1998 Ranger to Bronco conversion

[98Branger]

Hey I posted this a while ago but in the wrong spot and it's a little closer to completion now. The cab and bed are welded together with a 3/4" body lift to accommodate rubber body mounts under the bed. Other than that it has an explorer 302, m5od trans, BW 4405 t case (needs installed), 8.8 rear axle out of the explorer and a torsion bar leveling kit. I'm sure there is a bunch more I've done to it that I'm forgetting. Here are the pictures of the progress.

 

[bobbywalter]

kewlz

 

[sgtsandman]

I like it. I assume you cut open the fron of the cap to allow full access to the bed?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

This might be a dumb question but how did you keep the sheet metal from crinkleing when the box and cab move? Or does the cage help that?

 

[Ranger850]

This might be a dumb question but how did you keep the sheet metal from crinkleing when the box and cab move? Or does the cage help that?

The old Unibody F100 come to mind.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The old Unibody F100 come to mind.

Never understood how that worked either

 

[Ranger850]

Never understood how that worked either

From what I hear, it didn't. Put too much payload in the bed and the doors would get stuck shut. LOL

 

[98Branger]

Yes I wanted full access to the bed eventually I'll put a seat back there.


I haven't had any issues with any of the sheet metal crinkling or doors not opening on unlevel ground (also ford unibody problems). I put the roll cage in to help with that and I think being a short wheel base also helps. It did start life as a regular cab short bed. We will see how the body filler holds up though, I haven't driven it much since I did the body work and paint. The topper that goes on it is weather tight but living in Michigan it won't see the roads till spring to avoid salt.