Sasquatch_Ryda
Well-Known Member
Ford Technician
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Forum Staff - Retired
TRS Banner 2012-2015
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 7,916
- Reaction score
- 108
- Points
- 63
- Age
- 36
- Location
- Terrace, BC, Canada
- Vehicle Year
- 1991
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Engine Size
- 4.0L
- Transmission
- Automatic
- 2WD / 4WD
- Solid Axle Swap 4x4
- Tire Size
- 40s
Well as some may know, I bent the front end up in my 91 ranger in August during a club annual event. The drivers side beam was bent in the middle enough that it was rubbing on the drop bracket for the passenger side beam. The coil bucket on the drivers side was starting to give out as well, the passenger side bucket bent on me a year ago sending the coil up under the hood on a trail run. I replaced that side, but never got around to the drivers side yet. Now that I have the front end out, I figured it was time to tackle it. The new buckets I'm using are from an early bronco and are much more stout. I also figured it was time to build some extended arms for it as I'm still running stockers with drop brackets. Here's some shots of the rebuild so far.
Here is the new drivers side beam with a truss welded into it to prevent any future bends here.
Here is the old beam, you can see where the paint had popped off of where it bent. I hit the diff skid plate hard on a rock and it caused the beam to bend to the side of the skid, so I know the skid is tough enough.
Here is the bucket that is starting to get bent/mangled up on the driver side.
The 'new' bucket waiting to be installed
Here is what the bronco bucket looks like on the passenger side
Here is the start of the new extended radius arms. I'm using 2x2 .250 wall square tube to extend them. I'm using 30" of tube for each arm. The total length of the new arms is 41". I got the drivers side all fabbed and tacked together. I built a touch of caster into the arms. Still need to come up with a transmission cross member that will have the radius arm brackets built into it.
Updates will come as I get stuff built and installed!
Here is the new drivers side beam with a truss welded into it to prevent any future bends here.
Here is the old beam, you can see where the paint had popped off of where it bent. I hit the diff skid plate hard on a rock and it caused the beam to bend to the side of the skid, so I know the skid is tough enough.
Here is the bucket that is starting to get bent/mangled up on the driver side.
The 'new' bucket waiting to be installed
Here is what the bronco bucket looks like on the passenger side
Here is the start of the new extended radius arms. I'm using 2x2 .250 wall square tube to extend them. I'm using 30" of tube for each arm. The total length of the new arms is 41". I got the drivers side all fabbed and tacked together. I built a touch of caster into the arms. Still need to come up with a transmission cross member that will have the radius arm brackets built into it.
Updates will come as I get stuff built and installed!