I'd say about half the SAS guys do it for offroading(Like Jey, Gildo) and the other half do it for the reputation/look.

so I figured he'd want the creature comforts of a newer vehicle.

Also, as i said 97 and 98 are diffferent. to upgrade front ends on a 98 you don't need new fenders.
Interior on a 98 is different and a bit nicer. Bumpers are also nicer.

97 Isn't really different at all. ****, 98+ IFs is easier to swap an early brono axle onto i believe. At least the guy i talked to gave me taht idea.

And not everybody does mods for the offroading. Look at these bigass lifted 2wds. If it was about offroading they'd get a stock 4x4 and mod or go gung ho like john griggs.

Aaron

 

this is funny cause it turned into whats cheaper, to whats in everybodys opinion is "better", to buy another DIFFERENT model vehicle on the side.

im just saying, minus the tranny problem, IMHO it would be CHEAPER monetarily to just build what he has. unless he downgrades the trade in, hes gonna lose money. why downgrade to get a truck that may have other potential problems? And yes it is a kinda "if he has to ask" type thing, but gettin the wheels turnin is the only way to learn something. at least hes asking before and getting a feel before he says "Im doing a SAS, how do I do it."

but this is all my personal opinion and availability of stuff is a big factor, but if he shops pirate4x4.com and maybe some local wheeling boards, he can save a crap ton of money that way. i know the parts I have, Ive gotten awesome deals on. hell, i got a 400 dollar gearset for 100 bucks. but again, this is just my opinion.

 

If I do this I wont have to worry about the truck being my DD i'll be getting a taurus here in a week or so which come spring will be sold so I can get a mustang. So I will have another vehicle. Also there is always a first to do something and IMO it's better to have all the info and resorces before you actually do something. Not to mention by the time I do this I will be out of school and i'll be able to do all the welding myself since that is what i'm going to school for.

 

Well man i'd really recommend an older truck. With the price you could sell your 04 for and then replace with a 93-00 truck you could pay for the SAS with saved money. Plus that older truck could already have 4wd. I jus think best would be a 93-00 4.0 4x4 truck.

Aaron

 

screw that, go ***** to the wall and do the ranger. if your gonna do a swap, do a swap! for that "get another vehicle" logic he should buy a jeep.

dont listen to these newbies

and keep researching. If you have any questions hit me up on AIM, i know im on your buddy list.

 

buddy i am not no noob.......i have researched the **** out of a SAS.....I am actually starting mine this fall in my '97....

just like RED said, you could sell your truck, buy a nice '97 and have the best ranger to do a SAS on, a TTB ranger. you wouldn't need to change coil buckets, that makes it easier because you already have the axle in the correct position under the frame and you wouldn't have to drill out rivits nor drill new holes in your frame......

I understand wanting something different, but come on.......with the suspension he has upnder that A arm 2wd setup, he would have to take the front frame all the way down to nothing and start over. Not to mention that it would take almost 4x as long.........if he had a TTB ranger ('97 & older) the swap would be more practical because of the almost solid axle that they would already have....it would be pretty much unbolt the TTB and brackets, then just install the new axle. the only fab work would be on the radius arm brackets, and the tranny crossmember.

I personally think he needs to do more research for himself. look at other Ranger sites like www.therangerstation.com, www.rangerresource.net, or others.....ask guys who have done it MORE than once and let them tell you what to do.......

 

the noob thing was a joke, bro, take her easy...

anyway, I still stick by swap what hes got. like i said if he wanted easy he could buy a POS jeep. Im not quite sure of what drilling he would have to do except for the steering box.

i agree, hed take it down to a frame and build from there, but DEPENDING on what type of suspension is what will depends how much longer itll take. If he went with a leaf setup, and had his plan and parts in order, he could probably get it done just as fast as a TTB SAS.

Im personally going coilovers when i start my swap. I have an 02. If i got any other vehicle, itde be a cheap truck challenge. Jeys came out sick, and there arent many NEWER generation SAS'd rangers out there, which is why i say screw it, and go for it. the knowledge is around to learn, pirate is a godsend for that type of stuff, now its just spending the time to read it all and start practicing.

if you understand the concept of solid axle swapping, you can take it to basically any vehicle. I mean the concept is pretty universal and just because he doesnt have to place new coil buckets doesnt mean that its gonna be extremely easy...

 

he would have to drill for the coil buckets if he went with coils or drill for the leaf spring perches if he went with leaf springs......he will have to drill for a trackbar mount........with a '97 or older ranger you could leave the factory coil buckets in place and use early bronco springs for the lift......

but what ever it is up to him

 

not if you weld them all to the frame... which ide choose anyday over drilling and bolting...

 

i have my stock 4x4 spindles and hubs collecting dust that id sell.. and whatever else i may find