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1 ton ranger 460 or 390 swap


bobbywalter

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farm truck....


ok....500 cfm 2bbl or no bigger then a 600 4 bbl on the 351...buy a rollmaster timing set for it.


no way i would narrow the axles...but i can understand the desire with tight trails. lots of poor boy ways to do that too if you must.


those axles will go regardless down tight trails and save the body some grief.


if my ranger fits my axles fit. if the axles wont fit...your probably going to kill the body anyway.
 


85_Ranger4x4

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One thing to keep in mind, depending on what your definition of "farm truck" is going too high can be counter productive too.

One of the reasons mine is like it is is so it is somewhat easier to put deer, fence posts and bags of whatever in the back.

The 460 can be had 20 years newer and in greater numbers than a 400 which is why it would be my choice.
 

rusty ol ranger

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The 460 can be had 20 years newer and in greater numbers than a 400 which is why it would be my choice.
After running both....

The 400 smokes the 460 (in my experence) for reliabilty.
The 400 also has just as much snort after some slight massageing.

That being said, assuming he wants to go carbed (which, i would, but not opening that can o worms), the EFI 460 heads wont work with a carbed 460 manifold. So yes, you could go all the way to 97 for a bottom end/block, but youre still looking at head swaps, etc. Not a huge deal, but kinda just an info thing.

I think, espicially with that 4sp, he'll be happy with the 351M.

But to the OP, remember, if you plan on useing that T19 with the 351M youll need a bellhousing off a 351M/400/429/460. The FE (352/360/390) housing you currently have will not work. Either will the flywheel, to my knowledge.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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‘86 4wd is set up for EFI...
 

rusty ol ranger

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scotts90ranger

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an '86 will also have the high pressure pump in the frame under the drivers seat, pull it out and bypass it and you have a carb setup... I'm personally sold on fuel injection, it can be a pain at times but for offroading it's great... a properly set up carb will do the same thing and handle bumps and angles well but it takes some knowledge and tinkering...

I'm all for putting something together with what is on hand, it's what I've grown up doing, and helping my brother fixing and modifying farm equipment it is the only way to go without spending $$$.

I do have a '80 F350 boom truck with a C6 and 400 in my side yard right now... lost forward movement in the C6, missing a radiator and has been sitting for 10 years, want to try to get it running next year...
 

rusty ol ranger

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Just spend 30 bucks rebuilding your factory 2bbl and run it.

It wont get you bragging rights, but they are easy to tune, easy to fix, and function about as well as EFI.

EFI is a unnessacary headache for what little benifit it offers over a good running carb.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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Avoiding the carb vs efi debate just saying staying efi opens up a lot more newer engine options.

The newest 460 is over 20 years newer than the newest 400. The bullnose herd is getting mighty thin.
 

alwaysFlOoReD

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rusty ol ranger

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Avoiding the carb vs efi debate just saying staying efi opens up a lot more newer engine options.

The newest 460 is over 20 years newer than the newest 400. The bullnose herd is getting mighty thin.

But hes also on a budget and has, by his own words, a perfect 351M sitting there, over buying a 460 in unknown condition or a clapped out 390.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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But hes also on a budget and has, by his own words, a perfect 351M sitting there, over buying a 460 in unknown condition or a clapped out 390.
350-400hp 351M on a budget?

The hp thing throws a wrench in everything for a budget, even the 460. I think once acquired the 460 would be the cheapest option to build though.
 

mikkelstuff

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Just rebuilt the OEM 460 in my '75 Ranchero GT. Cost $3,000 not counting the headers, etc. Turned 400 hp on the dyno with nothing really that radical in the build.
 

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