RangerFabWorks
The O.G blackwidow67
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2009
- Messages
- 5,202
- Reaction score
- 715
- Points
- 113
- Age
- 32
- Location
- Lexington, North Carolina
- Vehicle Year
- 1990
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 302
- Transmission
- Manual
Hey everyone. My photobucket account was hacked and deleted. So heres a link to view some of the pictures i had left.
https://goo.gl/photos/LuRAS5nCs1H94aYi9
Ok guys, heres my official build thread so those who are interested can see how my truck came out
heres what i started with, an original low mileage 67,000 mile 2 owner 1984 ranger. she had the original 2.3 and 4 speed when i got it.
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when i originally got it, it was wearing the original silver paint, but it was well worn, and it had its share of dents. so i cleaned up the body, and threw it in a flat black base coat just to knock around town. i then added a tubular style grille, and 14x8 cragar s/s rims
well, being 16 and stupid i opened the little 2.3 up on the freeway and over revved it and blew the number 2 piston into the oil pan.
so, i went back and forth between rebuilding the 2.3, doing a 302, or something else. waaaaa haaaaaaa
well, i just happened to have a 300 horse, 1972 350 chevy, and a rebuilt th700r4 trans laying over from a previous project. so the descision was made to stock a v8 in it.
so, i started the teardown on the truck, first on the list, yank out the (3) banger
[/IMG] Doesnt it look cute, NEXT
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thats more like it. so heres the heartbeat awaiting its new home
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so the first thing i did clean the engine bay up, and paint it
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i knew the heater box would need to be modified so here it is
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now that that was done, time to lay the 350 in
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so after having the engine in and out like 5 more times, i started making the motor mounts. the engine side is 1962 impala 5.3 motor mounts, and the frame side is 3/8 c-channel narrowed and welded on 3/8 plate to extend the mounts foward. trans mount is 3/9 plate welded on the factory crossmember to extend foward. i dont have pics of me making them but here they are welded on the chassis
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ok now that there all done, engine time
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with the engine all done, time to actually paint the bay the right way. done with automotive paint and clear
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now the engine can sit in her new home for the final time
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time for assembly, first the new aluminum radiator from jegs. it measures 28x16.5 and required cutting the core support and making a new lower support for it. but it fits.
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then came the power steering, its a gm saginaw box, fitted to the stock ranger lines with a union. the lines i cut and re welded to shorten them up
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electric fan and b&n shifter next.
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then it was just odds and ends stuff. but she fired up with no leakes and sounded great.
things i didnt get pictures of. exhaust- stock ramhorn style manifolds, 2 1/2 from the collectors, then both pipes run to the pass. side into two flowmaster 40 series mufflers and dump before the rear axle. gauges- sunpro gauges to monitor the oil temp and volts. driveshaft, factory ranger shaft with a chevy yoke, conversion joint, and shortened 1''
all parts came from jegs and consisted of, chrome dress up kit, edelbrock performer intake, edelbrock 600 cfm carb, jegs timing chain set, jegs hei distributor, jegs 8mm wireset, b&m unimatic shifter, jegs universal aluminum radiator, stock 1962 impala 5.3 motor mounts, jegs highflow mechanical fuelpump.
and of course, i cant forget the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4oqYYpqn9o
now that the swap is done, interior is next, and body and paint. so keep a watch.
https://goo.gl/photos/LuRAS5nCs1H94aYi9
Ok guys, heres my official build thread so those who are interested can see how my truck came out
heres what i started with, an original low mileage 67,000 mile 2 owner 1984 ranger. she had the original 2.3 and 4 speed when i got it.
when i originally got it, it was wearing the original silver paint, but it was well worn, and it had its share of dents. so i cleaned up the body, and threw it in a flat black base coat just to knock around town. i then added a tubular style grille, and 14x8 cragar s/s rims
well, being 16 and stupid i opened the little 2.3 up on the freeway and over revved it and blew the number 2 piston into the oil pan.
so, i went back and forth between rebuilding the 2.3, doing a 302, or something else. waaaaa haaaaaaa
well, i just happened to have a 300 horse, 1972 350 chevy, and a rebuilt th700r4 trans laying over from a previous project. so the descision was made to stock a v8 in it.
so, i started the teardown on the truck, first on the list, yank out the (3) banger
thats more like it. so heres the heartbeat awaiting its new home
so the first thing i did clean the engine bay up, and paint it
i knew the heater box would need to be modified so here it is
now that that was done, time to lay the 350 in
so after having the engine in and out like 5 more times, i started making the motor mounts. the engine side is 1962 impala 5.3 motor mounts, and the frame side is 3/8 c-channel narrowed and welded on 3/8 plate to extend the mounts foward. trans mount is 3/9 plate welded on the factory crossmember to extend foward. i dont have pics of me making them but here they are welded on the chassis
ok now that there all done, engine time
with the engine all done, time to actually paint the bay the right way. done with automotive paint and clear
now the engine can sit in her new home for the final time
time for assembly, first the new aluminum radiator from jegs. it measures 28x16.5 and required cutting the core support and making a new lower support for it. but it fits.
then came the power steering, its a gm saginaw box, fitted to the stock ranger lines with a union. the lines i cut and re welded to shorten them up
electric fan and b&n shifter next.
then it was just odds and ends stuff. but she fired up with no leakes and sounded great.
things i didnt get pictures of. exhaust- stock ramhorn style manifolds, 2 1/2 from the collectors, then both pipes run to the pass. side into two flowmaster 40 series mufflers and dump before the rear axle. gauges- sunpro gauges to monitor the oil temp and volts. driveshaft, factory ranger shaft with a chevy yoke, conversion joint, and shortened 1''
all parts came from jegs and consisted of, chrome dress up kit, edelbrock performer intake, edelbrock 600 cfm carb, jegs timing chain set, jegs hei distributor, jegs 8mm wireset, b&m unimatic shifter, jegs universal aluminum radiator, stock 1962 impala 5.3 motor mounts, jegs highflow mechanical fuelpump.
and of course, i cant forget the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4oqYYpqn9o
now that the swap is done, interior is next, and body and paint. so keep a watch.
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