Ranger Tech (2019+)

Ranger Tech ('83-'11) Product / Build Guide Other Articles TRS Events Overlanding Readers Rangers

Discussion Forum

TRS Store

TRS Magazine - 'Off-Road' Feature Vehicle

Trucks Of The Month

Shirts & Decals

Click to check out our TRS Store

 

Ranger Buyers Guide

       
  
  
 
 

 Mark Newman's Ford '351 Ranger'

Story by Frank Austin

1984 Ford Ranger with a 351 Windsor

Before... Before...

 

When Mark first got his truck it just wasn’t the same as it was when it left the dealer some years before. The 2.8L engine was blown and the body needed some serious TLC. It took Mark a year to restore the body to its former glory. The engine however, sad to say, was another story.

Fortunately for Mark the seller had a couple of 5.0L equipped Rangers and showed him exactly what need to be done to install one in his. A generous 1984 Mustang GT donated its HO engine to the project and after it underwent a rebuild, it found a new life at home under the Ranger’s hood.

This engine provided Mark with reliable service for the next three years until it suffered an oil pressure problem. Replacing the oil pump proved fruitless. So a suitable replacement needed to be found.

The thought of a 351 Windsor engine had always been an attractive idea (MORE POWER). So poking around the local wrecking yard produced a 351W that didn’t look great but only cost $50. How far wrong can you go for that price? After a couple of hours of work it was installed, and the Ranger was on the road again.

Mark has also done some custom fabrication work on his truck. This includes home extended radius arms and a custom cross member. The radius arms came about after seeing all the others on the web he figured, why not make my own. A suitable fixture to hold everything straight was fabricated. Then using it, he successfully cut and extended the stock arms fifteen inches. The cross member is his own original design and has proved to work just fine.

 

 

Unfortunately a large part of his hard work now has to come out. As the combination of a 351W, mixed with a bit of offroading has proven too much for the stock Dana 28 front end. It has unfortunately gone to whatever heaven diffs go to after giving their all in faithful service. With a 351W for power, putting in another D28 just didn’t seem to be worth the effort. The poor D28 was never intended for this type of application and power, and another one likely wouldn’t last too long.

With that in mind an early Bronco has been persuaded to donate it’s D44 and it will soon be taking up where the D28 left off in providing for front end traction.

Not a bad bit of work, but I want to see it going with a 44 up front.

So hurry up Mark, we’re all waiting to see ya finish it. At least till you find something else to "improve" on it that is.

[Truck]

1984 FORD RANGER 4X4
4" SKYJACKER SUSPENSION LIFT
3" BODY LIFT
C4 TRANSMISSION
B&M SHIFT KIT
B&M STARGATE SHIFTER
HOMEMADE CUSTOM EXTENDED RADIUS ARMS
HOMEMADE TRACTION BARS
HOMEMADE NERF BARS
1994 RANGER 8.8 WITH 3.73 GEARS
WITH LIMITED SLIP
DANA 44
33" BOGGERS
 

[Engine]

351 WINDSOR
ROLLER ROCKERS
COMP CAM
BORED .040 OVER
WIEND STEALTH INTAKE
PORTED HEADS

 

 

footer

Advertisers

The Ranger Station

   About
   Staff
   Contact Us
   Advertising
   Legal Notices
   959 Media LLC
   Copyright © 1999-2024

 

Submit Content

Have Info To Share?

We're always looking for good content to share with other Ford Ranger enthusiasts. Click on the 'Submit' button to find out how you can get your submission posted and acknowledged for it.