I just picked up a 98 Ranger from a friend. He's had the truck maybe a year or so, I got it in trade because he has a "collection" of them..lol

The truck sits high, more so than stock, as we both believe.
It is a long bed, with hard bed cover.
The front tires right now are 195/60/15, which at its present height look too small. I'd say there's a good 6-7" (or more) gap between the tire and body.

The rear tires are 215/70/15, again a 6" gap. A little less because of the tire height difference.

It's a 2WD. I can't tell much about the front yet because I'm new to Rangers, but the rear suspension has stock shocks and leaf springs that look thick, but only three per side. No real evidence of lift.

I'm assuming the front has struts(?). My friend thinks maybe the previous owner may have put full-size suspension hardware on it. I personally can't fathom that working. I don't think it would fit.

I'd like to bring it down a bit. I do plan on putting some bigger tires under it, he suggested 225/15 on front and 245/15 rear. I was thinking 235/15 all fours, just not sure what to do at this point.

Any ideas, anyone?

 

By the way, by bringing the ride height down, I meant closer to stock.

I'm just not into slamming my vehicles.

And by the LMC online catalog, I see that the front suspension is coil spring/shock, thank God no struts.

 

Welcome to the site..

235's may rub on the front inner wheel well areas. Could always mount one to check..

The stock springs would have been 3 (2/1) and I think a higher capacity would have increased to 4. So no taller shackles or rear diff blocking added to raise it up?
Post up a pic or two if you get a chance..l

 

https://www.fordforum.com/forum/atta...1&d=1499592648

 

Anybody?

 

Definitely looks to be sitting high in the front, rear body spacing looks about right. He maybe did a front lift to give it the 4x look. Could of just been a coil swap,, taller or cap weight rated increase, but standard truck wouldn't fit.

Are you staying with those rims? When going taller/wider the rim offset may come into play. So does sidewall height=sway. If the sidewall height is greatly increased handling may be affected if mounted on smaller diameter rims, so to get the advantage of the taller tires, a rim diameter increase helps to balance it all out for physical look, and performance. The smaller tires up front make it look worse for front high, but higher than stock. R/Fender gap is wide at the bottom as well, primed hood, was it wrecked?

What's the rim diameter on those wheels?

235 probably wouldn't be an issue or maybe even 245, but depending on wheel offset/center/width, what ever rims you go with I'd have a tire mounted and checked for clearances.

 

I may be going V8 on this one. It has a 2.5/auto 4speed now.

Thinking 302/5spd. I know the 5spd will be a job, but I know of a donor truck.

My 2.5 has over 235,000 miles, and trans pops into neutral if kicked into passing gear.

So I'm thinking it's time for a transplant. But I will swap tires for now .

Wheels are 15" dia. stock type rims. I'd like to swap rims at a later time.

Not sure that it was wrecked, but looking @ this pic I'm thinking it was, gap isn't right @ the front fenders, and bumper tilts a bit. (I'm an old body/paint guy). Probably explains the primed hood, which needs adjusted badly. Drives fine as long as you're not in a hurry lol!