i know its another "V8 swap thread blah blah".. but i kinda want more specific answers to my project

Well i will be doing some sort of swap here in the next half a year or so, and id like to get started early (so maybe i can have it in and done this summer). i have a few questions and stuff that maybe i/we could find answers too..


well first is what engine i wanna try..

-stang 302
-ex. 302
-351
-cobra 4.6
-or maybe even a 4.6 from a t-bird heh

next would be doing the trany and such, if it is possible, i would really love to make it a manual, cause if i get a nice motor in my truck, id love to have the stick. so if there is a way to swap in dif. steering wheel, put in clutch peddle, new center council etc.id like to see if i can. cause itd be like having an auto stang or a manual stang... yea manual is my choice too.

i have many resouces to help me make it possible, including myself i have a few buddys who are mechanics, and one that came back from the army and hes about as good as anyone. and i have access to about any tool i will need and most material for fabing if needed. basically the only thing hard for me to do, and take the longest time and $$ will be finding the motor/trany and all the little **** to go with it.

i was talking with a buddy, and id really like to try the 4.6 swap, cause if it works, its much more horsepower and there is a plethera of boltons for it. idk if its possible someone here im sure might know. other than that i guess id go with an HO 302 and try to do the manual swap, or just say **** it and do an exploder 302 and Auto trany and call it good.

Id just like to make it as cool as possible if im going to do it, cause if i decide this is what i wanna do, im gona make it worth it. i might not be able to lift it and do the swap, but i think i can handle the BL and maybe 33's or 35's for a while, if i have mucho horsepower in it... that'll keep me busy

well if anyone has some helpful info thatd be great, cause im kinda starting to get a rough draft of what im gona want to have saved to make the dream come true, thanks!

 

id go with the 4.6 with man. trans. manual is by far the best. i just cant get it cuz my mom backed my last truck into a ditch. but ne ways go with the cobra since you have the resources. good luck.

 

Isn't the 4.6 a modular motor and alot harder/almost impossible to fit in the Ranger? Also the T-bird 4.6L does not have anywhere remotely close to the amount of parts that a 302 aka 5.0L has.

 

the t-bird was a joke..


idk anything about the size of a 4.6 stang motor to a ranger, so yea

 

Since you seem to be in funds ; you can put in anything you want, just depends on how long you want to work on it. Being 4X4, non- standard stuff might include a LOT of fabing. I like fabing , and it is fun, but after awhile, I want to drive it! How about a compromise; x-ploder 5.0 stroked in the 331ci range and a tuner. Should easily double what the 3.0 gives you , and how cool it looks up top is up to you, supercharger , external [dry] belt drive for the cam, whatever. I'm not a 4X guy; how much can the stock transfer case take? My .02

 

do the 302 IMO

 

ive been trying to look around, i'll prolly end up with an exploder 5.0, and yea stroke it bore it watever and try and get some good power out of it

but do any of you guys have any info on what it takes to get an auto truck to a manual, junkyard dive for manual ranger parts or what?

 

Umm, you jus put the manual in lol. Remove the shifter

Aaron

 

my .02 says get a 289 hi-po, convert it to MPFI, put on a set of dart heads and go from there...mate it up with a tremec t-6 out of a cobra and you're set....

the 289 can build some massive horsepower, is alot stronger in the mains versus a 302, and there are alot of aftermarket parts available....

 

Hmm haven't heard much about the 289. I wonder.

Did you know that ppl have put the I6 from the old f-250s in Rangers? Now that's crazy.

Aaron

 

ex 302 will be your best shot. Get a t-5 tranny. NONE of the ranger tranny's will work with it. You will probably need a custom drive shaft also.

 

the 289 was the original performance mustang motor before they broke in to the cobra jet motors...it was an extremely efficient and easily built engine...then they introduced the 289 hi-po which had a more power friendly setup...very good motor and used very widely in fords earlier days

 

i will have to decide one day, proly based on what i find, but i def. want to try and make it manual.. only way i can stand to have a V8 or power period