Full Width SAS on '90 Danger the 4th

EDIT: How it sits as of 08-05-13
QUICK SPECS
1990 Ranger XLT RCLB
-2.9L 235k miles with the 5 speed. Engine, trans and t-case are all stock.
-Full Width Dana 44 up front from a '78 F-150 with a spartan locker and 5.13s. Stock Shafts. Extended Stock Arms with johnny joints.
-Full Width Ford 8.8 out back from '93 E-150. Lincoln Locker. 5.13s. Stock Shafts.
-1" Body Lift
-3.5" EB 190ppi Early Bronco Coils
-Homemade XJ rear leafs. No blocks.
-Crossover steering with 1.5" x .25 wall DOM and Heims
-15x10 Wagons (cheap)
-36x14.50x15 TSL Tires
-Bobbed the bed 13"
-Homemade bumpers

CURRENT PROJECTS:
None at this time. Planning a new rig.

8-05-13


12-31-12

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ORIGINAL POST:

So i have this 1990 Ranger. I bought it off a guy that used to show it. It had a blown rear axle so i picked it up pretty cheap. I drove it daily for 3 years and plowed with it.

Then i got a free D44 front from a 1978 f150, no internals tho. So i was curious if i could sell my current geared and locked explorer d35 and 8.8. it was a hit. sold my plow, d35 ttb, 8.8, lift kit, wheels tires all in a week. i got 500 less for all that compared to what i wanted for the whole truck!

So that means i am going to put full width axles under my truck.

So I got a free '78 d44 with no carier or axles for the front
And i have a rear 1993 f150 8.8 rear for $50. get home and find out it has a L/S and 3.55s.

I plan on running 35-36" tires and 5.13 gears with a locker in the front and L/S in the rear. I have a powerstroke but dont drive it in the winter. so the ranger has to be a capable road vehicle. which adds to the challenge. I want it streetable. I plan on running raidus arms and 5.5" EB coils

ill be watching this, im pulling the D44 out of my 79 now to put in the 88 ranger, are you spacing out your coil buckets from the frame? also im going to run 3.5" EB coils that will give the ranger 6" of lift which is a minimum, incase you didnt know which u probably did, lol

Pics of the truck b4. 4"superlift, 1" bl, 33s and 4.56s, D35/8.8 locked. Drove it 60+ miles a day to school and back. Truck has manual everything, 2.9L, COLD A/C







I could post wheelin pics all day. I tend to snap a lot of photos

First Day with the d35 Installed



This is why i ditched the D28. Had zero problems with the D35. Even plowing with 33s



TEAR DOWN!

Last day with TTB



Pullin the shafts because i sold the d35 third separately

New owner of the D35 beams helping me get it out



Free D44 and Radius Arms next to a random D28 beam lol



Taking the 4" Superlift kit off


Brackets off. Most of the bolts came right now. Impressive, since its been thru 6 NE ohio winters


Lift kit off



Taking the Explorer 8.8 Out



New Full Width (FW) 8.8" Rear. Complete Drum to Drum and Drive Shaft $50

Happy to see it had a limted slip. decent for wheelin, great for snow driving

Removal of Stock coil towers. I plan on using 78 F150 coil towers and Early Bronco lift coils.

Torched off


Rear of Truck


Got much softer rear leafs to use. However, my current springs where 4" lift springs, and the new ones are 3" lift. So i bought 88-98 half ton lowering shackles for get the lift back, plus i am going to run a 2" lift block. should give me the height i need to clear 36s. If not, i will cut the fenders, i am trying to keep the trucks center of gravity low
So here i am taking the stock shackles out. Had to make custom wrench to hold the nut cuz i could not get to it with the bed on. However, i found it easier to just grind the rivots out and rebolt the hanger to the frame


Of course one bolt had to break in the leaf spring removal. the one by the gas tank. grrr

Stock Shackles and hangers



1979 F-250 Shock towers $10! serving different purpose in this pic tho

are you using the coils mounts from the 78? i was curious if i should use them from my 79 or keep the stock ones in my 88 ranger and just space them out

Boggin-B-Series said:

ill be watching this, im pulling the D44 out of my 79 now to put in the 88 ranger, are you spacing out your coil buckets from the frame? also im going to run 3.5" EB coils that will give the ranger 6" of lift which is a minimum, incase you didnt know which u probably did, lol

Click to expand...

