Ford Ranger Prerunner

[bruce750i]

The motor under the front hood would have a cool factor of 100%. IMO

[Kcaz25]

Originally Posted by bruce750i

The motor under the front hood would have a cool factor of 100%. IMO

I love this idea! I saw the drawing too. Maybe with a castle blower. Maybe sticking out of the hood!

[_paralyzed_]

thanks for the link. I'm going reading........

[NickRummy]

This build is going waaaaaay to slow for my liking but it looks like things might finally be able to start picking up. This is my first time really working with steel like this so it's starting out pretty rough. Got in the material for the frame rails. 3/4" x 3/4" x 18ga tube.



Clamped the tube in a vice and started heating it up with a torch. I learned it had to be red hot in order to get a nice bend. First attempt I didn't get hot enough and it actually cracked the tube....... Here it is before making the last bend.



Then the idea was after they are bent to shape I would cut them in half and have two symmetrical C-channel frames. Great plan, poor execution It worked but I have a lot of clean up to do on them since the cuts weren't that straight.

These are the wheels I plan on using but these ones are obviously in rough shape. They'll work for place holders though.









I put the bed on just to see how much extra the fenders will need. Looks about right.





Next will be getting the frame rails smoothed out and brazing in the cross bars. Maybe getting the motor and trans mounted and making body mounts.

[mistercrash]

This... is... AWESOME!!!!!

[NickRummy]

Originally Posted by bruce750i

The motor under the front hood would have a cool factor of 100%. IMO

Originally Posted by Kcaz25

I love this idea! I saw the drawing too. Maybe with a castle blower. Maybe sticking out of the hood!

This has been the plan all along. That's why it's up front on the frame just like the real trucks. Should be able to pop the hood and see the big green power plant

EDIT: I had these CAD images but didn't post them. This might clarify the front end setup a little more.

Driver side view



Front view