Lowering a body lifted truck

Smigjo · #1 02-11-2013, 05:06 PM

So, I have a 1987 Ranger 2wd..I can't tell you all what I'm swapping into it, but it's going to be fun as hell lol (Not a 5.0.) Anyways, to make it simpler I was thinking about putting on a 1" body lift. It's going to be a street/strip truck so I don't want it to have a higher center of gravity, although I must admit the truck being that much higher would help the sleeper status. Anyways, has anyone done a body lift then lowered the truck? I'm thinking may be some 3" dream beams and SUA when I do the 8.8 swap. I did search but I wasn't sure how to word it but AFAIK there's not threads on this.

i like mud · #2 02-11-2013, 05:11 PM

why?

Smigjo · #3 02-11-2013, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i like mud

why?

I'd like to think I explained why..
For clearance with my v8 swap, but I still need a lower center of gravity. It's only an inch of lift, I know, and it won't effect my suspension geometry, I know. But it still raises my center of gravity. And it doesn't handle that well as is.. I'm mainly worried if it will look retarded.

i like mud · #4 02-11-2013, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smigjo

I'd like to think I explained why..
For clearance with my v8 swap, but I still need a lower center of gravity. It's only an inch of lift, I know, and it won't effect my suspension geometry, I know. But it still raises my center of gravity. And it doesn't handle that well as is.. I'm mainly worried if it will look retarded.

1 inch will not give you that much clearance there is no reason whatsoever to do this but if your heart truly desires no one will even know its there

Redneckstone · #5 02-11-2013, 05:23 PM

You don't need a body lift for a v8 swap if done correctly. And no this is retarded.

Smigjo · #6 02-11-2013, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redneckstone

You don't need a body lift for a v8 swap if done correctly. And no this is retarded.

I do for this v8... I'm throwing a 5.3 in it. Everything I've read so far says that if you want any chance of keeping the heater, you have to have at least a 1" body lift.

Redrocket · #7 02-11-2013, 05:40 PM

The heater box can be moded with just a little cuting and re configuring. I've done it on 2 rangers my 5.0 swap 88 and a 93 ranger my friend has witch has a 4.8 in it. The main problem your going to run into with stuffing a chevy engine into a ford is the frames are skinny and chevy motors are wide and short so frame will have to be cut and plated in the right spot to make the exhaust fit and ect. I don't see a point in a body lift. It's a waist of time and money. And your worried about center of gravity. Well the body lift will make it just like stock no matter how low you go.

low2.3 · #8 02-11-2013, 05:42 PM

A 5.3 is smaller in comparison to a 5.0 only thing that I see that would interfere is the header which you'll probably have to fab custom ones anyway and fender walls are always an option and what are you using for motor mounts because if your going through all this work set the motor as low and as far forward as you can if your making your own mounts

And a lot of bagged guys are notching their heater box to run bigger wheels so notch it for what ever clearance you need

Smigjo · #9 02-11-2013, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redrocket

The heater box can be moded with just a little cuting and re configuring. I've done it on 2 rangers my 5.0 swap 88 and a 93 ranger my friend has witch has a 4.8 in it. The main problem your going to run into with stuffing a chevy engine into a ford is the frames are skinny and chevy motors are wide and short so frame will have to be cut and plated in the right spot to make the exhaust fit and ect. I don't see a point in a body lift. It's a waist of time and money. And your worried about center of gravity. Well the body lift will make it just like stock no matter how low you go.

Yeah, I know about the heater box. I was originally planning on heating the box and then using the oil filter to form it. But I read elsewhere that the ls will go much farther into the heater box. Now that I think about it, the 351W is wider than the 5.3, and the heater box can be modded for that too, so I guess I'll scratch that body lift idea then. Also, upon more research, I discovered that since the body doesn't weigh that much it doesn't affect the C.O.G. too bad. And, as you all have said, it's only an inch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by low2.3

A 5.3 is smaller in comparison to a 5.0 only thing that I see that would interfere is the header which you'll probably have to fab custom ones anyway and fender walls are always an option and what are you using for motor mounts because if your going through all this work set the motor as low and as far forward as you can if your making your own mounts

Yeah, I'm not worried about headers. I'm pretty sure a 5.3 is just slightly wider than a 5.0, man. Also by setting forward do you mean back farther into the engine bay? Lol I don't know why I would want it forward in the engine bay. I'm still trying to figure out a solution for the rad. Oh yeah, I'm not worried about headers because I'm putting manifolds on backwards (forward-facing.)

low2.3 · #10 02-11-2013, 05:57 PM

I wouldn't want it more forward in the bat either but for clearance you gotta do whatever lol I have not tried to put an ls in a ranger but as far as it being wider I'll measure tomorrow you may be right idk but I have a 4.8 and 5.0 on engine stands in the shop and forward facing manifolds only mean 2 things a retarded ass exhaust setup on a 5.0pinto or boost

Smigjo · #11 02-11-2013, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by low2.3

I wouldn't want it more forward in the bat either but for clearance you gotta do whatever lol I have not tried to put an ls in a ranger but as far as it being wider I'll measure tomorrow you may be right idk but I have a 4.8 and 5.0 on engine stands in the shop and forward facing manifolds only mean 2 things a retarded ass exhaust setup on a 5.0pinto or boost

You got it, boost! Lol, a single ~70mm turbo. Inspiration from Denmah, if anyone here follows his builds.

bigfisher · #12 02-11-2013, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redneckstone

And no this is retarded.

x2

Smigjo · #13 02-11-2013, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfisher

x2

I don't see how so. It's only an inch, it gives the clearance needed without being too obvious. The lift can easily be overcome through suspension lowering in my opinion. Mind you all, this truck is a piece of junk. It may be slightly counter effective, but still effective. But as I stated earlier, through more research and the responses in this thread, I've decided against it.

02RangerFX4 · #14 02-11-2013, 07:26 PM

Why not swap in a 5.0 to save time and money, then use that save money to buy a supercharger for it.

Smigjo · #15 02-11-2013, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02RangerFX4

Why not swap in a 5.0 to save time and money, then use that save money to buy a supercharger for it.

I thought about the 5.0... but I want something more unique. And I've been itching for an ls for a long time. The swap came to me more as a "I want a turbo'd LS," not a "I want a v8 in my ranger." If that makes sense. My ranger has a 2.3 in it right now that needs a head. I know I could do a 2.3 turbo swap, and I planned to do one for a long time too. I'm pretty much dead set on this too, there's very few builds on LS rangers, so it's kind of exciting to think I'll be one of the first to do the turbo 5.3 junkyard build in a ranger. I know there have been a few, but poorly documented.