Alec's Rock Crawling 1989 Ford Ranger

Up until 2024, Alec Navarro, also known in our forum as RaceRanger97, has been best known for his 1997 Ford Ranger 2wd that’s been built to race in the desert (See RaceRanger97’s Ford Ranger). In 2024 Alec purchased this 1989 Ford Ranger 4×4 from a friend that had used it as a desert prerunner in Mexico. It had been sitting for a while and Alec had come up with a plan to turn it into a rock crawler. The Ranger had already been converted to a H.O. 5.0 V8 from a 1992 Ford Mustang and had an AOD automatic transmission, now it was time for some serious axle, suspension, wheel, and tire upgrades.

The rear axle was removed and replaced with a custom built and trussed MitchMade 3.5-inch Ford 9-inch housing featuring a Strange 3.25 case and pinion support with 35-spline axles, Trail Gear drive slugs, a Detroit Locker, 5.83 gears, F-350 unit bearings, and F-350 brakes. The rear axle is slung under the Ranger with Deaver 64-inch leaf springs and custom mounts and shackles. 2.5-inch King double bypass shocks mounted to a custom bed cage smooths the ride and keeps the rear suspension under control.

The front axle is a custom-built Dana 60 with a MitchMade 3.5-inch housing, F-350 Dana 60 inner C’s and knuckles with an Artech high steer kit, 35-spline chromoly 35-spline shafts, Gearworks High Pinion case, 10-inch REM 5.83 gears, and an Eaton TrueTrac. The axle is hung in place by a 3-link suspension using 2-inch .250″ wall tubing and 1-1/4″ Heim joints and 5.5-inch Crawler Springs from Wild Horses.

Steering chores are handled by a PSC power steering box and ram along with a Solo Motorsports modified power steering pump.

The Ford Ranger rides on 39×13.50 BFGoodrich KR3 Race Tires mounted on Raceline 17-inch Defender Wheels.

Fiberglass bedsides and front fenders with a 4-inch bulge help make room for the massive tires. An LED lightbar and amber ditch lights light up the trail at night. The amber LED lights also help improve the trucks visibility during poor visibility conditions. Custom tube bumpers protect the front and rear of the truck.

Want To Know More?

Alec is the owner of Axle Pros in Clovis, California. Check out their Facebook Page or contact them if you need axle work done.

To see and learn more about this build, or to get updates on it, check out RaceRanger’s 4×4 Build in our forum. Our forum members like the Ranger so much that they voted it as our December 2024 Truck of The Month.

Specifications:

1989 Ford Ranger 4×4
1992 Mustang H.O 5.0 V8 Swap (CA Smog Legal)
AOD Automatic
Manual Shift 1350 Transfer Case

Front axle:

Custom MitchMade Inc. 3.5″ housing with plate truss and AR500 steel bash plate utilizing 02 F-350 D60 Inner C’s and knuckles.
Knuckles have Artech high steer kit welded on and use factory F-350 brakes and unit bearings that have been machines to fit 35 spline outer shafts with conversion Warn locking hubs
Axles are chromoly 35 spline with 1480 joints
3rd member is a Gearworks load bolt High Pinion case and pinion support with 10″ REM polished 5.83s and Eaton TrueTrac built by Axle Pros

Front Suspension:

Custom 3-link designed by MithMade Inc.
Links are 2″ .250″ wall tubing with 1-1/4″ heim joints
Panhard and steering linkage is 1.5″ .250″ tubing with 7/8 heims.
Currently uses factory coil buckets with 5.5″ “Crawler Springs” From Wild Horses for an Early Bronco

Steering:

PSC steering box and ram
Solo Motorsports modified power steering pump

Rear Axle:

Custom MitchMade 3.5″ trussed housing with AR500 bash plate utilizing Trail Gear unit bearing pockets
Hubs are 02 F-350 unit bearings machined for 35 spline and use Trail Gear drive slugs
Uses F-350 Rear Brakes
3rd member is a Strange 3.25 case and pinion support with 35 spline Detroit locker and 5.83s built by Axle Pros

Rear Suspension: