1-ton Tracker
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 2
From: West Virginia
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L I-4
1-ton Tracker
My buddy picked up a running '92 Geo Tracker for $50. We thought about lifting it and throwing some 33s under it, but after taking it up in the woods behind his house and powering out in low range 1st gear, we realized the mighty 1.6L was a lost cause. So we decided a motor swap would have to come before anything else. Clearly a V8 and a T400 aren't going to fit under a Geo Tracker (comfortably), so we thought we'd lengthen the frame, add some tubing, yadda yadda yadda.
We decided that would be too much work, and we'd still be left with the dinky Tracker frame. Luckily, we know people.
A few hours later we had ourselves a Ford F-250 extended cab, long bed frame with the old school Ford IFS and a Sterling 10.25, on 36" military tires (free). We got the Tracker off its frame, rolled the Ranger cab that had been mounted on the old Ford frame off, pulled the 460 big block, C6 4-speed and NP208 to give back to the frame's original owner, and set the Tracker body in place. Needless to say the full-size frame is a little long (about 5 feet too long), but we've got plans for that.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the first pic of the 1-ton Tracker:
More to come.
We decided that would be too much work, and we'd still be left with the dinky Tracker frame. Luckily, we know people.
A few hours later we had ourselves a Ford F-250 extended cab, long bed frame with the old school Ford IFS and a Sterling 10.25, on 36" military tires (free). We got the Tracker off its frame, rolled the Ranger cab that had been mounted on the old Ford frame off, pulled the 460 big block, C6 4-speed and NP208 to give back to the frame's original owner, and set the Tracker body in place. Needless to say the full-size frame is a little long (about 5 feet too long), but we've got plans for that. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the first pic of the 1-ton Tracker:
More to come.
Last edited by TrueBlueXJ; Jan 5, 2009 at 06:18 AM.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 2
From: West Virginia
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L I-4
It's been fun so far, but now the work begins (which is still fun IMO). The frame measures 17 ft. end-to-end, so once we fit the drivetrain in and move the rear axle forward, we'll have a good bit to cut off the back, but we've got plenty of space to do pretty much whatever we want.
Last edited by TrueBlueXJ; Dec 29, 2008 at 02:21 PM.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 2
From: West Virginia
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L I-4
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CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,088
Likes: 2
From: South Side Chicago
Year: 1992, 2- 1998 (All 3, 4 Doors)
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L in all
We use a Tracker for the South Side Parade every year... We park it right on Western (the parade route) the night before, and radio-flyer a keg that we put inside for the parade. That Tracker is the coolest beer cooler ever!
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 2
From: West Virginia
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L I-4
I'm thinking 350 for this one, but AFAIK the axles have 4:11 gears, so a 302 or 305 could easily get this thing up the trail. There's still some investigating that needs to be done before the full overhaul gets underway.
