I know it's possible and everything but what I'm wondering is how much heat I'd get if I did this? the reason I'm looking at this motor is because they're easy to find and there's alot parts support for them. And above all else if something does go wrong it aint hard to work on either because they're simple to work on. Plus it's different. The 5.0/4.6/5.4 engine swaps have been done to death and it would be nice to have something different.

 

Theres someone on here that has two of them with 350s in them. He takes enough crap for it but its your truck. Id rather go with an LS engine if you were gonna go with a Chevy, but to each their own.

 

the 350 is a stout, proven motor. but i would keep it all ford, just for simplicity

 

i wouldn't have a problem with it.. i want a chevy power plant.

I wouldn't say the 5.4 is over done, Zach's truck is the only ranger with the 5.4 i know of, and there are only a few with the 4.6, the 5.0 on the other hand is very popular.

 

I would love to keep it all Ford, but it seems that ford engines are getting hard to find and to be honest about it, the Chevy 350 seems to fit my skills set. Nothing complicated just keeping it simple. How much crap does he take anyway? i really don't care for the newer LS motors. I'm more of an old school carb type. Thanks guys.

 

Well that may be so, but it seems that those are the only motors talked about in here. You hardly ever hear about the 351 engines. I just want to do something a little different on a shoestring budget is all. Thanks man.

 

I plan on going to a salvage yard amd post pics for you guys soon as I begin. I've already decided a V8 will be installed yes. The problem is which one. I've found several small blocks, and a couple of big blocks. The big block seems it would be too much for a daily driver, but then again I've seen some evil demonic small blocks too. I'll post pics for guys when I go to the salvage yard.

 

a 302 is really just about as inexpensive to build as a 350 if cost is really that much of an issue. Itll bolt in easier than a 350 will too to be realistic about it. Cost of the engine is one thing, cost of getting the car to drive with it in there is a whole other thing though.

If i gave you a chrysler hemi for free, i bet that cost savings would disappear mighty quick before it was actually in the truck and drivable.

 

Well the engine cost is not really too big of an issue for me. What is a big issue with me is tools, and a workspace problem. And above all else I plan on driving my ranger daily after the V8 conversion is done. So I need something that is going to last and fits a budget as cheap as mine. If I have to get parts 1 at a time over several months then by all means I will. Right now I'm trying to decide on which motor to buy that I can get dirt cheap and rebuild it with easy to find parts. I did find a 5.0 H.O. cobra motor and tranny, and a 351 Windsor out of an old Econoline van. Which would you use if you were me? And no the cost wouldn't disappear for me either. I wish it would though.

 

ROFL......4.6/5.4 have been done to death!?!?!?? ROFL!! You have much to learn. There's only a handful of mod motors in rangers...Beard and Ford are the only ones I'm aware of that've dropped in 5.4's in a Ranger.


WTF you talking "how much heat you'd get"??? You mean how much flack you'd be getting from us or others? Generally, we really don't give a damn what engine you put in it and most people wouldn't give a damn either. Only the purists would care. If i ever drop in an 8, I'd want it to be a GM gen3 8cyl. Like an LS1 or LS2...I'd loooove to have a carb'd 6.0 undre my hood of either of mytrucks. Or do you literally mean how much heat aka temperature you'd have under the hood?!?? lol.

 

HEAT? Who gives a crap?

No V8 is a drop-in since a V8 Ranger was never produced. Your gonna have to do some fabricatin & modifyin.

I'm workin on #2 for me, RAT Ranger in my sig, you'll see the build, and I'm also in the process of doin #2 for my Son.

You can PM me or email me with any questions you may have that aren't answered anywhere.

 

The 5.0 isnt really over done there is not that many off them around.
My 5.0 swap probably cost around$1500 bucks that includes the motor trans and t-case.

 

Go 350 one of the best motors ever built!

 

Everyone always swaps in a 350 into something. I think a 350 is the motor that is over done the most. Do something different please. The only reason there is so much aftermarket support is becasue that motor needs it to have any kind of power.

Put a 429 or 460 in it

If I would ever swap mine to V8, it would probably be a carbed 302. I'm one of those people that like to keep Ford motors in Fords and chevy motors in chevys. Doesnt matter though, its your truck. Do whatever the hell you want. Its whatever makes you happy, not anyone else.

 

What 350 are we talking about here anyway? Gen1 sbc? Gen2 sbc? Gen3 sbc? I just don't see a Gen1/2 being very economical at all period, even if you putt putting around town like a grandma. I say this mostly because this vehicle isn't your toy(like Tim C), it's your one and only vehicle.

