opinions please Ranger frame for my 49 ford..

[Yankee Transplant]

Ok,, I have a chance to buy a 89 Ranger body with a missing title???? I know a lot of you say (no title no buy )..Its a good deal and it will have everything there to do my rat rod , and it will all match . I wanted to build my own frame and get a strait axle . then steering then brake system , well you know all the rest . which will cost me about 5 times what this truck will , and it has every thing already on it . And it matches each other .. My Frankenstein frame I have now has the s-10 sub frame married to the original frame (which is kinda ruff to say the least ). But its a roller for now. If I get the truck, Im still going to z the frame , I guess what im asking is should I go for it , seeing how there is a title problem ? Or should I even worry about the title, because the Ranger body will never be on the road again . This is not really what I wanted (look wise), but it will solve alot of my problems $ wise and other parts wise , and get me driving it sooner ..

 

[Sam_Fear]

If that has the twin I-beam suspension and you plan to go fenderless, plan on some heavy modifications. Or if you are going full fender, it's the track width. A frame swap is no easier and sometimes harder than making your own. But, like you say, you'll have all the matching parts.

Notice, I used a lot of words, but never answered your question.

 

[rex1927]

Title does not matter if just using chassis.
Go for it.[cl

 

[blacksheep]

If you think about it,am frame is just some steel welded together for a specified body. It's just me, but I prefer to build my own frame that will match the body I am using exactly. Then , i sort out the steering and suspension according to weight ,and length that I want. But, I would say if it fits your application extremely close then go for it. Tubular frames are much cleaner looking to me though.

 

[Flipper_1938]

Twin I-beam is ugly and not the best if you plan on lowering it (camber changes).

Also why it doesn't have a title could matter. If it is a stolen vehicle, using the frame will result in "go to jail, do not pass go".

 

[MercuryMac]

I have used a Ranger frame under a 1936 Ford truck and I was impressed. [36 Ford truck on a Ranger]. The frame stays narrow enough to fit nicely under the cab and it has two 'Z's', one in front and one behind the cab.
If you lower the front by cutting the coils it will change the camber but that can be changed with a wheel alignment, I think. I would C-notch the rear frame a bit and remount the rubber rear-end stoppers if I was going to lower the truck very much; mine has to stay a little high in the back. Also I had to add 1" spacers behind the rear wheels so the Ranger wheels were out far enough so the tires didn't hit the box sides.
If you're going to put a flathead motor in there, the Ranger steering box is going to be REAlly close to the waterpump-motormount. Other motors shouldn't be a problem.
I can't list all the other things that you will rob out of the donor truck an put in your project, like steering column, pedals, gauges, heater, seats, seatbelts, switches, dome lights. Go for it.

 

[Flipper_1938]

If you can build it so that it works at stock ranger height and is hidden under sheetmetal...it might work just fine.

Lowered rangers look broken due to the arc that the I-beams follow when you get away from stock.

 

[05snopro440]

If you can build it so that it works at stock ranger height and is hidden under sheetmetal...it might work just fine.

Lowered rangers look broken due to the arc that the I-beams follow when you get away from stock.

Yep, you're 100% right about that.

 

[Bamamav]

Yankee Transplant, you're in AL, so you don't need a title for the 49, and they don't care about the frame as long as it's not stolen. I wouldn't say anything about it when you go to register it.

 

[Yankee Transplant]

Bama I wasnt going to say I done anything but lower the truck. ,and flipper I didnt realise it was a I - beam under it ,, hmm I just assumed it was coils. Ill have to rethink that deal cause im not going with fenders and it will be lowered . I found the truck to get the bed off it and other body parts for my sons truck , I later thought about using the frame for my project .. Ill get the numbers and go to the local scrap-yard and see if he will run them for me to make sure nothing is owed or some body is looking for it . I can still rob parts pedals steering column,what ever else I could use .. You just cant find a strait axle anywhere around here , Money is tight so it may have to sit in the corner some more .. But I do need the 3 pedal system and column out of it ..That will be a few more parts Ill have . Id say a rough guess would be about $1000 to get my tubing, front axle ? and brakes and a steering box .... I just cant do that right now ...
Thanks for y'alls in-put It means alot to me .. The twin I-Beam may be a deal breaker on using the frame ..

 

[MercuryMac]

Dream beams make twin I beams that will raise your spindles a bit to lower the truck, but you still will have those coil springs on the outside of the frame. I have fenders on mine so nobody can see the coils.
Somewhere in the '90's the coils gave way to torsion bars so that might be an option. Keep on tinkering.

 

[Bamamav]

I think 99 was the first year for IFS with torsion bars. That was also the first year for PATS.

It takes some work, but I saw a twin I beam on air one time, that the bags were under the car, behind the frame. Outside the frame looked like a straight axle, but it worked as a IFS.

 

[05snopro440]

Since you're planning on going genderless I would suggest using the truck for parts but not using the whole frame. Frame swaps are fine tucked under sheet metal, but if it's genderless spend the time and money to get the look right, even if it takes longer. JMO.

 

[Yankee Transplant]

snopro Im leaning in that direction , just keep looking for the axle . I can find a model A axle . but Id like to get the newer ones. I think it will be better even if its a 2 spring , I can make it to a single . I have been working on this thing for a while off and on so a little more time wont hurt ( its not like the paint is going to mess up on it waiting in the corner