I'm new here and I hate to post another thread on this but I just want a list of things to keep. By keep I mean I had an 86 mustang with the 5.0 and a t5. I just picked up an 86 ranger with the 2.9 and immediately thought "hell I could put that there v8 in that" so yeah. I just want to know what parts to keep out of the mustang. The motor has been out and I'm working on the harness now. But is there anything else that I should grab before I scrap the body? Also what should I make sure not to toss from the ranger when I pull out the old motor?

 

Keep Mustang engine/trans and driveshaft, plus computer and its engine wiring harness.
Starter motor of course, and all accessories(alternator, PS, AC, ect....)

Connectors for trans reverse lights and any connectors for the main harness that go to the Mustang body, so leave wire connected and cut them on the body side of the harness connector leaving enough wire to splice into, this saves you from trying to match connectors.


Driveshaft won't fit Ranger but does fit T5 so can be useful for custom shaft.

You will need 1986 mustang wiring diagram and 1986 Ranger wiring diagram to match up power wires and Grounds.

If '86 Ranger has a Tach it won't work with a V8, you can get adapters to make it work
Google: SGI-8E
But $85

 

There is no tach. It's a stripper model. Is there a way rep in the harness so that some of the stock dash functions? Also what do I do for mounting the motor. I dont want to have to relocate the transfer case. Is it possible to avoid that? In tern avoiding making new drive shafts.

 

Ford never made the T5 for a 4x4 so that will be an issue, and you wouldn't want to use a V8 engines power with your BW1350 transfer case in any case.
I think advanced adapters did make an adapter at one time, but it would be discontinued by now, may find one on Ebay

I was assuming 2WD since you are using Mustang stuff.

You will need new drive shafts, both front and rear, and most likely different trans with transfer case, M5OD-R2 with transfer case from a 1997 and up F-150 with 4.2L V6 is popular, the Modular 4.2l V6 has same bolt pattern as 302/5.0l

1985-1993 Ford Mustang Convertible 5.0L engine mounts will work with Ranger, but reverse Left and Right, must be Convertible mounts, hard top won't work.

There are only 3 wires that go from engine to dash
Tach
Engine temp
Oil pressure
These Ranger wires can be used on the V8.

You biggest issue will be trans/transfer case

4WD transmissions have short tail shafts and housing so they can bolt to a transfer case, manual or automatic.
2WD have longer tail shafts and housing that can accept a drive shaft, on some manuals you can swap the tail shafts and housings, but since T5 was never used with 4WD there wouldn't be a 4WD version to swap to.

And the 2.9l transmission won't bolt to a 302/5.0l and you would blow trans even if it could.
You should also change the rear axle, you probably have a 7.5" axle, 8.8" would handle the power better, front axle is usually OK since it only gets 1/2 the power and torque when used, rear gets it all with transfer case in 2WD

And there really is no point in putting in a V8 if you are NOT going to use the power, lol.

 

Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for the help

 

The T5 is a popular trans so could be sold or traded for what you need

It has a detachable bell housing so can be used with many engines/vehicles


The M5OD-R2 transmissions have integrated bell housing so can only be used with specific engine it was made for, making it less resellable.
So check local wreckers for 1997 to 2008 F-150 4WD 4.2l V6 manual trans with transfer case, it will be an M5OD-R2(M5R2) trans
See what they want for the set and see if they are interested in trading

 

With the M5OD-R2 and the case that comes with that. That is the 4406 case right? And is it manual shift or electric shift?

 

Yes, it came in both versions, manual would be best of course.
BW4406 in Fords started in 1996 and had manual shift option until 1999, may find some after that but would have been special order option, they were used on F-150s and 250s
Also used in Expeditions and Navigators but they would all be electric shift.

A BW4406 from any Ford will bolt to the 4WD M5R2 transmission, so you don't have to get them as a set.
M5R2 needs to be from a 4WD with 4.2l V6(to fit 5.0l engine and a transfer case)
BW4406 can be either manual or electric either will bolt to M5R2, and since you are not matching drive shafts the year and model it came from doesn't matter

 

Planning on stuffing a V8 in my Ranger as well and this is all great info. Will start the search!

 

the adaptor for the ranger transfer case is still available but its not worth the cost unless u got money to burn, u have to have tranny, whichever you get rebuilt to get the new splineshaft put in the the cost of the adaptor, too much money. I guess in time I'm going to blow the 7.5 rear end in mine but its not a daily driver and I have a mostly lite foot..lol