We've all been there: Presented with a problem, we choose the seemingly easy solution that turns out to be more complicated later on. One case in point is the body lift on our '92 Ford Ranger.
Early '83-'92 Rangers need at least a 3-inch lift to clear 31-inch tires. Suspension lifts are initially more expensive, but keep the body at stock height. Body lift kits are relatively inexpensive, but hold hidden costs that must be addressed for the vehicle to function properly afterward. The body-mounted radiator must be dropped to line up with the engine-mounted fan. Shift levers disappear into the transmission tunnel and are difficult to reach. Bumpers, which are frame-mounted, must be raised to match the new body height, lest yawning gaps rear their ugly heads between the bumper and body. Gas filler tubes must be stretched. Steering shafts may need lengthening. Finally, body lifts place more leverage on the body mounts, opening the possibility for bent mounts on the frame and body.
With so many issues to address, and triple-digit weather constantly overheating the ill-cooling Ford, we decided to drop the body back to stock height. We trimmed the fenders and bedsides for tire clearance, and here's how the trimming was performed.
 This truck's main hang-up...  This truck's main hang-up with the body lift is a lack of proper cooling. In triple-digit weather, it's more than a little disconcerting to watch the temperature gauge steadily climb toward the red zone. A properly installed body lift includes dropping the radiator down to its original position in front of the engine-mounted fan. An acceptable alternative to a dropped radiator is a radiator-mounted electric fan, but this truck received neither. Instead, the lower half of the fan shroud had been hacked off, negating any function. This view shows the fan blades hanging well below the radiator and not much airflow happening here. |  Since Ford doesn't offer extended...  Since Ford doesn't offer extended parking-brake cables, the only alternative is to trim away body seams to maximize clearance. Some trimming had been done, but the cable still stretched bowstring-tight around the cab's middle body mount. The truck's previous owner had recently replaced the cable, and it seemed yet another replacement would soon be required unless the tension was relieved. |  When the floor went up 3 inches,...  When the floor went up 3 inches, the transmission and transfer case shift levers sank an equal amount. The transfer case shifter was difficult to reach, and shifting on both the tranny and case felt sluggish. Common remedies for this situation include trimming away the shift lever holes for more lever clearance, or modifying the shift levers themselves to clear an untouched set of shift lever holes. This Ranger had neither. |