I am in the process of planning out a ranger prerunner project and need a little advice. First, I dont know what shock setup to use for extended i-beams and a 3 or 4 link rear suspension. Also, if you have any advice whatsoever I am willing to listen. Here is a link to a truck that is pretty much exactly what I am trying to do.

http://www.whitemotorsports.com/gallery/ford/

Thanks to anybody who replies.  

u cant go wrong with a bolt on extended beam kit from either camburg, giant, mcneill....they all work great....shock set up is usually want a coilover and in the long run mount a bypass next to it.  For linking it, are  you going to drive it on the street, race, or play?  

About 80% of the time I will be driving it on the street, i love the look, but when I hed up to winchester bay or coos bay or wherever I go quading i would love to be able to bring it and not break it.  

First off... 94-97 are the same 98+ are differant, so you can't have 94-98 in the same catagory.

Anyway...

Are you building a 2wd or 4wd? Do you have the Ranger yet?

The best bang for your buck will be what longtravelyota said, a nice bolt on extended beam kit from Camburg, Giant, Blitzkreig, or whomever (yes some are better than others, the ones I posted are great but there are more out there)

If its just for the street and mild play, I would set it up with a a single 2.5" coilover in the front. Sure a bypass would be nice but you will never need it if it is going to spend its life on the street.

For the rear, again, if its street a good set of Deaver Springs and a 2.5" shock will make you really happy.

Of course we can take it all to the extreem, but why waste money if you don't have to?  

Right now I have an 86' Nissan king cab 4x4 that I am trying to sell. At the time i just wanted to go 4 wheelin and later gained an interest in pre runners. I cant find a pre runner suspension for my Nissan so I started looking at Fords. which year do you prefere 94-97 and 4wd or 2wd. On the other hand, I have been looking at camaros and 5.0 mustangs to go drag racing with. I am kind of in a tie up right now because offroading is a lot more fun but drag racing is less expensive. I have about $6,000 after I sell my truck to spend on a new truck which will probably whipe me out but that is why I listed as a future ford buildup and apreciate your time and anyone elses who replie.  

Drag racing is not less expensive than off-roading. I have a few friends that drag and have seen way too many diesel drag trucks. It gets expensive fast! First you'll get the car, it will run 16's... then you will want to run 15's, then 14's, then 12's, now you're in the 11's, now you need more safety equipment, a helmet, a cage, gotta have the car certified, now you have hit 11.0...  you have maxed out bolt ons its time for engine work. The 5.0 comes out and a 347 stroker goes in, your suspension is junk, time for a new suspension, you grenade the rear axle, time for a 9", you have now broken into the 10's. By this point you have $50,000 in engine suspension and chassis work, the car is no longer street legal and you have to have a tow rig.

Now you can go and say the same thing about off-roading, it has the same downward spiral effect as drag racing. You start out with a truck with a lift, then long travel in the front with leafs in the back, then links in the back, then bypasses  in the back, then bypasses in the front, then a cage, then motor work, ect...

Either way its going to cost you in the long run.

In terms of year, if the choice is between a 94-97, 97 is my choice. The trucks are the same. Buy the newest one you can afford. Personaly I would do a 98+ 4.0 4x4 (I already did but that is beside the point). Even if you get a 97, the newest of the beam trucks, it is still a 10  year old truck, the engine and trans are probably tired, the amenities are getting worn, and its going to need some TLC. With a newer truck it makes things that much easier and the ownership experience that much better. But that is just my opinion.

Good luck with whatever you do! If you have more questions feel free to ask!  

The thing is is that If I was going to drag race, it would be at the hight school drags and would be a father-son thing so i wouldn't be getting too hardcore. the only reason why I am considering doing either one of these is because I got a job about 4 months ago and have made a lot of money because all I have to pay for is insurance and gas. If all goes well I will be able to start this pre runner project hopefully by the end of next summer. Now that I think about it, the trucks i have been looking at can be considered tired. what type of long travel suspensions are out there for 98'+ rangers or which would you consider?  

http://camburg.com/fords98RangerP.html
camburg makes great suspension kits for the 98+ Ranger

http://www.dixonbrosracing.com/proddetail.php?prod=DBR-004&cat=1
they also make a great kit....4x4Link on this board here runs that suspension and im sure he will chime in and let you know how it has performed on his truck  

"The thing is is that If I was going to drag race, it would be at the hight school drags and would be a father-son thing so i wouldn't be getting too hardcore"

You say that now... then you tell your dad you think you can go faster and  he agrees... and it begins...

What type of suspension depends on your budget and what you are going to use it for.