SAS S10 or Ranger
 

Im thinkin about selling/trading the sammi for an s10 or ranger. If i did i would eventually want to have a solid axle up front. What do guys use for these swaps? I dont really want to go full size axles bc id still want it streetable. I can prolly get my hands on a set of scout 44s and was thinking that would be a good start? If not, what do other people use? Thanks!

Since I'm a ford guy my vote is Ranger... The rangers look good lifted and seem to be a good platform to work from. I'm not up on all the tricks of the wheeling trade for the ranger.
To busy doing the jeep cherokee thang.:D

Good luck

Nick

Go Bengals! WHO-DEY!!!

I have no brand loyalty, all the car companies are in bed together anymore anyway so there all the same to me. I grew up give me chevy or give me death, and imports suck lol. Look at me now, my DD is a Ford and my toy is an import lol Im just going to do whatever i get the best deal on i guess. I saw a ranger on here for sale that looks pretty killer, nothin special, just looks clean. He wants like $1300 for it now or trade for sammi, but my samurai is worth more than $1300.

I'd say trade the guy with the ranger if the sammy is streetable and has a title:D I'm selling it because I need something with a back seat.X-mas shoping with 2 kids in a ranger SUCKS!!!!

:D sammy is streetable and has a title, but the top and back seat are now MIA due to the cage that is getting installed as we speak.

I have been doing tons of research on SAS on S-10/S-15 for the last several months getting ready for a project ...... **** I gave away a hint !!!

Front axle choice on the late model GM's is going to be Drivers drop,
Dana 30 jeep
Dana 44 jeep , scout , ford , late model dodge
Dana 60 ford or Late model dodge

I have a 79 ford F-250 dana 44 / dana 60 set getting ready to be slung under mine , I'm going for around 35"-37" tires on a streetable but fun trail rider.

Alot of guys are going Dana 30 / 8.8 to keep the bolt patterns the same .

thanks sarge i wondered about jeep axles but wasnt real sure of their strength

The 30 is an OK axle as long as you are staying around the 33" tire range and are not going beat the hell out of it . The Dana 35 is junk ! thats why most people either leave the 10 bolt in the S trucks or go with the Ford 8.8 .

The 30 / 8.8 combo is very close in width to the factory S trucks.

Some guys use the old first gen. Bronco 44's and keep the coils but those are getting hard to find , junk yards are full of 30's and 8.8's.

Great info to know! Keep it comin! :beers:

I'm kinda partial to the ranger platform. Almost all from 90 forward had an 8.8, at least the 4.0 rangers. Though they were only 28 spline, 31 spline rears from explorers are plentiful and cheap and an easy swap. The front D35 was no slouch with the same u-joints as D44's. Don't mess with the 3.0 rangers if you want to build something for trail.

I dont have much expierience with the 3.0l engines, why are they not good for off roading? underpowered? or just a bad engine all together?

I believe the track difference between a Ford 8.8 and a Dana 30 is about an inch. Adding a spacer on each side takes care of the problems.

If you go Dana 30 up front might as well go high pinion.

I believe Mike Shelton ran a 3.0 V6 in a Ranger truggy not too long ago.

It's a 5/8" of a difference on each side so a 1.25" total. So you could even run with out the spacers.

I ran no spacers and you could not tell .

ya, that would for sure be the last thing on my "to do" list is make up 5/8" on both sides

It was a 4.0

I didn't say they were bad, just not optimal. The 4.0 trucks are at least as plentiful as the 3.0 trucks. The 3.0 is kind of by itself in compatibility. The 2.8, 2.9, and 4.0 all share the same bellhousing bolt pattern. This has advantages when tranny shopping. The 4.0's have good power.

ahh ha! i see, that makes since :beers:

I have an 03 Ranger Ext Cab with the 4.0 auto and factory 4.10 gears I may be willing to sell.

All you need to find is a Dana 30 from a 4 cylinder wrangler which should have the 4.10 gears also.

that would be awesome, the only thing is you would prolly want a lot more for it than what i would have. all i would have would be what i get out of the samurai :(

The TJ's were all low-pinion, weren't they?

The XJ's were high pinion through 99.


For that matter (shameless XJ plug) why start with IFS to begin with?

Do you need the open bed? For the work and money you'll have in it, you could build a helluvan XJ.

Hell, search hard enough, and there are still decent 'Manches out there!

Robert

the big down fall of the XJ is lack of a frame !! nuff said :cool:

It has been a great truck, and has towed my Jeep and trailer easily, just need a bigger truck for the family.

Want any more info let me know.

He may trade you the Samurai for this. The ranger would make a great truggy!

Dont need a Sami just a bigger truck