Also picked up this gem last night. 91 Ford Ranger 2wd with a 4.0 5 speed combo. Needs head gaskets but I have another motor for it sitting in the garage. Hoping to have it swapped in by Sunday. Gonna do a simple rebuild on the old motor to have it as a spare.
Planning on making it a go-fast desert rig after the jeep is squared away and daily driveable. Custom dana 44 beams with coilovers up front with a built 9" rear and deavers or chevy 63"s. Should be a fun rig when its all said and done.
I regret going under the frame also. I miss the flush mounted long arms I used to have. I plan to eventually build or buy a legit crossmember-maybe like clay tons 3 link cross member- and go long arms. Thats further down the road.
I regret going under the frame also. I miss the flush mounted long arms I used to have. I plan to eventually build or buy a legit crossmember-maybe like clay tons 3 link cross member- and go long arms. Thats further down the road.
Turns out the "blown head gasket" on the ranger was just a lower intake manifold gasket. Block test checked out fine for exhaust gases in the coolant, compression check was good, leak down test was excellent too. Replaced the gasket last night and pressure tested the cooling system with no leaks whatsoever. Looks like I'm good to go. Just need to reassemble the fuel rail and the upper intake and it should be ready to go!
Looking for input on having rubber bushings in a 3-link for a daily driver XJ. I'm thinking of putting rubber bushings on the frame side of the lower arms to cut down on road noise and vibrations. Thoughts?
Also may be looking for a rear posi/locker for the 8.25. Any recommendations? the factory limited slip is not cutting it. Id prefer something that doesn't lock hard and unload hard like a typical lunchbox locker.
I came to the same realization. Honestly the detroit in wilbur is damn ner invisible on the street un less you give it the berries around a corner. But deffinately no pops and bangs. So youll be looking for a full case auto locker. Detroit or grizzly.
Looking for input on having rubber bushings in a 3-link for a daily driver XJ. I'm thinking of putting rubber bushings on the frame side of the lower arms to cut down on road noise and vibrations. Thoughts?
Also may be looking for a rear posi/locker for the 8.25. Any recommendations? the factory limited slip is not cutting it. Id prefer something that doesn't lock hard and unload hard like a typical lunchbox locker.
Yeah, if that was geared to 4.88 it would still be in my rig.
This would be a very good plug and play axel for someone that just wanted to add LSD diff, SOLID diff cover, Stainless break line and with the e break still attached even I could swap it over in a few hours. :repair:
You could still have enough coin left to do the gears to what ever ratio you wanted and end up with a dang good on road/off road/snow plowing axel.
I vote for the Clayton three link cross member after getting it the quality was amazing it tucks up very well and the center cross member is removable for all your transmission needs but you won't have that problem anymore.
After getting them I thought I could make one very close to what they did and I did for friends MJ by his is trail rig only and for the way mine drives daily going high way speeds up to 80 it is worth it easy install especially if you keep the Dana 30
As for link bushings I tried exactly what you mention with the rubber bushings on lower jeep side and they wear out with wheeling I do and you seem to hit the trails more often than me. I even tried ballistic ones still no good so I went with the rebuild able jony joints and ride is great I recommend looking into them many places offer them with left and right handed threads with inserts and jam nuts so you can adjust your axle as needed for alignment for daily driving got mine from Polly performance but ballistic and many other places have them
As for the locker have you had a lunch box locker in the rear of your rig before? I ran one in the 8.25 before the 9in swap and the rear wasn't too bad and I don't have any carpet wasn't loud and didn't feel it much at all kinda for got it was there and I have a Detroit for the nine feels about the same to me now the front is diffrent story lunch box up front is little loud and can feel it when turning into parking spots but amazing upgrade
Idk if they make a lunch box for a Dana 30 I know they didn't last time I looked but I ran a Spartan locker for a Dana 35 upfront just didn't use the c-clip retainers worked great super cheap ha hope some of this helps
so I went with the rebuild able jony joints and ride is great I recommend looking into them many places offer them with left and right handed threads with inserts and jam nuts so you can adjust your axle as needed for alignment for daily driving
Does it ride and handle alright? i just bought some but waiting to put them in when i redo my whole steering and bushings up front. some dude at a tire shop said they would make dding the jeep terrible but i don't believe him.
Goodwilljeeper the johny joints ride and feel great the only thing I noticed was more body so I need to put a sway bar on the front. I didn't notice any other abnormal road noise either and it feels firm over bumps in the road I drive daily 60 miles to and from work. I would get the rebuild able joints as they will need rebuilt because of the abuse of on and off road use
stockinteriors.com
I added the mass backing to it. I think like 160$ shipped ? It was cheap and fit well. Put some insulation below while you are at it.
