5L is pretty underpowered in 2WD applications. It won't fair real well off-road. You'll need a new tailhousing for the tranny, as well as a transfer case (BW1354, either electronic or mechanical is what woulda come standard in a '98 4x4), of course new hubs, brakes, all the associated front axle stuff.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2008 | 11:05 PM
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yeh i thought about that but then i wanted to keep mine im thekinda of guy that likes to do what everyone else wouldn't and everything so i figured if i bought the lift its only like 4-5 inchs i want to be sittin on some 35's are 38's i want to be able to pull up to my friends chevys and fords fullsize and not have to look uplike now and i think it will be a well worth process
 
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Old Feb 7, 2008 | 11:15 PM
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My honest advice is for you to go to the boneyard and find a wrecked Ranger of the '98-'00 years that's four wheel drive, and buy it straight up. Trailer it home, and then steal every single thing you need off of it. That will be far easier than fabricating a straight axle in, plus there won't be any real parts chasing.

You can level it to run 33"s, a six inch lift should be enough for 38"s, but you'll need some serious re-gearing of the rear end for either, or it's going to be a massive dog.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2008 | 11:20 PM
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God above! And I think my 91 4.0L on 31's is a dog! I have 3.73's and would not run bigger without re-gearing with a 6 cyl.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2008 | 11:29 PM
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well im planing on redoing just about everything gears and all and its only gonna have the 2.5 for not much longer once i get the susp. all lined up im gonna put a 302 i think in it but i just want to get the susp. done then im goin to work from around that and i had 32 11.50 on the back with some 30 9.50s on the front and it had no problem with that it would dang sure smoke one doing a burn out
 
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 08:04 AM
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Sounds like a good candidate for a total reconstruct, I think the SLA equipped rangers had a boxed frame in front to strengthen it for the stress and load IFS inherently causes, so it should already be partly beefed up for a solid axle and a 5.0l. That being said, you could probably buy another truck cheaper, that is already 4x4, so it's not a very practical idea. Hey, what ya gonna do with your old 2.5l?
 
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 11:22 AM
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If you want a 4 cylinder 4x4 to really wheel. don't be afraid to throw alot of gear at it. At least 4:56's.
 
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 12:03 PM
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With 35"s or 38"s...I think he'd be better off going with even 5.12s.

But he needs to lose that 7.5" rear axle for sure, especially if considering a 302 swap.

Is this thing gonna be a play toy or a daily driver as well? We can get all kinds of creative if it's not gonna be a DD anymore.
 
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 04:44 PM
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its gonna be a play toy when im done i went today to look at some stright axles at an old junk yard they had about 4 still under a wagoneer he said i can get one for 250 so im looking at that and i was tryin to think of if i should replace the wholerear end are just re gear it i want to try and keep it the same but i notice on the front axle it is 6 lug so i was thinking bout finding a rear end that is the same could i use one out of a wagoneer maybe but thanks for all the help its really helping out alot never done this to a ranger helped with a chevy and all but for themost part i think it will turn outgood
 
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 05:25 PM
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That's kinda pricey for a front axle, I'd try and talk him down some.

You could perhaps find some way to convert the 6 lug setup to a 5 lug setup to match the Ranger (5 x 4.5). Definitly need to check the widths on the axles to get them at least approximately the same.

You WILL need to regear to run those size tires, even with a 302 that would be a ridiculously low ratio, a total pain to drive around town and off-road. I would suggest 5.12s if it's just gonna be an off-road play toy for sure. I'm not real sure how easy it'll be to find parts for that front axle.
 
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 07:36 PM
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http://http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/...xle/index.html is the link to 4 wheel & offroad mag. they had an artical a while back on a solid front axle swap on a 97, but theres was already a 4x4. I'm collecting parts now to copy there swap but like theres mine is also a 4x4. good luck
 
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 10:41 AM
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hey i got another question i was asking aroudn the other night when i was workin on the tracker weare building its geo tracker siting on an toyota frame with 44' boggers gonna build mine next i think but they said that i could use an older bronco drive train if i get the right one
 
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 09:11 PM
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Get a dana 30 out of a heep cherokee or yj, get rid of the stock hubs, convert it to manual. Get a t-case out of a 88-96 ranger with manual shift, divorce it, get a 12" jackshaft fabbed to connect ure 2wd tranny to the divorced t-case. Extend the front d-shaft to fit up to the new axle. Get a lot of 1/4" mild steel and hiem joints and DOM tubing of relevent size. Fab and fab some more. Connect all pieces. Use a set of skyjacer 6" lift coils fab up buckets for the coils. Lift the rear. Add 4.56 gears for 33's 4.88s for 35's. This is what you have to do, NOTE: not in correct order and I may have missed a thing or twenty. Looking at around 1500 to 2000 bucks not including tires and misc. material. I know b/c I am in the process of doing it right now. But I have a large collection of ranger parts. So my cost will be much less. Around 200 bucks for the gears, and I need to get my d-shaft made still. It takes a while and you will need to be spot on on ure fab skills or you will get killed going down the road. Just my $.02
 
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