Ford Ranger 302 Solid Axle Swap - First Drive

Update on the 302 ranger, ive almost got the truck dialed in to where i want it, it is almost ready to do some wheeling.

[@AustinH7]

That is the coolest looking ford ranger I’ve ever seen!!

[@buddy8225]

Damn sweet ass truck you got there. 🖐🖐👊👍🙂

[@Biokemist-o3k]

Wow ! How did I miss this on my Birthday. I am doing this lift/swap to my Ranger. I just finished replacing the body with a flatbed. I have the most desirable V-6 so I will not be swapping out the engine although that would be awesome. The 302 is a great edition .How much do you think just the axle swap and lift cost?

[@shadytreekustomz6268]

It was right around 350-4000 for lift and front axle setup, that did include a front locker, new gears, hubs, chromoly axles (I did labor myself) I also did shop smart around for some components I got my front axle for free because it came with steering stock axles and other components from the stock f150 that I sold and made back my $200 I paid for axle, lol.

[@Biokemist-o3k]

@@shadytreekustomz6268 My truck has been sitting for the last year my friend. As soon as I sell one of my engine drive welders and finish repairing a bunch of equipment for people I will be sourcing parts again. Were the F150 rears the right size? I heard that Bronco II rears were the ones to use.

[@earthtrailseco-adventures2271]

Nice build bro,can you assist me with a build like that like to link me with junkyards and shops to get all the stuff I need to buy,i have a 98 3.0l manual v6.the 4 wheel on the ifs is crap so i need the solid front axle

[@shadytreekustomz6268]

Those trucks are harder to do than the ttb trucks that this was. Lots of cutting and you have to put a gearbox in, but for parts list I am using James duff coil buckets and ruff stuff diy steering and the rest of the parts came from a 1979 Ford F-150, that is what the front axle is from too.

[@sled509necks2]

What is the secret to keeping coils instead of converting to leafs? Im wanting to do this swap, but i don’t know anything about how to do it.

[@shadytreekustomz6268]

It really depends on your model ranger, the second/first gens are a lot easier to keep coils because they are already set up for coils with the ttb, I just got James duff coil buckets that bolted into existing coil bucket holes. The axle I chose was also set up for coils from the factory so I just adapted the stock radius arms to bolt to the frame of this truck. If you have a 3rd gen ranger it’s a bit harder but not impossible, leafs suck up front

[@sled509necks2]

@@shadytreekustomz6268 my ranger has the ttb and im wanting to keep the coils, if i can find an axle that come with coils it should line up?

[@shadytreekustomz6268]

@@sled509necks2 An early bronco Dana 44 will line right up it’s almost exactly the same width. But those are so hard to find nowadays and are low pinion (weaker gears). You can get a full size f150 Dana 44 from 76-79 and it will have disc brakes and be high pinion which is stronger gears and narrow it 6 inches in the passenger side and it will be early bronco width. Then that one will bolt up too. You will be able to order an early bronco axle shaft to fit the now narrower axle, they are reproduced and are way cheaper than buying a custom made axle

[@shadytreekustomz6268]

@@sled509necks2 That is what I did with mine, I had a welding shop narrow my axle 6 inches, it’s very easy to do if you trust your welding skills

[@realrickharrison3103]

Daddy must have increased you allowance person man