After owning my beloved Ranger since Mar 03, I've finally made up my mind on what I'm doing with it. I'm letting it reflect my name on here and dropping it. Still not sure on how low I want to go, if it will get bags or just a static drop. All I have figured out for sure is NO DRAGGING!! I'm planning to wrap my interior in gray/black suede, update the front end with Edge components, all black paint with no chrome or polish, an STX bed (which I believe is a Mazda bed, am I wrong?), and either some sort of turbo setup on the 3.0 or a 5.4 Lightning motor swap. I still have some ideas that need to be researched, like will an 07 cluster fit and work in my 99? Any suggestions are welcome, as long as it's ideas on how to go Luxo/Speed with my truck. I know, Luxo/Speed sounds crazy, but why not have something that's fast AND comfy?

that is an ambitious project. did you ever read the article on the 5.4 triton ford put in a ranger? turbo 3.0 or 5.0l motor setup are more manageable choices. as for your other ideas.. a-okay. suede should look killer and the rest of the truck seems pretty unique.

I was completely set on doing the turbo setup until I caught an old article on the Lightning Bolt Ranger. I know it involves ALOT of work to shoehorn that puppy under the hood, but it looks so killer. And I got my luxury seating idea. My friend just bought a new Benz C230 tonight, and those seats are NICE!!!! So much for the Explorer seat swap....

you could start off buying the main lowering components such as beams or control arms then go from there u could go lower with springs or bags.

you could start off buying the main lowering components such as beams or control arms then go from there u could go lower with springs or bags.

I'm thinking about running Shockwaves on some DJM control arms, if it's possible. I have been in several vehicles with them and love how they ride, plus I've heard it's tough to bag a Ranger and swap in a V-8.

I think for you to run shockwaves you would have to weld some tabs to the djm arms. Anything is possible with a welder and a grinder.

What kind of vehicles have you been in that have them? older muscle cars?

Personally I would go with a standard slam bag and a shock, but if you have the dough to run shockwaves more power to you man.

I think for you to run shockwaves you would have to weld some tabs to the djm arms. Anything is possible with a welder and a grinder.

What kind of vehicles have you been in that have them? older muscle cars?

Personally I would go with a standard slam bag and a shock, but if you have the dough to run shockwaves more power to you man.


Vehicles with Shockwaves that I've ridden in: 69 Chevelle, 02 Silverado, 99 Camaro, 01 Mustang GT and 37 Ford Pickup.

My main concern is IF I decide to swap in a V-8. I've heard that a traditional bag setup limits room under the hood, which there isn't much of to begin with. Since I'm not planning on slamming it and dragging rockers, don't really see any reason to go through all the fab work for bags. Then again, my mind could change a million times before I get moved and start tearing into my truck....

honestly I don't know what you've heard about traditional slamming? What would be different? The thing that would really make a difference on how low you go is how far up those control arms are going to be swinging into the engine bay.

I don't know how much bigger the 5.4 lightning motor is over a 302 or some other small block. Not into motors enough, although I would imagine it's pretty damn big, lol. There are quite a few guys who are bodydropped even with 302's and there are a few guys with bags and 5.0's.

I know this will probably disgust you seeing that it's all hacked to hell and back.

http://www.streetsourcemag.com/uploads/Ownerprofiles/inssan/114200772141PM36401.jpg
5.6L Nissan Titan motor SHOVED into a bodydropped hardbody.

My point is that with some ingenuity you can make anything fit, just depends on how much money and work you're will to commit

Vehicles with Shockwaves that I've ridden in: 69 Chevelle, 02 Silverado, 99 Camaro, 01 Mustang GT and 37 Ford Pickup.

My main concern is IF I decide to swap in a V-8. I've heard that a traditional bag setup limits room under the hood, which there isn't much of to begin with. Since I'm not planning on slamming it and dragging rockers, don't really see any reason to go through all the fab work for bags. Then again, my mind could change a million times before I get moved and start tearing into my truck....


Well the list above are all cars.... (except for the 37, but it was probably running ifs anyways) Theres a reason why they run shock waves on them... they take the place of the struts, and well... its basically a kit. You would be better off with a traditional bag, it would be 1,000 times cheaper and in my opinion you will probably have more under hood space then trying to fab up shock wave mounts.

Bags will not be a concern with the motor swap.

1: The bags will be mounted on the outside of the frame-rails.
2: You have WAY more to worry about with that swap then just the bags
3: Radiator and its mounts.
4: Front cross members, oil pan clearance
5: Fire wall clearance, might even have to move it back.
6: Frame clearance, not only the headers but also oil filter, steering box
7: Transmission, x-members, tranny tunnel.
8: Why not a simple 302 swap? Build it up right and boost the hell out of it if you want.
9: No dragging?... what the heck?