Me personally, if I were to build a Gen1 sbc, I'd be doing a hot but streetable 302/327 for the high revv's where that power would be. Or a 383. Already done a 406.



That's just unfactual PERIOD. The reason there's such a big aftermarket for it, is because they ran from 1955 to 1998. I'm not talking about just 350's, I'm talking the sbc mouse motor since gen1/2 are basically the same and all vary in displacement. It's the most successful engine out there and was put in millions and millions of vehicles straight off the assembly line. 350 just happens to be the longest running displacement of sbc's and the most common.


ROFL! *no comment*

 

Grandpa had a 350 and it sucked. It felt like a dog to me. My dad could beat him with his 4.6L.

Whats the no comment about Shane? You not like my 429 or 460 swap?

 

My question is how does tools and workspace have anything to do in the bowtie, blue oval choice you are trying to make. Both will take up the same amount of work space and both will use the very same tools. If you bother to do your research you will find that the Ford 351W is the same engine as the 302. The only difference is that the heads on the 351W are a bit wider than the 302. But they still use the same intake.This being said, putting the 351 into a Ranger is no problem. Will fit just like a 302. As for your choice of Chevy over Ford. You will learn that a Ford Windsor block is far and away better that the Chevy small block. They are much stronger and far more reliable. Chevy had to build their blocks with 4 bolt mains to get them to do the same as a Ford Windsor block with 2 bolt mains. Think about it.I have had several Fords that went several hundred thousand miles with the windsor block and I have had several 350's that went just as far, so I have been on both sides. Your choice will be your personal taste. The one thing you have failed to mention is the transmission. They never put a TH350 into a Ranger. The put the C-4 into just about everything Ford made. Just a thought. Have fun.

 

You're talking about putting a big block engine into a tiny truck. Firewall modification would have to be done, and I'm sure the hood would be tough to close.

And I'm sorry, but just because your grandpa had one of the 900,000,000,000,000,000 of the 350 Chevy small blocks out there that sucked doesn't mean that every one of them needs all that aftermarket support to throw down some power. The Fords 302 also has a lot of aftermarket support. Does that mean that it sucks?

 

No $hit. Ya think? I didnt say that it was going to be the easiest swap ever. I am not a moron. I just meant that it would be awesome if someone did.

 

Of course that 350 was probably sluggish...was probably rated at less than 200hp and it's probably found in a 6000lb truck! You can't say from just experience with that one, that they all suck and need aftermarket support to keep them on the road. It's simply untrue.

And about the 429/460 swap....long story. I like the swap idea.

 

I say do it. I'm putting a 383 stroker in my 53 Ford...

The one thing Ford ****ed up on was changing parts every year. Chevrolet was smart in that they kept the same **** for over 30 years and interchangeability is nice.

 

Just throw in a 5.9 24v Cummins and call it a day.

 

2 stroke Detroit it!

 

You must be comparing probably a mid 80's 350 to a 97+ Truck. All motors Ford chev dodge were weak back then, emissions equipment caught the big three off guard (they thought it wouldn't happen) and it took them 20 years to get back to the horsepower people desire.

That being said, If you are going through the trouble, a Gen 1 350, you might as well get an explorer with a 5.0 and swap in the 5.0. They need to be carbed and cammed to the point that it is undrivable to be a contender (at least in what I think a V8 should be) same with the 5.0, stock they are weak and built they are impractical, there are better motors if you are spending the money. that being said. Go get a complete LQ4 (gen III small block) out of a Chevy truck (can be bought complete out of scrapyards for as little as $400) swap an LS6 manifold on to it For two reasons, 1 hood clearance and two it flows better. Go to Speed and performance and get their universal motor mount kit for the LS engine, Then there are plenty of companies that will make you a complete harness to mate that engine with your vehicle. For recommendations go to LS1tech.com. And when you are done without even opening up the engine, you will have around 400 WHP with a streetable motor, that in the ranger will probably get 25-30+ MPG. This would be the opportune time to go with a T-56 swap if you are 2WD. Oddly enough T-56's for LS based engines are cheaper than the T-56 for the LT1. Two reasons, They are still being made, and the LT1 T-56 bolts up to any 1st or second gen small block so street rodders are buying them up.

~HJ

 

I have a T-56 sitting in my garage. Came with the LT1 I bought. I'm keeping it to swap it later on...