from stock to drop, what do i do
 

its going down, but research comes first

my first question is where do I buy and why do some shocks cost more but seem to be the same thing?

secondly
tell me what you know. lets hear all about how to make my 97 "low and slow"
:)

Depends on how low you would like to go. Your 97 is an i beam truck, so look into a DJM 3/4 kit. The kit consists of DJM's Dream Beams, which is a 3" drop i beam. The rear is lowered by flipping the axle, and the bracket comes with the kit. The kit also comes with shocks.

The whole thing with shocks costing more or less and looking the same is the internal construction. The DJM shocks provide a comfortable ride on a dropped Ranger. I went with a stiffer, more expensive performance shock, the Doetsch Tech Nitro Slammer. I not only daily drive my 96, I drift it and I'm about to start running track days. I also plan to autocross it. Select your shocks while keeping in mine what you want to do with the truck in the future.