Sure thing. i will try to post my problems and a lot of pics.

I will be spacing my coil towers from the frame. How far? i dono yet. I will be using the stock axle coil positions tho. I figure keeping the springs out there will keep it more stable

I had 5" of lift and had 33s. Now i want to run 35-36s so i think i am going to go wtih the 5.5 eb coil and mount the tower as needed for the lift. I also plan on doing cross over steering. we will see. i am going to try and find some junk yard coils to get an idea for height

Boggin-B-Series said:

are you using the coils mounts from the 78? i was curious if i should use them from my 79 or keep the stock ones in my 88 ranger and just space them out

Click to expand...

Yeah, i am going to buy new 1978-79 coil towers from ford. They are designed for 3" coils. The rangers ones are only for 2.5" diameter coils. Plus my stock ones were rotted out haha

yea i got my stock bronco coils out all i got left is 1 rad arm and the trac bar, im going to be making my own trac bar mount, and with the D44 ill probably be running 35s-36s too

and best thing is, i got the whole 79 for any parts i need

036speed said:

Yeah, i am going to buy new 1978-79 coil towers from ford. They are designed for 3" coils. The rangers ones are only for 2.5" diameter coils. Plus my stock ones were rotted out haha

Click to expand...

haha if mine are rotted ill probably use the ones for the bronco, will they still work with EB coils?

Boggin-B-Series said:

yea i got my stock bronco coils out all i got left is 1 rad arm and the trac bar, im going to be making my own trac bar mount, and with the D44 ill probably be running 35s-36s too

and best thing is, i got the whole 79 for any parts i need

Click to expand...

Haha nice! yeah, i am going to be making my own steering and trac bar stuff. but i will figure that stuff out later

I have, well just sold a 1979 f250. it was no help for this build although my buddies wanted to see its matching d60s under my ranger

how does the steering arm come unhooked? i got the nut off where it connects to the pitman arm, but its still not coming off even when i beat on it

Prepping the FW 8.8

Gettin the carrier out and inspecing the bearings and such.

Going to be setting in 5.13s. still comtemplating on locker or keeping the L/S




Grinding off the F150 perches



Pounding on the purches and broke my "jacks"

New Jacks


Taking stock shock mounts off


Almost ready for new perches. will weld on shock mounts after the axles is under the truck


Found 35" tires on CL, best offer. so i went and looked at them. they dont look like they have ever been mounted. offered $100 for shits and yep, got them for $100 35x12.50x15 Mud kings


Then, 4 days later, i found decent 36" TSLs for $250. Dont know which i am going to run yet...


The TSLs have some nice sidewall scratches. And i want to drive the truck daily. I might just go with the newer 35s

Thats all for now. no building til i have a ring

Boggin-B-Series said:

how does the steering arm come unhooked? i got the nut off where it connects to the pitman arm, but its still not coming off even when i beat on it

Click to expand...

I am not quite sure. My just kinda fell off. Cuzi had a small ps leak and my nut was already loose. scary i know. it is splined. Try gettin one of those ball joint forks in there. it should come off by sliding/hitting it, right?

Boggin-B-Series said:

how does the steering arm come unhooked? i got the nut off where it connects to the pitman arm, but its still not coming off even when i beat on it

Click to expand...

I had to rent a puller from checker to get mine off.

BTW I'll give you $200 for the mud kings

Looks pretty good. Congrats on the coming engagement and the ME degree. I'm in that program now, it's hard as hell.

im deffinetly keeping an eye on this build. im really thinking about doin this swap, but thinking about it scares me too much.