I know I haven't updated this thread in a while, but here is the latest progress. I decided a SAS would be a good choice for me. Simple and strong.
It started out like any other small 4x4 pickup.
Got some 31" BFGs, a rear Lock Right, some beefed up skid plates, CB, custom overbuilt D.O.M rock sliders, a front bumper since I destroyed the stock one, and a multi mount winch that I can use front or rear.
Here it is wheeling Montana Mountain.
Then after wheeling the back road to Crown King I realized it was time to lift it or something. Instead of a drop bracket waste of money lift I decided on a SFA. These Rangers have low hanging torsion bars and the only kit available now is a Superlift which uses all drop brackets and keeps the torsion bars nice an low. The problem is that unlike Toyotas where there are kits to help out, there are no products anything like a Toyota SAS kit. Everything was going to be custom.
I talked to a few people did some research and gave my truck to Hunter for the build. He strengthened up my sliders and did a few other small things a year before and I remembered his honesty and quality of work.
Here it is with the IFS stripped down.
Dana 44 out of an 87' Wagoneer. Rebuilt and ready to go with new gears, a Lock-Right, high steer arm, and Warn Premium Hubs.
John did some fancy metal work with the leaf brackets and to make everything work properly. I wanted a new front crossmember with a hitch incorporated in it.
It's not completed but here is the general idea.
Here is the steering shaft he built.
Here is the shock tower John built with a mock up shock.
I used a old Toyota steering box with a flat pitman arm from Sky Manufacturing. This thing is beefy! The frame had to be notched in order for the TRE to clear. I always seemed to stop by in the middle of things because it obviously isn't all welded up here, but you get it.
While the holidays got in the way of my pitman arm being shipped, I had John make me a bumper.
