Sorry if i sound like a noob on this one but here i go. I am thinking about droping a near stock 302 into my 88 4x4. The factory 2.9 is way down on power at 160,000 hard miles. The truck has what i think is a 5speed m50D-r1 ??? Please correct me if i am wrong. Since this would be a budget swap will the 302 bolt to the factory transmission or would i be better off getting rid of the 2.9 and just droping a carbed 2.3 into her.

Once again sorry for the noob question but i could use some help on this one.

 

Sorry to break it to you, but it is a normal and commonly done swap

1986 Bronco II 2.9L To 5.0L Engine Wiring
Ford Ranger V-8 Engine Swap

 

Thanks for the links. After a lot of reading i am not sure what direction to go now. There are so many options im kind of lost on what way to go. I dont mind swaping out the engine or even the tranmission but what i dont want to do is change the engine and transmission just to brake the transfer case or the diffs.

 

Then swap everything out. IMO, it all depends on what you are going to what to do with it.

Change the tranny with the motor. That poor thing is not going to last more than a week behind that 302. I would change out the t case to something stronger, as well as the front and rear diffs. Depending on what you have in the front, you might be able to make it last for a bit, but it wont forever. Figure out what rear end you have as well. I would think about changing to an Explorer rear axle.