I have been building my 94 ranger, 2.3L, 2 wheel drive, 5spd, single cab (prerunner/baja style) for a few years now. I have now over built my motor. (Too much weight not enough juice) All that is left on my build is a v-8, auto trans, driveline, rear end, and 4-link. I want to do a ls2, ls6, or an lq9 swap. Space is not an issue as its fully caged front to back and completely re-fabricateable. Just curious if someone has done the swap to a chevy motor and has any input. Looking for an easy way out here with already designed and built motor mounting brackets for this swap. Im ready to gut this truck and do a complete overhaul on motor, trans, rear end, suspension and electrical. Thanks in advance for any input!!! Stay mobbin my friends!

 

Id say stick with an older motor for simplicity. The only thing i would check is engine swap laws (if you have emissions). My grandfather had an 84 custom deluxe with a mildly built ls1 and that thing had more power than you could get to the road. For ease of install id stick with pre OBD2 motors. Im sure you can get a standalone PCM if you did. If you read some expo 5.0 swap threads you can see how big of a nightmare wiring can be so going complex with a newer motor might be a pain for you. And ls1's are everywhere and aftermarket is awesome. You could probably do a fully built ls1 for what you'd spend on a newer ls6 or the like. And you'd still have plenty of power/torque. Plus they put LS1's in everything so finding a swap kit might be a little easier for that motor.

 

Plenty of Chevy S-10 swaps using LS series I would look at those for the tight fit details.

'94 Ranger engine and trans are pretty much separate from the vehicle electrics so no cross over issues, like you would fine on '98 and up Rangers.
Even still have speedo cable on the '94, last year, so mechanical speedo would still work, although LS trans and computer would want a VSS which '94 Ranger also has on the speedo cable

 

Very true RonD. Ive also seen a few LS1's in some first gens won't be exactly the same but similar area in the engine bay might even find a kit for the first gens you could adapt to work in your 94.

 

Thanks for the advice guys! Its truly appreciated. I have done everything to this truck that I know how to do. Now im at the tricky part. Took me months do decide that I wanted to go with a gm and not a ford motor. I plan on ripping everything out of the truck and starting with a clean slate. I wanted to find a wrecked vette, ss trailblazer, or any another vehicle low miles with an ls motor, auto trans and wiring harness to do the build. I really need to learn how to upload pics so you can at least see what im working with here. So ls1 is the motor you would choose over all other ls motors? I dont really care for building the motor up too much. Just want a reliable powerplant around 400hp. Thanks again for your input, advice and time!!

 

For pictures, upload them to a photo hosting site (Photobucket for example) and copy the IMG code. Paste it in your post on here.

 

Pretty good read here on an LS1 build: Power for Pennies: Build a 400hp Chevy LS Motor for Under $1200

 

I will take some pics of the engine bay soon. Well I should say, engine cage and mounts. Just gotta get the hood off her! Set back to a one piece hood. Takes 2 ppl : / Seems like everyones on board with a lS1 swap over any other type of LS. Good to know. Still gonna read that motor build link. But i thought the ls motors came stock with 390 to 410 hp stock? ill be posting pics soon. Thanks guys!

 

Okay got pictures of motor mounts and engine bay. I do realize i will have to open space up a little bit more. I dont think a ls1 will clear 100% in the engine cage. But thats no biggie. i just hope i clear my coil towers... Like i said before besides the already fabbed cage i dont have a limit to the space i can use. its just finding already fabbed motor mounts to fit my application.

 

Hope its alright to say this but I created the Page LS Mustangs on FB and there is plenty of help for swaps like this. Feel free to join and post up. You definitely shouldnt go with an older motor. The wiring is easy on a 5.3 or lq4 swap

 

So my biggest dilema is figuring out which motor would be best for my application. Theres soo many options of LS motors. I mainly want to shoot for best horsepower and torque in a stock application without spending 10 grand on this motor swap. Then I can start the process of finding a junkyard diva with low miles and ripping out motor, trans, and harness.

 

Like i said, LS Mustangs on facebook....