More pics added check the link
for you lazy asses: http://picasaweb.google.com/cdufel/Ranger#5496165581383179922
Those were taken mid way through last night. We got the other two panels from the trans tunnel welded in, and all the rest welded in what you see there. Tonight we will cut the pieces around the bellhousing and get the floor 100% done.
We also boxed in the top of the bed rails with 1X1 square tube. We made a frame around the bed and put in some cross supports. The frame is welded in just bellow the fram rails, so that the 16ga sheet metal will flush out on the top of the bed rails. We are basically making a tube frame that will hang the fenders, tailgate and back of the bed, and mount to the chassis at 4 corners.
We even went the extra mile with the bed. If you notice the ford ranger beds are about 5/8" narrower where they butt against the cab back… you can see it when you look down each side. We split it down the middle of the back of the bed and extedned it with the frame and some sheet metal, so now the bed sides are flush with the cab. Attention to detail like that, is what sets this truck apart.
More pics will come tomorrow.
What gauge steel for the trans tunnel/floor? Looks good!
What you dont see in those pics, but I think CRD has one in the link, we used 22 ga to make chanels to support the floor sheet and make body mount points. Bent it up in a 1X2X1 U with 1" flanges to weld to.
The floor & trans tunnel sheet is all 16ga. We dont have a brake (Yet, thats on the list of DIY projects next) so the big bends we did were angle iron in a vise. took a cut off wheel and scored the bend on the inside enough to make it easy to bend with a sharp edge, then just welded the cut/inside bend back up once it was formed correctly.
the floor is bomb proof. nothing flexes at all, and will be plenty strong. The sections where the seats and seat belt mounts will attach will be reinforced underneeth with some 1/8th flat bar where the mounting points are.
nice work man.
thanks buddy. We have a cooler of frosty ones waiting for you when u get time to come down. :thumbup
shit looks dope man, i wish i had the time, money or attention span to learn about these types of trucks and actually build one
Thanks man. its all about everything you just mentioned! But really, its just another platform.
The way I approach my projects is the same no matter what i do. Picture in my head what i want, what i need to make it happen, HOW I need to make it happen… and then just go for it. It doesn’t matter much what your working on, if your lucky to have the mechanical ability to translate your skills into just about anything, the sky’s the limit.
Mad skillz being flexed up in hurrr
Thanks for noticing… I have been working out.
What wheels do u think?
Cragar Delux 69’s
Cragar Smoothie 313’s
Wheel Vintiques Series 14’s
Wheel Vintiques Series 20’s
We are going to paint them semi-gloss hot rod red, with white wall’s. Would like a narrow front 15X6 up front and 15X8.5-10 out back.
Cokers baby! 
So the only way this thing will lay rocker is if you run small wheels??
I like the first wheel
Hell no. And it lays DOOR. rocker went from 4.5" tall to .5" tall as it is now!!! We do shit right. As it rolls around the shop now its on 18X10 mustang bullets 255X40R18 rubber. The rear bed rail laid out is somewhere around 28 inches to the top from the ground. so you have to keep tire dia down.
Its just the look we are after, its going retro style. skinnies up front fat ass tire out back.
:thumbup
yeah its kinda like amix of classic and new. Classic simple design with the lug/hub center cap that looks newer.
I was looking at accessories, the Wheel Vintiques make some kick ass knock offs and bullet shaped center caps that hide the lugs completely and look bad ass.
Smoothy in matte/flat
them cragars are tits bro.
yeah top of fenders are 26" so unless you want tire and wheel outside of the body (or install speed bumps of an old eclipse) I’m limited to 25" diameter tire. It lays out on my 18 x 10 bullets now, but thats not the look i want. Im sure i can find some rubber bands and a nice set of 22’s and still lay my doors. I’ll post some pics later tonight we hung the passenger door to make front fender mounts and i have 1 3/4 of an inch to bottom of door to pavement.
Cragar Deluxe with the spyder caps!!!
Few new pics uploaded
instead of truck nuts its gonna have a chain penis?