1997 Ford Ranger

[LoganB]

Most people on this forum already know me or know of the truck, but here it goes anyways. After selling my explorer prerunners, and having a bronco at the time, I had always wanted a ranger. So I jumped on the ole Craigslist.

I bought this truck 10 years ago in Rialto with a fabtech beam kit, solo engine cage, king coil overs, bumpstop, horrible bedcage and spring set up, flat black bedliner paint on the entire body, and bald tires. Shit was dialed.

 

[LoganB]

I quickly realized that it had blown head gaskets so it got torn apart to do those, and while that was happening, why not just start on something else too right? Adam Filbin (Clean Dezert) parted out a cool rain gutter and I ended up with Giant Motorsports 8+ front end with single swing steering. If memory serves me right, this might be one of the oldest and first giant kits in existence ( I’m poor)

 

[LoganB]

One desert trip with this thing and I realized how much faster you can go in a ranger so I had Ryan Jubera build me a bedcage and cab cage, and I re worked the spring set up and hanger configuration.

Somewhere along the lines I also installed a 9”, f150 spindles up front, it has glassworks glass all around now, I had also painted it horribly myself in the driveway.

 

[LoganB]

I moved out to Arizona in 2016 and didn’t really work on this thing for two years as other things in life had gotten in the way and this thing was my last priority. I started working and hanging around the local fuel celebrity Azwillis, and he decided to build a bumper for it one weekend. What a nice guy right? Well then he tricked me…….

 

[LoganB]

I was bamboozled into the backhalf trap that everyone falls into. I was lucky enough to be given a set a wiy ruff stuff trailing arms that our buddy had and Willis wanted to tig weld them…. so naturally, out comes the sawzall.

 

[LoganB]

I’m running a 14/16 2.5” shock combo with 4” bump, 37” tires, 32 gallon jeepspeed cell, Robby Gordon’s. Willis whipped up a cool lil locking “key” for the spare. To keep with the trailing arm and front bumper, the back half is 100% tig welded and I feel like a whore in church because I am very undeserving of having a truck this nice. He really built me something I could only dream of having.

 

[LoganB]

My favorite thing about this truck is the tailgate, and because it’s not just a tailgate. It’s actually two tailgates sectioned together to accommodate the 7” kick in the backhalf.

 

[LoganB]

Once we got that pretty backhalf done and the tailgate mounted, her first trip was dunewarz! Unfortunately it was cut short to blowing the 3rd member but oh well, still had fun

 

[LoganB]

This is where it’s at today. I got rid of the cowl hood for an oem fiberglass one, still need to get a good third member in it. Maybe more cylinders too, but I doubt it.

 

[Baconcreekmetal]

Great looking Ranger.
V8 power is fun, and makes great sounds.

 

[LoganB]

I’m pretty retarded and can’t figure out how to post videos. So you just use your imagination and pretend that I have taken the truck out once or twice.

 

[the bodj]

I've always loved this truck. You guys did awesome with it. How is your uptravel with that low of a ride height?

 

[LoganB]

I've always loved this truck. You guys did awesome with it. How is your uptravel with that low of a ride height?

Thanks bodj! Long time no talk, hope life’s been good for you!

The last photo there it looks real sacked out cause it has 3 people sitting on the tailgate. I don’t feel that it sits very low, but maybe cause I look at it every day?

The truck actually cycles roughly 30” and we strapped it at 27/28 and it’s damn near 50/50 at ride height. So roughly 14/15” up travel.

 

[FENDERFAB]

The tailgate is so rad!

 

[marcytech]

Ugh. Why are you here?

 

[LoganB]

Ugh. Why are you here?

Came to see the local legend thread. Now that you’ve commented on here, I can leave in peace. Thank you

 

[marcytech]

Came to see the local legend thread. Now that you’ve commented on here, I can leave in peace. Thank you

Try not to run out of gas on your way out

 

[the bodj]

Thanks bodj! Long time no talk, hope life’s been good for you!

The last photo there it looks real sacked out cause it has 3 people sitting on the tailgate. I don’t feel that it sits very low, but maybe cause I look at it every day?

The truck actually cycles roughly 30” and we strapped it at 27/28 and it’s damn near 50/50 at ride height. So roughly 14/15” up travel.

LIfe's been great! Finally have a truck that works halfway decent lol

Ah yeah that picture was deceiving. Geeze those are baller numbers. I bet it works great.

 

[LoganB]

Try not to run out of gas on your way out

No promises

 

[LoganB]

LIfe's been great! Finally have a truck that works halfway decent lol

Ah yeah that picture was deceiving. Geeze those are baller numbers. I bet it works great.

You got the right suspension under it, so it should work pretty good!

Ya it works pretty good for what it is right now, I need to open the front shocks and revalve them. If I could get a video up you guys could see.

I don’t care about constantly opening shocks and trying to be the fastest or the coolest guy with the secret valving. Believe it or not, the springs on the front of this truck came out of junkyard where Shock Therapy threw away probably 1,000 sets of unmarked springs. They’re unknown uppers, my rear bypasses are the same ones from one it was leaf sprung, with the same valving, and the rear coilovers are whatever valving king sends them with. I’m sure this truck “could work so much better” or “ needs 3.0s” but it’s honestly fun enough and works well great for what it is.