Mazda B2600i 4x4 DD/fun project

[The_Dude]

Good info. I am trying to decide what to do for a rear lift. Make some Toyota adjustable shackles work or some lift blocks which I am not a fan of. Thoughts? They are both around 50 bucks.


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[The_Dude]

I will have to make them. Toyota shackles have 18mm upper bolts. This Mazda only uses 14mm upper bolts.


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[The_Dude]

So my Mazda is going to receive my worn 285 coopers. I am imagining some rubbing is gonna happen. Cheaper to buy new tires for my 80 and move these over however.


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[The_Dude]

The Coopers never fit... Imagine that. It's getting a slight shackle lift for the rear and then I am going to pick up some 265/70 or 265/75 tires for it. Source a camper shell on the cheap. Before all that the lower ball joints are going to get replaced and then a radiator of regular size installed. Mainly been daily driving it. It's worth putting a little money into.


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[tanglefoot]

Glad you decided to keep it. I don't know about you, but I don't think I'd be able to form any kind of attachment to a newer truck. They just don't do much for me.

I wouldn't go with to much tire (or suspension height) if it were me. Didn't it have 15" wheels? I'm a big fan of the 30x9.50 size on mine.

More pics please--that's a gorgeous truck!

 

[The_Dude]

Here are a couple more pics. It's rougher than the pics make it look but solid.

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[tanglefoot]

Like it! I really like the dash and steering wheel designs.

 

[The_Dude]

It's pretty clean inside under all that dust. Peppy little 2.6l too. Leaning towards 265/75/16 tires.


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[Owyhee H]

I had one of these and the little guy was unstoppable. It would haul, climb, and go wherever I pointed it. The engine is a little busy and noisy on mine but it was great. These really are very stout trucks.

Glad you are still working on her, she will serve you well.

 

[The_Dude]

Well in the spirit of budget I fell into some usable 265/75/16 tires for it. They are E rated so it may ride like a brick but I won't have to worry about punctures as much as the tires on it now. I paid $60 bucks for 4 with about 8/32s left.


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[The_Dude]

Tires will be mounted tonight


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[The_Dude]

Got the tires on. They should last until summer. They have 5-6/32s on them but for 60 bucks it was better than the P rated 235/15s that were weather checked on it. I am suprised they clear! Stock suspension. Its really at the perfect height right now for me. I still have not installed any shackles or cranked torsion bars. I loaned it to a friend for about a month and it ran like a top for them in single digit weather. I really started to miss it. Its growing on me quite a bit.




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[Swank Force One]

I had one that came with a frozen 2.6 Mitsubishi 4 cylinder. A little research and lo and behold Ford used the same trans behind the Ranger with the 2.9 Cologne engine! Some junkyard searching netted the bellhousing and engine.
Keep that in mind if your 2.6 dies. TheRangerStation and MazdaTrucking.com were good sources of info for the swap. MazdaTrucking.com has a thread for LSD swaps for the front and rear differentials.

This one has a mazda trans not used by ford. It's an "R box," pretty much a turbo RX7 box "clocked" about 15 degrees. Motor is Mazda as well. Earlier ones were Mitsubishis (carb.)

 

[The_Dude]

So far the truck is handling the 32s just fine. 4.30s are a nice match!


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[The_Dude]

The steering started getting all wonky after the bigger tires and I found out that all the tie rod ends are pretty much shot. I ordered a kit of ebay and will be replacing all of them along with lower ball joints and possibly cv joints. The truck sits until then,:Mechanic: