Advice on I beam coil over setup

[92singlecab]

Absolutely. Any advice you need feel free to ask! It’s all a process.

The setup you posted will work good! One thing though is 14” shocks will be too long for that style setup with the extended shock mounts raised up off the frame on the front. Likely a 12” shock is what you will be looking for and will cycle well maybe even a 10”. You need to get the beams installed, cycle them and see what you can clear at full bump with the shocks compressed and then you can land the upper mount.

Okay, I’ll look for some used ones online or if any of the local fab shops in my area have any they don’t need anymore. Was hoping those 14’s woulda worked cus they’re free haha

 

[HarrisConcepts]

I really like your approach on this build, i had the auto fab bent beam kit on my ranger in highschool and it was killer for what i was doing with the truck. That kit can be installed in a few hours if you are reasonably mechanical and have the truck ready for school monday. You could possibly look into hanging 14” Bilstein off the front of the beam as well, it may take a bit more fab/ trimming but it was a common setup many moons ago. There were quite a few prerunners built around the platform your going for. Good luck post pics! Here are a few similar builds

 

[HarrisConcepts]

I really like your approach on this build, i had the auto fab bent beam kit on my ranger in highschool and it was killer for what i was doing with the truck. That kit can be installed in a few hours if you are reasonably mechanical and have the truck ready for school monday. You could possibly look into hanging 14” Bilstein off the front of the beam as well, it may take a bit more fab/ trimming but it was a common setup many moons ago. There were quite a few prerunners built around the platform your going for. Good luck post pics! Here are a few similar builds

 

[92singlecab]

I really like your approach on this build, i had the auto fab bent beam kit on my ranger in highschool and it was killer for what i was doing with the truck. That kit can be installed in a few hours if you are reasonably mechanical and have the truck ready for school monday. You could possibly look into hanging 14” Bilstein off the front of the beam as well, it may take a bit more fab/ trimming but it was a common setup many moons ago. There were quite a few prerunners built around the platform your going for. Good luck post pics! Here are a few similar builds

These oldscool photos are rad! Do you know if that first black ranger had a 14” shock on it? My school has a pipe bender and I could definitely make a similar style shock hoop that connects to the coil bucket how his is.
Like you said if running the 14” reservoir with the coil spring was a common setup back then I’ll look into making a similar shock hoop

 

[Hi-Desert Motorsports]

as been stated above, FOA's are just pretty poor in the quality department, I have personally opened up brand new FOA's and found metal burrs throughout the shocks and they leaked right out of the box. Machining on all their parts leaves much too be desired as well, Biggest thing about this sport is to learn patience when building and installing parts! The more patient and meticulous you are putting the truck together the better it will turn out!

 

[HarrisConcepts]

These oldscool photos are rad! Do you know if that first black ranger had a 14” shock on it? My school has a pipe bender and I could definitely make a similar style shock hoop that connects to the coil bucket how his is.
Like you said if running the 14” reservoir with the coil spring was a common setup back then I’ll look into making a similar shock hoop

I dont know for sure if the black truck had a 12” or 14” on it, the body looks pretty long, so it may have been a 14”. Back when that was the norm, by-passes and large diameter shocks were relatively new. It was pretty common to stack a bunch of 2” shocks on each corner, and alot of people ran the longest the could to get as much oil volume possible on each corner to help combat shock fade. Many of the shocks back then were not position sensitive, so the “zones” like bypasses have were not as critical, or creative valving was used as well.

 

[92singlecab]

Cool then I’ll probably stick with my 14” and make a similar shock hoop.
What does position sensitive and the “zones” mean? Like if the shock is too far inboard or outboard on the beam or if the angle of the shock is too steep?

 

[HarrisConcepts]

When you look at a bypass shock, it has compression tubes and rebound tubes to allow fluid to bypass the piston, depending on where these tubes are located on the shock bod, it will create a zone in which it controls via external adjustment. Smooth body shocks, you are limited to how how the compression and rebound stacks are built to control dampening. Ads has some good writes ups on shock in another thread on here. As was as shock placement for what you are building, i would suggest trying to get as close to perpendicular to the beam and radius arm at full bump and try to mount the shock as far out on the beam as reasonably possible, you will most likely encounter some challenges with the coil bucket in the stock location, but once you get in there and start building and cycling it, you will figure out where it needs to live. Like most builds, there will be compromises, just take your time and measure 2x- cut 1x

 

[FENDERFAB]

Couple decent items here- Decent price on the rear end. Not much savings on the 64 kit, but im sure you could negotiate that down.

