How much money is too much to spend on a beater vehicle? How about dropping $100,000 on a spent $500 Ford Ranger? The guys at Donut Media have done just that, transforming a tired pickup truck into a desert-running monster. Here’s what they’ve done.
The team started by fabricating a new suspension system with tube frame reinforcements on the frame. The truck got new wheels, beefy tires, and new brakes to bring everything to a tidy stop. A new LSX V-8 took over for the outgoing mill, and the interior got a complete refresh with new seats, upgraded electronics, and more.
Donut’s drunk-sailor spending spree was done in hopes of running the truck in the NORRA 500 race in the Mexican desert. Even with the massive list of upgrades, the team needed a NORRA tech inspector to confirm that it met the requirements for the event. The inspector immediately pointed out several wiring issues, and he noted that the truck’s leaf springs could present durability problems on the course.
After an entire video’s worth of new work on the Ranger, the team headed to the desert for early testing. They quickly learned that the suspension was too soft, causing it to bounce and float over the bumpy sand. Issues rapidly became apparent, including a too-small fuel cell, and the team bent parts of the suspension in the testing. That said, the Ranger looked impressive and wasn’t that far off from being race-ready.
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