3rd gen Mazda/Ranger swap
crazymikey
+1y
So, I love my 4x4 B4000 but I don't love the fact there are little to no aftermarket exterior accessories for it.
While brainstorming ideas for future use when I have money again, I came up with this idea.
Since I like the look of the 2002-ish Ranger front end,I figured why not just swap my whole front clip and bed over to Ranger parts?! Wow,brilliant. This way I am accessible to clear lights,billet grilles,step side beds,different fender flares,bumpers,foglights and hoods. None of the custom exterior parts for Rangers are compatible with Mazdas except for roll pans.
I thought maybe if I swapped over to a Ranger bed,but left the Mazda tailgate and added some clear lights and left he Mazda chrome bumper,that would be an interesting touch. With the front end, swap everything over,but replace the Ford grille emblem from that of the Mazda and the same with the fender emblems. I'd ideally like to get the FX4 bed and fenders with the big flares as well as a set of the stock FX4 Level II rims or American Racing Baja rims (similar design).
Here's some pics to help visualize what parts I'd swap.
This is my factory Mazda. Only mods are tinted corners and tails,home made mesh grille insert and painted rims.
Here is the Ranger front end I would like to swap to,using the same billet grille and corners. I'd probably end up putting a brush guard and some fog lights on it. Something like this, and a stepside bed would be cool too,but I'd be okay with a normal bed from an FX4.
Ok,basically it would be tits if I could make my truck end up looking like this. Same front end,bed,but with the FX4 rims on the red truck above.
Right now I am thinking of doing a very mild lift,just cranking the torsions to a max of 2",because I jeard any more than 2" and the CV joints begin to bind. I have a set of 2 and 3" blocks I can throw in the rear as well.
So,thoughts?
While brainstorming ideas for future use when I have money again, I came up with this idea.
Since I like the look of the 2002-ish Ranger front end,I figured why not just swap my whole front clip and bed over to Ranger parts?! Wow,brilliant. This way I am accessible to clear lights,billet grilles,step side beds,different fender flares,bumpers,foglights and hoods. None of the custom exterior parts for Rangers are compatible with Mazdas except for roll pans.
I thought maybe if I swapped over to a Ranger bed,but left the Mazda tailgate and added some clear lights and left he Mazda chrome bumper,that would be an interesting touch. With the front end, swap everything over,but replace the Ford grille emblem from that of the Mazda and the same with the fender emblems. I'd ideally like to get the FX4 bed and fenders with the big flares as well as a set of the stock FX4 Level II rims or American Racing Baja rims (similar design).
Here's some pics to help visualize what parts I'd swap.
This is my factory Mazda. Only mods are tinted corners and tails,home made mesh grille insert and painted rims.
Here is the Ranger front end I would like to swap to,using the same billet grille and corners. I'd probably end up putting a brush guard and some fog lights on it. Something like this, and a stepside bed would be cool too,but I'd be okay with a normal bed from an FX4.
Ok,basically it would be tits if I could make my truck end up looking like this. Same front end,bed,but with the FX4 rims on the red truck above.
Right now I am thinking of doing a very mild lift,just cranking the torsions to a max of 2",because I jeard any more than 2" and the CV joints begin to bind. I have a set of 2 and 3" blocks I can throw in the rear as well.
So,thoughts?
suicide
+1y
that would look tits!!! i say do it. that last pic is bad ass.
crazymikey
+1y
yeah I saw that pic and was like "that's it,I'm doing it!"
Even though the truck has nearly 400 000km on it, it's running strong and I'm having a new clutch put in this week. The truck is in great shape and very reliable,so it's worth it to put some money into it here and there, plus I plan to keep it til either it dies, get wrecked, stolen or rusts away into a pile of dust.
Even though the truck has nearly 400 000km on it, it's running strong and I'm having a new clutch put in this week. The truck is in great shape and very reliable,so it's worth it to put some money into it here and there, plus I plan to keep it til either it dies, get wrecked, stolen or rusts away into a pile of dust.
speedster93b
+1y
do it dude. sorry but i don't like the 94-up mazda, but i'm definately down with the ranger, and like you said 02-06 look cool. i'm not so down with the newer ones, but whatever. i really miss my 04! i just cranked the torsions to level it out up front. i had big plans, but as we all know big plans = big money. then gas went up to almost $5 a gallon and the ranger got like 15-16 mpg (freeway)and was gettin expensive, so we traded it in.
here's a pic
here's a pic
crazymikey
+1y
that's a nice Ranger. I like that front end too,but I prefer the earlier ones that don't have those vertical bars on the sides.
I like the Mazdas as much as the Rangers, but it just sucks that they don't make (m)any accessories for the Mazdas,even though they're the same trucks.
I like the Mazdas as much as the Rangers, but it just sucks that they don't make (m)any accessories for the Mazdas,even though they're the same trucks.