im new to this forum and im needing some intel on a 5.0 swap......ive read everything that i know of on this swap but i havent found anything on the driveshaft. im goin to be doin this swap soon hopefully... i am going to be using a t-5 tranny but the question is what exactly do i have to do to the drive shaft? (if anything) my trucks a 94 xlt ranger with the 2.3l 5spd.... reason for the swap is the truck has 194,xxx miles on it and the 2.3 isnt exactly up to power sop to speak anymore(if it ever was) lol....... any and all info would be greatly appreciated...thanks in advance

 

Check out www.rangerpowersports.com or www.therangerstation.com

Both of those websites have much more info and many members with running V8 swaps in that generation ranger. I can't help you out personally, and I think most members of this site are more knowlegable in suspension and electrical components more than engines and powertrains. Hope you can find what you need.

 

 

Whats the reciever input all about? As far as the driveshaft, I would imagine that it would have to be custom. And with a 5.0 replacing the 2.3 even if the stock driveshaft fit I would be scared to use it.

 

you can take your stock driveshaft and have it shortend thats all it needs to be done. now with a t-5 the hole in floor for the shifter will be moved back also.

 

Gearhead61- thanks for the links but ive already checked those out and didnt really see what i needed but thanks

redneckstone- thanks you for your input and i know i have to cut a whole for the floor but thats the least of my worrys.....finding a place to do the driveshaft is a big thing....i have no idea of any place around here that does it so if anyone knows where theres a place in or around ky please let me know

 

if using a c4 tranny the shaft is reusable without modding it

 

ya but a c4 doesnt have the leveler coming up from the floor so its usless to me....screw auto's...those are for lazy people...

 

thanks for all the information, im a little confused about the differences in trannys, i know the c4 is an auto but how much difference in the length of it oppossed to the t-5 and other auto or manual trannys? will say an aod work without modifying the driveshaft as well?

 

Here's the deal. Don't worry about the drive shaft until you are near the end of the swap. Each swap is different.

On my 92 which had a 2.3, I used an AOD out of an E150 van. It is the longer style AOD. With that tranny and the positioning of my motor, my driveshaft was a direct fit.

Others have had to shorten the shaft and sometimes it needs to be lengthened. You won't know until you have the motor and tranny permanetly mounted.

 

theres a book runnin around that is all about 302 and 321 windsor swaps for rangers. I forgt where I saw it but thats gonna be exactly what you need. try and find it...

 

If you are talking about the one from MRE, it is junk IMO. The real swap manual for this is from Harwood. And the Harwood manual is a must have if you intend to wire fuel injection on your own. Just my .02

Actually, MRE has a website that gives you the entire manual they sell including pics for free. I don't know why they do that if they intend to make money on the manual. But, I found the info in it for the 302/351 swap to be less than stellar. They do cover the 460 swap much better than anywhere else I have seen though.

 

I just ran across this thread and I have a 94 3.0 and am planning an efi v8 swap how did your swap turn out