1997 Ford Ranger - Custom V-8 Ranger Prerunner

For the past two years, Chad Leising has been chasing his dream of owning a vehicle that would both rule the desert and exemplify the new generation of off-road lifestyle. Chad tells us, "I feel as if the off-road community is changing from a few guys camping with their friends to an entire lifestyle in the dirt. The vehicles are changing too, from the old-school, beat-up, 20-year-old trucks to caged trucks built with Baja - and with style - in mind."

When Chad purchased this '97 Ford Ranger, it was not a complete vehicle. He purchased just the cab and frame and delivered it to JB Motorsports of Oceanside, California. Unfortunately, JB Motorsports has recently closed its doors so we could not contact anybody there for further technical information. The early morning sun on the Barstow racecourse really makes the Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic paint typically found on the '06 lineup of Corvettes pop off the page. Epic Audio of Oceanside, California, was responsible for laying down the color.

When Chad purchased this '97 Ford Ranger, it was not a complete vehicle. He purchased jus

If you follow the pages of OFF-ROAD, you will recognize that Chad echoes a theme to which we have often referred: Enthusiast owners are spending much more time and money these days building quality, show-winning vehicles that also perform as if they were born on a sand dune.

In the Oct. '06 issue of Off-Road, we featured Travis Siflinger's Ford Explorer and wrote about Siflinger's company, Dirt Alliance (DA), and its mission of promoting off-roading as a lifestyle, similar to the lifestyles associated with sports like skateboarding and surfing. Once Chad got wind of what was happening with DA, he knew he had found a kindred spirit. Chad got a hold of Travis and shortly thereafter he became the newest addition to the DA team of vehicles.

If you're looking to check out one of the DA team vehicles in action, look for the biggest launch pad at your local racecourse or sand dune and without a doubt you'll see DA's logo shooting through the air.

At the end of our day in the dirt with Chad, he assured us that this wouldn't be the last vehicle out of his garage to be featured in a magazine. While he still has a few more things planned for this Ford, that isn't stopping him from plotting his next dirt desire.

FiberwerX did an incredible job fitting its fiberglass fenders, bedsides, and F-150 X-treme hood to the vehicle. The hood scoop and louvers really make this truck stand out among other Ranger prerunners. A complete set of four Hella Rallye 4000 lights is mounted to the 'cage on the roof for night-vision duties.
FiberwerX did an incredible job fitting its fiberglass fenders, bedsides, and F-150 X-trem
Under the hood is a Ford 302 H.O. engine pushing over 300 hp through a Turbo 400 transmission. A Gibson exhaust system was also added to keep the truck breathing properly in dirty environments. Chad already has plans to upgrade the power of his Ford with a 343cc Stroker engine built from top to bottom.
Under the hood is a Ford 302 H.O. engine pushing over 300 hp through a Turbo 400 transmiss
The rear axle is a custom-gusseted Ford 9-inch stuffed with a Strange Nodular third member running a full chrome-moly spool locker and 4.86-ratio gears.
The rear axle is a custom-gusseted Ford 9-inch stuffed with a Strange Nodular third member

Following the 'cage work just after the cab, you can see the three-link suspension setup. Chad chose King 2.5x14-inch coilovers, King 2.5x16-inch triple-bypass shocks, and King 2.5 hydraulic bumpstops for the rear. The rear travel was measured at 28 inches, which gives the driver plenty of confidence under most terrain conditions. The craftsmanship on Chad's truck is beautiful and makes us wonder why JB Motorsports is no longer in business.
Following the 'cage work just after the cab, you can see the three-link suspension setup.
JB Motorsports was also responsible for the construction of the suspension system under this flying Blue Oval. The front equal-length I-beams are 9 inches wider per side, pulling 22 inches of wheel travel. The front shocks are King 2.5x14-inch coilovers with a matching set of King 2.5-inch hydraulic bumpstops. Next up will be the addition of a set of King 2.5-inch triple-bypass shocks to aid in soaking up the whoops. The braking systems both front and rear were...
JB Motorsports was also responsible for the construction of the suspension system under th
...pulled off a Ford F-150 using 4WD hubs and disc brakes. Since JB Motorsports has shut down, Brett Ferguson of Beyond Fabrication is now responsible for the fabrication and suspension on the truck. With how far Chad pushes his truck, Brett has already done a few minor repair jobs as well as doing all of the prep on the truck for each outing.
...pulled off a Ford F-150 using 4WD hubs and disc brakes. Since JB Motorsports has shut

The rear 'cage offers just enough safety and stability without looking overbuilt. A Jaz Products 32-gallon fuel cell has been installed to keep weight shifted to the rear of the truck as well as to carry enough fuel for a full day of fun. Jaz fuel cells have a seamless, cross-linked polyethylene inner shell and are filled with mil-spec B-83054 aviation foam. Both of these properties keep the fuel fully protected.
The rear 'cage offers just enough safety and stability without looking overbuilt. A Jaz P
The custom dash is fitted with a complement of Auto Meter gauges, an Art Carr race shifter, a GT race steering wheel, and soon will feature an audio system from Epic Audio. Secure seating arrangements have been made with PRP race seats and Crown five-point harnesses attached to a circumference of metal surrounding the occupants keeping them safe in case one of Chad's launch pad attempts goes sour.
The custom dash is fitted with a complement of Auto Meter gauges, an Art Carr race shifter
The entire truck was built out of 1-3/4-inch DOM tubing, ensuring safety and security. Thirty-five-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain TAKO tires are wrapped around Alcoa forged F-150 wheels, with a matching spare mounted in the rear. For those of you who are not quite sure why so many race trucks and prerunners run their spare tires so far in the rear, it is to provide protection in case someone gets a little too close following your vehicle off-road. The combination of a stout rear bumper and a little rubber from a spare tire constitutes a good wall of protection.
The entire truck was built out of 1-3/4-inch DOM tubing, ensuring safety and security. Th

Reminiscent of the first turn coming off the start of the Baja 500, Chad wanted to put on a little show for the camera with a demonstration of his version of three-wheel motion. His truck can lean so far that his passenger can actually touch the ground during mid turn. Although it was fun to watch this trick, most vehicles are not capable of doing this and we do not encourage you to try it on your own. This was performed in a closed area with an experienced driver.
Reminiscent of the first turn coming off the start of the Baja 500, Chad wanted to put on
Following the 'cage work just after the cab, you can see the three-link suspension setup. Chad chose King 2.5x14-inch coilovers, King 2.5x16-inch triple-bypass shocks, and King 2.5 hydraulic bumpstops for the rear. The rear travel was measured at 28 inches, which gives the driver plenty of confidence under most terrain conditions. The craftsmanship on Chad's truck is beautiful and makes us wonder why JB Motorsports is no longer in business.
Following the 'cage work just after the cab, you can see the three-link suspension setup.