Alright so i bought a ranger off a buddy for $200 its an 85 4x4 that had a 2.8 in it i believe, and it was automatic. The motor is toast so i bought a 302 EFI with computer and wiring harness etc. This motor came out of a 92 ish f150 with an auto i think. As soon as i find a manual trans i want to run ill proceed with the swap. I've always been a chevy guy and worked on them most of my life until my dad bought a powerstroke and i fell in love with it so im not real sure on ford trannys etc this is why im coming here. i mainly want to know what manual trans should i run with a 302 where i wont have to hopefully change out the tcase, but if i have to i can, and im also wanting to know what all ill have to do to get the manual trans working im sure ill have to buy petal assembly for the clutch and the hydraulic booster or w/e it uses.

Thanks jbb sorry for the rant and grammar.

 

https://www.ranger-forums.com/project-logs-82/my91rangers-project-log-72660/

Look towards the end of this thread, he had a t5 and had to swap to a manual truck trans. He might have some usefulness.

Btw, post pics.

 

Thanks for the reply. You talking about pics of the swap, or just of the truck in its current state... which isnt bad atall for the year or what i paid lol.

 

The two most popular trans to use with the 302 are the M5OD-R2 or the ZF. The ZF has a very steep first gear that isn't very useful on the street but good for crawling. The tcase that should have come with a BW1356 which will bolt to either one of these trans but good luck fitting it between the frame rails. A 4406 tcase from a 97 to 03 F150 will fit but its tight. Another option is the old NP205 which is a heavy cast tcase but narrow and fits well.

 

Thanks for the reply 91ranger... Do those trannys use cable or hydraulic clutches (nvm i used google :O lol) How does one go about conveting the M5OD-R2 to a cable clutch (if possible). also nice build thread and truck. the truck is mainly going to be my DD with the occasional mudding/offroading.

 

What would be the setback of using a C5... there are tons of them forsale around here pretty cheap also.

 

I ran a C-4 for 5 years behind my 5.0L in an ’88 Ranger.
With a shift kit it would shift as fast as any stick would and harder.
The only problem I had other than the sound of the truck with manual vs auto is the cooling.
Cooling needs to be done is a separate cooler, don’t use the main radiator for cooling the trans; added heat (engine to trans and vise versa) adds to the over all package.

 

Thanks for the reply i guess ima go with m5od-r2 with a 4406 tcase or a np-205...
also heres some pics of the truck with the motor out tcase and tranny still in i planned on taking that out today but i got sunburnt like cazy kayaking this weekend... so badly it sucks to walk lol. also think their would be any interest in my 2.8l parts... like an intake heads carby power steering pump etc?



I think he is ready to go for a ride lol

 

Aloe my man, Aloe… get a bottle.
After you burn put this stuff on, it is sticky but it takes away the burn and from what I have heard helps the skin and next time use sun block… lol, I never listened either.

Good start, I loved the ’88 STX with the 5.0L (except for the auto) it is the way Ford should have made them but they didn’t want to take away from the F-150 sales.

Good Luck with the swap.

 

I hope i'm going to love mine too.... Im sure i will i would just really love to find a 5.0 HO vs the normal one from f150s but they are pretty rare around here lots of mustang lovers.

 

Has to be some early 90 Stangs out there but you will have to use the Engine Harness that comes in the Stang too.

My new one is a Long Rod 5.0L, will have to wait a while to see IF it gets in.
I have a long list of stuff to do to the Ranger and that is on the top but will end up being completed as if it was on the bottom.

Good Luck

 

I would look at a lincoln for the 302 HO, very common, same motor as the mustang, and usually not as abused.

 

True, but check the engine harness, make sure it is a separate removal harness, then it is adaptable to the Ranger.

Get all of the accessories, the engine harness and the engine computer with it, makes it easier.

I do not know about the Lincoln Engine Harness, if it is a separate unit but the early 90s Stangs are and they work out in a Ranger engine bay.

Also, while the engine is out, check into the heater box mod that is needed to clear the right hand valve cover, easier to do now than once the engine is on its way in. (Body Lift will cut down on the amount needed to be cut out.
There must be a how-to thread somewhere.

I did mine with a heat gun (and a little torching) and pushing plastic around but if it I did it again in a gen 1 I would cut out the area and mold a piece of metal to fill the hole, maybe fiberglass it if possible.

 

Awesome thanks again for the suggestions you two... i have found abot 30 cars total at the local pick n pull i get to go scope out to find a 5.0 HO lol

 

Luck with the swap, you will love it all over again when you feel the power that Ford should have put in the first time around.

 

One more question... if i get a computer from an auto ill just have to get it tuned to work with stick... or will i . not sure on this.
Thanks again jbb

 

I ran an auto computer with my manual for a while before I bought a manual computer. The most sought after is the A9L.

 

Nice dog, I am subscribed.

 

All I know about the engine computers is what I have learned on this site.
If you get a newer Explorer engine/trans/transfer case with an auto you can program the trans out of the computer, so an auto computer can be used and reprogramed for a manual trans.
I am not sure if the early 90s Stang or Lincoln type computer can do the same but it would be hard to believe it can’t be done.

Search this forum for computer reprogramming, read as much as you can and see what you find out.

Send a PM to “rwenzing”, Bob is a whiz at the electronic of the newer stuff and it would not surprise me if he had the answer(s) you need.

Maybe he will chime in here you never know.

 

I know this is old but just seen this about the tranny cooler. I have mine run from tranny to radiator, out of the radiator then to the tranny cooler out of the tranny cooler and back to the tranny.

should I eliminate going thru the radiator?