Basura Blanco Racing - an evolving fleet

edizzle89 wrote: hey, I sent you a PM but not sure if you got it. I just wanted to see what all you have done to the suspension? any plans for more upgrades? would you have done anything suspension-wise differently?

I'm usually on the forum from my phone. I'm not even sure how to check PMs, but I'll try it next time I'm on a computer. In the front, I have 2" eBay aluminum spring spacers that bolt to the I-beam and some heavier duty springs. The aftermarket springs were supposed produce 2" lift and replace the aluminum spacers. It turns out, they added no lift. But since they do have a beefier spring rate, I kept them in along with the spacers. The front also has fresh Bilsteins meant for a similar era F150.  On the rear, I flipped the rear spring shackles to lower it a hair. It's got fresh bilsteins and some "traction bars" by James Duff. I've also added about 75 lbs of weight to the rear under the bed in the form of barbell weights welded to the spare. The traction bars made the most significant difference and overall it works quite well for the $ invested. Someday I may consider going to a 4-link rear suspension.  Theres a nice train crossing near me that I like to use to catch a little air occasionally. 

I still have no idea how to check PM's. Any advice?

very nice, i've been looking into budget mid-travel i beam rangers and people say you can swap f150 springs in or ~5" xj jeep lift springs, both netting ~4 inches of lift. I was just trying to figure out which would be a better option as the f150 springs are pretty stiff and the jeep springs are pretty soft. being from the mid west i wouldnt be jumping alot of dunes but would like decent travel.

Do you like your heavier duty springs? do you happen to know the PPI of your springs? are they well matched for rallycross or would you stiffer or softer if you could?

Lof8 wrote: I still have no idea how to check PM's. Any advice?

They go to the email you have on file.

after a quick google search it looks like most ranger lift springs are around 400 ppi, f150 springs are around 500 ppi, and jeep lift springs are around 240 ppi (vary some brand to brand). my thinking is that with 3-4" of lift in the front the softer springs would maybe be a better choice since they will also have more up travel?

In reply to edizzle89:

Front Lift Springs

I believe these are the springs I used. It doesn't say the rate exactly, which is a shame, because they seem to do the trick pretty well. They are stiffer than stock but the ride is pretty decent. I've also seen several pics of my truck with the front fully compressed, so I wouldn't want to be much softer. I also wouldn't want much more lift than what I have for rallycross, but it sounds like you're looking for a different purpose for your build. If you decide to go forward, please make a thread. I'd love to watch what you do!

EvanB wrote:

Lof8 wrote: I still have no idea how to check PM's. Any advice?

They go to the email you have on file.

Odd, the address on file is correct.

Lof8 wrote: In reply to edizzle89: Front Lift Springs I believe these are the springs I used. It doesn't say the rate exactly, which is a shame, because they seem to do the trick pretty well. They are stiffer than stock but the ride is pretty decent. I've also seen several pics of my truck with the front fully compressed, so I wouldn't want to be much softer. I also wouldn't want much more lift than what I have for rallycross, but it sounds like you're looking for a different purpose for your build. If you decide to go forward, please make a thread. I'd love to watch what you do!

Yea i was just looking though your pictures and saw this which looks pretty compressed:

so just guessing i think a ~350-400 ppi spring that would net ~4" of lift would be ideal. it may be time to check out some prerunner forums. Thanks for the help!

In reply to edizzle89:

I spend a bit of time lurking on dezertrangers.com Those guys seem to mostly be long travel stuff but its cool to look at and dream :)

one last quick question, it looks like you arent running a sway bar? how are the road manners? still pretty decent?

edizzle89 wrote: one last quick question, it looks like you arent running a sway bar? how are the road manners? still pretty decent?

I have indeed removed the sway bar. I did it as a test and never put it back on. The off-road manners improved greatly. Bumps are soaked up much more smoothly. The body roll increased a bit, as you'd expect. But, otherwise, the on-road characteristics are not much different. Its easy enough to take on and off to see what you prefer. I recently sent mine out in the trash rather than have it take up space in my garage.

For a while, I was using the factory bracketry to hold my weighted spare tire in place. It had no real means to secure the tire, so I would use ratchet straps to hold it. That method failed twice. I've devised a new design to bolt this 75 lb weight straight to the underside of the bed. This should work better!  

Nothing helpful to add other than awesome thread and that you are making me want to move back to Florida in the worst way!

Oh man, that looks like fun. The FIRM video has me equally on the fence between buying ANOTHER E30 for a rally build (already have a street/HPDE E30 and a Lemons E30...) or minitrucking for the win. Definitely watching with interest.

Did you rebuild the trac loc before putting the axle in the ranger? If not id plan too when you do the v8 swap. The clutch kit with updated clutches is only 89 bucks. If you build it too fords extreme duty pack specs you do need to run 75-140 or 85-140 plus posi additive.

In reply to gearheadE30:

E30s are obviously very popular rallycross platforms. But trucks are cooler

In reply to dropstep:

I did not rebuild it. It was advertised as 6X,XXX miles, looked good inside and is acting as it should in test drives (FIRM event this weekend). Hopefully a rebuild isn't needed any time soon, but I'll keep your advice in mind.

$2k challenge prep this year took one evening. I trimmed up the rear bumper and will likely cut off the muffler.  Also, the mustang heart has been removed! Preparing for transplant into the Ranger. 

I follow offroadmustang on IG and pointed him to GRM a while back, I had some down time today and read your whole thread, I sent him the link for here, Hopefully he pops in and says hello.

And I think you have to get your lady behind the wheel!

In reply to MulletTruck: I rallycross with that dude. Sweet ride he's got!

The 4 banger is out! I listed it at $250 for the engine and trans. I got a response from a guy who wanted it for his commercial wood chipper. So he gave me $250 for engine, ECU, and radiator. Now I still have the trans I can sell for a few more bones.  

The 5.0 is getting some new bits.  

And the Challenge is happening! 

Challenge action shot! Finished 10th in autox, 16.8 drag time and 29th overall finish. (2nd to last in concours :) I'm a rallycrosser, man! I'm not into washing and polishing! 

We found a couple of exhaust valves that were very carboned up and having trouble sealing. So the heads came off for some valve lapping and new valve seals. The pistons got cleaned up a bit in the process. This is as deep as we're going with it. Everything from here is forward progress!   

Progress is happening. It's just taking a lil time due to the details. 

The miata got a new eBay spoiler. I think it looks cool and it helps hide the dented in trunk.  And more progress on the 302. New rear main seal, pilot bearing, and clutch. Also the hydraulic conversion on the clutch is partially in. The kit mounts the slave cylinder to the side of the bellhousing with a big bracket.   Theres some wiring work to be done in the engine bay, but the lump should be getting dropped in the engine bay very soon! I'm using an Explorer intake manifold, as the stock piece had bad corrosion at the thermostat housing. I also picked up a cheap Edelbrock elbow and aftermarket 70mm throttle body off Craigslist to help it flow. 

You misspelled Exploder.