8.8 rear end

This rear end came off of a ranger. It has 4.56 gears and the diff is welded. Was going to use it but just havent had the t...click to see more of this listing

classifieds.race-dezert.com

Giant Motorsports Ranger 64 kit

I bought the kit from someone who used it to mock up. The main leaf spring has been upgraded to a military grade leaf. Other...click to see more of this listing

classifieds.race-dezert.com

 

[92singlecab]

When you look at a bypass shock, it has compression tubes and rebound tubes to allow fluid to bypass the piston, depending on where these tubes are located on the shock bod, it will create a zone in which it controls via external adjustment. Smooth body shocks, you are limited to how how the compression and rebound stacks are built to control dampening. Ads has some good writes ups on shock in another thread on here. As was as shock placement for what you are building, i would suggest trying to get as close to perpendicular to the beam and radius arm at full bump and try to mount the shock as far out on the beam as reasonably possible, you will most likely encounter some challenges with the coil bucket in the stock location, but once you get in there and start building and cycling it, you will figure out where it needs to live. Like most builds, there will be compromises, just take your time and measure 2x- cut 1x

Alright that makes a lot more sense now and gives me a better idea on how I’m going to make my shock mounts. I’ll most likely post them on here to get your guys’ input before I burn everything in

 

[92singlecab]

Couple decent items here- Decent price on the rear end. Not much savings on the 64 kit, but im sure you could negotiate that down.

8.8 rear end

This rear end came off of a ranger. It has 4.56 gears and the diff is welded. Was going to use it but just havent had the t...click to see more of this listing

classifieds.race-dezert.com

Giant Motorsports Ranger 64 kit

I bought the kit from someone who used it to mock up. The main leaf spring has been upgraded to a military grade leaf. Other...click to see more of this listing

classifieds.race-dezert.com

There’s some 4.10’s for sale that are my ring gear size so I won’t have to swap the whole rear end. I’ll probably throw those in there with a spool to lock it up.

 

[92singlecab]

Hi all, I finally have the money saved up to buy the front end and I’m debating between these 2 options:


These are off marketplace listed for 2k. As the description says I can use my coil springs that I have plus my 2.0x14 bilsteins with reservoirs or the 3.0x16 Custer coilovers that he is also selling.

And then the threat Motorsports option:

With these I can get them for 2k as well as the owner has updated the website with different options. With these I would also make custom shock mounts and hoops to run those 2.0x14 bilsteins with reservoirs with the coil springs.

My question is, which setup seams better to run? And also, do the beams off of marketplace look strong and put together well? Basically I’m worried about will the marketplace beams be safe to run or do they look janky and have a possibility of breaking?

 

[Brett_408]

Id take a shot on the extended market place beams and 3.0 kuster/kings. They'll preform much better then the stock width coil spring smooth body set up. As far as construction on the FB ones radius arms and gusseting look decentish. Definitely would wanna look them over real good for bends and cracking.

Also I hope with the FB deal is 2k for beam kit and shocks because it ain't worth anymore then that.

 

[FENDERFAB]

Id take a shot on the extended market place beams and 3.0 kuster/kings. They'll preform much better then the stock width coil spring smooth body set up. As far as construction on the FB ones radius arms and gusseting look decentish. Definitely would wanna look them over real good for bends and cracking.

Also I hope with the FB deal is 2k for beam kit and shocks because it ain't worth anymore then that.

Yup.

Going back to what i posted on post #13. i wouldn't buy those stock width beams. Youre going to want more performance later on. I would haggle with the guy on marketplace and get the beams and shocks for 2k and run it. Check them for cracks etc, make sure they are solid. Clean them up with a fresh coat of paint and run it. Thats going to be a much better performing setup than a stock width with coil springs.

 

[92singlecab]

Alright sounds good thank you I’m gonna try to meet up with him Monday to go look at them and see what kind of deal we can work out.

 

[96f-u250]

I would look for something bigger than those stock ranger beam ends and hubs.

 

[92singlecab]

Update!
Today I bought the extended beams and radius arms and everything they came with for 1k without the coil overs, they were pretty beat and a little overkill for a ranger IMO. The beams looked solid and there was plenty of gusseting and added strength that wasn’t visible in the previous pictures.

They had surface rust so I cleaned the metal and painted them with a rust preventative paint. I have to get the rest of the misalignments for the heims on the radius arms, and one heim on the steering linkage then throw it all together!

For the first stage I’m going to use the shocks and coil spring that I have then keep scouring for a good deal of a set of coilovers then convert it to a coilover truck later on.



I wish I could post more pics but it keeps saying the files are too big! I’ll keep posting updates in the build tho!

 

[Hi-Desert Motorsports]

Rad! No better feeling than when new parts get picked up! No such thing as overkill though, I have seen some pretty beefy beams bend. You'll be out in the desert in no time!

 

[mrs.juberafab]

I miss build threads like this. Takes me back to old DR days but without the hateful banter .
Congrats on the parts. Also I'm not sure if anyone mentioned saving money for offroad swap meet. You'd be surprised at what you could score there especially when it comes to shocks, wheels, tires, etc.

 

[92singlecab]

Rad! No better feeling than when new parts get picked up! No such thing as overkill though, I have seen some pretty beefy beams bend. You'll be out in the desert in no time!

Haha right! Yeah the one thing I did notice was the inside of the shock mounts weren’t fully welded, so I ground the paint off and made the weld

Not my worst not my best but it’ll hold lol!