Shift Linkage

[Rudy]

So I'm getting rid of an old motorcycle, and had a guy offer up a trade.....a 1988 ford ranger for the bike.  The thing is lifted 8 inches and has 34 inch tires.  He pulled out the old motor and replaced it with a 302 from a 91 F150.  Said the only thing that needs fixed on it to make it driveable is the shift linkage, it needs to be "hooked up."  Anyone have any experience doing this?  How labor intensive is it?  Any info is welcomed.  Not sure if i want to make the trade or not

[92xj]

Shouldnt be that hard of a job.  He should be able to easily do it to make the trade.  My thoughts, that is not the only thing to make it driveable.  If it was he would have done it and had a driving truck. 
Do you feel the value of the truck equals what you want out of the motorcycle?

[Kowsrule30]

Should take way less than an hour if all the RIGHT parts are there... More like 10 minutes...

[jackelope]

It's probably not long enough assuming some of that lift is body lift.

[netcoyote]

So I'm getting rid of an old motorcycle, and had a guy offer up a trade.....a 1988 ford ranger for the bike.  The thing is lifted 8 inches and has 34 inch tires.  He pulled out the old motor and replaced it with a 302 from a 91 F150.  Said the only thing that needs fixed on it to make it driveable is the shift linkage, it needs to be "hooked up."  Anyone have any experience doing this?  How labor intensive is it?  Any info is welcomed.  Not sure if i want to make the trade or not

The fact that you are asking about this on a forum, instead of already knowing, is probably reason enough to stay clear of this. Drastic modifications on vehicles can be a major PITA. The devil is usually in the details and something that "should be easy" can turn into a costly and time consuming project. Unless you have experience with engine swaps, my advice would be to turn this offer down. If the guy wants to hook up the linkage, tell him you'll rethink after you've driven it.

[jackelope]

I agree. You accept the offer, trailer the truck home, hook the shift linkage up only to discover the transmission doesn't work or the truck is a nightmare to drive.

[huntnphool]

Pass!

[Rudy]

Thanks Guys thats what i was thinking......if its such an easy fix why hasnt he done it already and beend riving the rig?  I sent him a message letting him know that if he wanted to complete the repairs and let me test drive the truck, only then would i consider the trade.

Thanks everyone!

[Cascade_fisher]

Take a pass.  There must be more wrong as it is normally simple and would add value to their truck. To have it fixed in less than 30 minutes.  that much lift on that short a truck generally causes the angles of the driveshaft to be problematic at the differentials.  The seller may have disconnected the shift linkage so that you don't see that issue until after the trade.  If you aren't familiar enough yourself I would leave it.

[turkeyfeather]

Take a pass.  There must be more wrong as it is normally simple and would add value to their truck. To have it fixed in less than 30 minutes.  that much lift on that short a truck generally causes the angles of the driveshaft to be problematic at the differentials.  The seller may have disconnected the shift linkage so that you don't see that issue until after the trade.  If you aren't familiar enough yourself I would leave it.

Exactly what I was just typing out. If this guy did the lift and engine swap right he would finish it and sell the truck for a profit. The fact that he is trying to pawn it off tells me there are lots of potential issues. That really is to big of a lift for that size truck.

[FC]

Assuming this is an automatic trans you could always warm it up and then jump under it to shift it manually. This sounds like someone else's nightmare to me.

[Rudy]

This sounds like someone else's nightmare to me.

Agreed.  Thanks for all the advice guys........im not familiar enough with all of this to take on something like this, or to go look at the truck and see the problems for myself.

Thanks again!