My ranga

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/xxshowstoppaxx/motormount6.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/xxshowstoppaxx/motormount7.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/xxshowstoppaxx/radsuprt.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/xxshowstoppaxx/radsuprt4.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/xxshowstoppaxx/transmem3.jpg

Well the list above are all cars.... (except for the 37, but it was probably running ifs anyways)

and the 02 silverado, I believe that's a truck like vehicle too, lol.


Oh and Low3.0, you say that you don't want to deal with the fab work of traditional bags. Unless airride technologies makes a kit for the shockwaves and our trucks, I think you'll have more fab work with the shockwaves over a standard convulated bag. Really for bags in the front, and don't care if it lays out: pull springs, mount purchased bag cups to the bags, and slap them in, and run some airline to the back.

and the 02 silverado, I believe that's a truck like vehicle too, lol.


Oh and Low3.0, you say that you don't want to deal with the fab work of traditional bags. Unless airride technologies makes a kit for the shockwaves and our trucks, I think you'll have more fab work with the shockwaves over a standard convulated bag. Really for bags in the front, and don't care if it lays out: pull springs, mount purchased bag cups to the bags, and slap them in, and run some airline to the back.


BAH!!!... I CANT SEE!!!! :crazy:

and the 02 silverado, I believe that's a truck like vehicle too, lol.


Oh and Low3.0, you say that you don't want to deal with the fab work of traditional bags. Unless airride technologies makes a kit for the shockwaves and our trucks, I think you'll have more fab work with the shockwaves over a standard convulated bag. Really for bags in the front, and don't care if it lays out: pull springs, mount purchased bag cups to the bags, and slap them in, and run some airline to the back.


I greatly appreciate everyone's ideas and help. If I'm correct, running Shockwaves would only mean taking care of the clearance issues to put it in place of the stock shock while running bags would mean installing upper and lower bag mounts and fabbing new shock mounts.
And as far as the motor swap, I'm not dead set on the 5.4 IF I swap motors. A 5.0 is definitely on my mind, just not sure what the state laws are on motor swaps yet. I do know that the firewall must be moved back about 2.5in, custom headers will have to be made, the intake will need to be modified if I use a stock hood and the mounts will need to be designed to drop the motor about 2 inches lower than what it would be with a 5.0. If anyone from Texas knows the legal issues on motor swaps, please let me know as I'll be moving there in May.
And last but not least, why no dragging? I totally respect the time and money anyone puts into their truck to make it throw sparks, and I like how a truck looks at a show sitting flat out, it's just not my thing. I'm actually considering a static drop since I'm not gonna drag it.

OH YEAH!!! The Hardbody with the Titan motor is F***IN SWEET!!!!! I can't wait to see that finished

the 5.0HO's have the distributor on the front of them so if you are thinking about that swap you should be able to make it fit in there pretty easily. i haven't mocked up my engine yet as i am still waiting for cash to pick up my tranny. but the 5.0 isn't that much bigger than my 3.0. or maybe it just looks smaller cause it doesn't have the huge cluster**** of wires on it. anyway. the modular engines are huge (the 4.6 in my t-bird is almost 10 inches wider than my 302) but i'm sure you could make something fit.

you'll know your a badass when you have tubbed valve covers.

I don't believe you can bolt the shockwave straight into where the shock mounts, for two reasons. For one you'll still need to clearance out the frame, probably a good amount depending on the height of the shockwave. Also, you would probably have to do some reinforcing on the frame area, since the area where the shock typically mounts is not a thick enough to support the full weight of the vehicle.

the 5.0HO's have the distributor on the front of them so if you are thinking about that swap you should be able to make it fit in there pretty easily. i haven't mocked up my engine yet as i am still waiting for cash to pick up my tranny. but the 5.0 isn't that much bigger than my 3.0. or maybe it just looks smaller cause it doesn't have the huge cluster**** of wires on it. anyway. the modular engines are huge (the 4.6 in my t-bird is almost 10 inches wider than my 302) but i'm sure you could make something fit.

you'll know your a badass when you have tubbed valve covers.


Nah there really is no cutting on just a 302 swap.... we lowered mine about 2 inches and didnt have to change the oil pan because it was a toyota IFS... now we did have to use a oil filter relocator and the pass side header needed to be twirked.... ohh and we made the tube rad support so we could mount the rad IN it and not ON it... going more room for the front belts and dressings.

....Bags will not be a concern with the motor swap.

1: The bags will be mounted on the outside of the frame-rails.
2...
9: No dragging?... what the heck?

bags will actually be mounted inside the frame rails. if hes runnin djm arms means hes got a 98+ front suspension. run bags preferably slam specialties, contitech, or firestone and shocks. dont waste your money on shockwaves. theres no way the suspension on that truck will interfear unless ur cutting the inside of the frame rails out. on a i beam truck you might run into something since the mounts come way up. and those are on the outside of the frame. unless u do a yota or MII clip then there on the outside also.

I get what your saying brian about being outside versus inside. I think they should be called under the frame, lol. Either way though they aren't going to interfere with the motor.