I just got an '87, and my friend that I bought it from also has a complete '79 5.0 engine that he'll sell to me for $200, the truck has a c4 so i'm not worried about that.

I have a couple questions about this swap
Firstly, I was concerned about the steering linkage, what kind of modification will we have to do? if any at all.

also, I am going to bag the truck, and possibly a body drop, will it fit with the headers and all? and will we have to cut a notch in frame or any kind of modification?

It's gonna have 275/35zr18's all the way around, but probably 235-255's up front to make more room if needed, should i just get rid of the inner wheel well or cut it up to make room? what are my options with this?

is there anything else I have to look out for that I don't know about yet?

 

Only thing I can help you with is the steering, if you use the L&L 5.0L/302 Swap Headers and/or their Motor Mounts there is no problems.

I used the L&L complete swap kit, very good product done up to the 9’s and if I did it again I would use one of their Kit; the only way to go for 1st gen Rangers

 

so either the header kit or engine mounts, the header kit is $460(ouch), and i couldn't find the engine mounts, u have a link for those?

 

Sorry wow.
Just checked out the L&L Site and things have gone up a lot since I purchased my adapter kit for the 5.0L in the ’88 Ranger.
Maybe Advanced Adapters has something, also James Duff is another conversion site.
ltr

 

717044A | Engine & Transmission Conversion Adapters - Advance Adapters

would those work?

 

I looked at AA Site and they have just about everything, again I think L&L ar ethe best but these will work and AA is a lot less expensive.

Check out James Duff, 302/5.0L Engine Conversions stuff, looks the same but less money.
http://www.jamesduff.com/broncoII/broncoII.html

V-8 Conversions.
http://www.jamesduff.com/broncoII/v8conversion.html
Review the whole page, the Mounts are there.

The only headers I could find on the site are for 2x’s, maybe mix and match some stuff if necessary to save some bucks.

Both AA and Duff;s have been doing this stuff for a while so most will work.

 

well i just found out that the 302 doesn't even have headers, just an exhaust manifold, it's coming out of a '79 f150, so there shouldn't be a problem, but if there is i know what to get, thanks man

 

Sorry I wasn’t more help.
The gen I and II Ranger are easy 5.0L/302 swaps so go for it.
Not sure that the stock exhaust manifold will clear everything that is necessary but go for it and see.

Good Luck on the swap.

 

thanks, probably wont happen for a couple weeks cus the engine is still in the f150 haha

 

sounds like mine 87 ranger 79 302

here are is what i did: excerpt from post
https://www.ranger-forums.com/f69/mr...ranger-108307/

got a kit from total performance out of MI. headers, motor mounts, oil filter relocater, n double hump oil pan. its a 79 302 out of a merc capri. put in a decent cam, got it rebuilt n balanced, 289 heads with new parts, 3 core radiator, accel ign, c4 with shiftkit, driveshaft from a ford van that had to be modified, org 7.5 rear end...it has factory 3.73 gears. new fan...17" dia 2400 cfm and only 2 5/8" deep!


very little mods needed...notch small v in passenger side frame rail for header to fit, drill one hole on drivers side for motor mount, make plate to extend tranimision mount, find a driveshaft to cut down, get a radiator made to fit, relocate oil filter, thats the major things that has to be done

 

was that kit neccessary?

I saw on your thread you posted 'very little mods needed...notch small v in passenger side frame rail for header to fit, drill one hole on drivers side for motor mount, make plate to extend tranimision mount, find a driveshaft to cut down, get a radiator made to fit, relocate oil filter, thats the major things that has to be done.'

right now the engine has exhaust manifold so I shouldn't need to make any notches, I'm not sure about the motor mounts and tranny mount, it's getting a C6 so I'll figure it out somehow... I'll probably just custom make them, I know I'll have to get a custom cut drive shaft, but why did you need to relocate the oil filter? and what radiator did you use?

 

Yeah, I think I had to notch the frame on my truck also, but it fit. It was tight, but it fit. lol You'll love yourself when you get through with it.

 

i got the kit cause i wanted headers, and it came with everything i needed which made it easier to figure out...imo
had to relocate oil filter cause of clearence issues
c6 will b trickier due to different bellhousing...will require more modification to make fit
motor mounts came with the kit, so i dont know what specific ones to use
we made a plate to extenend where the tranny mounts on the original crossmember, because with the swap the tranny will be farther back
i went to a local radiator shop with the max dimensions for the radiator and had them make a 3 core that would fit
you also need a double hump oil pan, because of clearence reasons.

good luck, i recomend the kit, unless you are an experienced mechanic

 

I'm not very experienced, I've only been in the industry for about a year, but I was an intern at a custom shop for a while and I can have them custom make anything I need, and I want headers too but for now the exhaust manifold will be fine
I'm gonna do some research and see what stock radiator will work, but if there is none... how much did you pay for yours?

 

You can get a nice aluminum 2 row radiator for around 160

 

i think i paid nearly $300. it was completely custom though.
i bet there is a radiator that will fit, measure the height, width and depth, take a tape measure to a junkyard and look around.
check the other swap threads, somebody prolly knows