Ford Ranger engine swap

[Fishaholic]

I have a 84 ford ranger with the long bed. It currently has a 2.3 4 cylinder. I was going to just rebuild the engine but now I am going to throw a bigger engine in it. I was thinking about the 2.9 v6 or the 302 v8 I was wondering if could get some advice and what people though. I have alot of room for everything to fit. Im going to put in a automatic tranny and a new rearend.


thanks
ddjj

[turkeyfeather]

Don't forget a new driveline as well.

[gasman]

A friend has one with an 302 and get 16 MPG.

With gas prices as they are, is it worth the extra expense 

[jay.sharkbait]

4BT

[Fishaholic]

A friend has one with an 302 and get 16 MPG.

With gas prices as they are, is it worth the extra expense 

Thats why I asked. I had a 2.9 in a bronco 2 I had and tuned it up and it would outrun my wifes honda in a 1/4 mile. It got 22 to 25 depeding on my driving.



I use to have a 76 ford with a 302 and i loved the power but it got 15 to 20 miles to the gallon.

[Mudman]

I have a 84 ford ranger with the long bed. It currently has a 2.3 4 cylinder. I was going to just rebuild the engine but now I am going to throw a bigger engine in it. I was thinking about the 2.9 v6 or the 302 v8 I was wondering if could get some advice and what people though. I have alot of room for everything to fit. Im going to put in a automatic tranny and a new rearend.


thanks
ddjj

Awesome!  Do it.  Get a police car or crown vic. civil and swap it computer injection and all.  Lots of Hp a good auto tran and gear ratio and probably pull 20-25 mpg hwy!

[buglebuster]

4BT

CUMMINS!

In all seriousness, the 302 is the most practical if you upgrade the rear end, and if its a 4wd the front axle to. I would steer clear of the 2.8 and 2.9 those are horrible motors, i had one and it got horrible mileage, about 12 in town. If i was gonna swap i would go v8 since the mileage will be similar.
Another option which would be awesome, but is a chev motor would be a 4.3, it would be about the same amount of work seeing as how your planning on a different motor anyways, and will have to rewire it.

[fastdam]

Why? With all the time and resources It will take I would think you could just buy something that will do what you want.

[Fishaholic]

Why? With all the time and resources It will take I would think you could just buy something that will do what you want.

Or I can do a engine swap on my 84 ford and have what I want.

[stevemiller]

v8 will use about the same as the v6 in that truck.the 4 is under powered and uses more fuel than it would in a grocery getter any way.as soon as you start working the smaller engines they use just as much fuel.if your driving back and forth to work ya a geo metro works great but if your gonna climb any hills at all hunting fishing just going up the pass forget it it will drink just as much fuel.   

[Duffer]

Why is a reasonable question. The OP has his reasons.

Mine (and I've done lots of this kinda stuff in my youth) was because I really enjoyed the challenge, liked 'turning wrenches' as a hobby and would have something different and cool when I was done!

Then sometimes it was just what's available when needed. Like when I stuffed a 455 Olds into a '68 3/4 ton Chevy longbed. Had a truck that needed an engine. Had a good runner engine. Viola!

Go for it is what I say. and ENJOY! 

[stevemiller]

  

[fastdam]

Well I have kniwn a few guys that put V8 engines in thier toyotas. It looks like fun, but,i would imagine the extra wieght up front would cause issues with handling. Do you have to beef up the front suspension if your going to put,a 302 in a ranger?       Im just speculating.

[Bofire]

  I met a guy in Tenino that put a 302 he had, in a Ranger 4x4, took him over a year. He had tons of troubles with wiring and switches. He said he had to do a new witing harness.
 
Carl

[dewandgin]

I will try to find the link but there is tons of info on putting a V-8 into a Ranger out there.
I have done probably 10 V-8 into S-10's (2wd and 4wd) and they fly and get decent mileage if you can keep your foot out of it.

[et1702]

4BT

Agreed, but popular and hard to find now (i.e., expensive).  I'd like to find one to swap into my ole '72 Blazer!

ET

[Fishaholic]

Well I have kniwn a few guys that put V8 engines in thier toyotas. It looks like fun, but,i would imagine the extra wieght up front would cause issues with handling. Do you have to beef up the front suspension if your going to put,a 302 in a ranger?       Im just speculating.

I was thinking I could stronger coil springs like off  Old f350 to beef the front end up.



One of my reasons to do a motor swap is I have always wanted a long bed ranger now I have it and im going to make it mine. Another reason is I like the older trucks. They are easy to work on parts are cheaper and if you take care of them they last. PLUS THE BIGGEST REASON IS ITS PAYED FOR!!!!!!! 

[Mudman]

I put an olds 455 in 1980 Toyota.  Easy.     Really though fuel mileage was great.  I pulled 18mpg cruising.  Father in la loves his crown vics and claims 20+mpg hwy!  Weight wont be a big deal as its not much heavier than a v-6.  Advance adapters will have what ya need.  A full wire/computer swap is doable as well with it if you can get a donor rig.  Personally I would get a donor as swaps are easier and cheaper this way often.  Think radiators wiring, mounts, acc. brackets and steering etc. and you see donors vehicle can save a lot of $!  Do it.  Fun as well.  *censored* truck when doe!

[ICEMAN]

Well I have kniwn a few guys that put V8 engines in thier toyotas. It looks like fun, but,i would imagine the extra wieght up front would cause issues with handling. Do you have to beef up the front suspension if your going to put,a 302 in a ranger?       Im just speculating.

I was thinking I could stronger coil springs like off  Old f350 to beef the front end up.



One of my reasons to do a motor swap is I have always wanted a long bed ranger now I have it and im going to make it mine. Another reason is I like the older trucks. They are easy to work on parts are cheaper and if you take care of them they last. PLUS THE BIGGEST REASON IS ITS PAYED FOR!!!!!!! 

How much are you budgetting for this engine swap?

[Fishaholic]

Well I have kniwn a few guys that put V8 engines in thier toyotas. It looks like fun, but,i would imagine the extra wieght up front would cause issues with handling. Do you have to beef up the front suspension if your going to put,a 302 in a ranger?       Im just speculating.

I was thinking I could stronger coil springs like off  Old f350 to beef the front end up.



One of my reasons to do a motor swap is I have always wanted a long bed ranger now I have it and im going to make it mine. Another reason is I like the older trucks. They are easy to work on parts are cheaper and if you take care of them they last. PLUS THE BIGGEST REASON IS ITS PAYED FOR!!!!!!! 

How much are you budgetting for this engine swap?

Im hoping to buy a running doner truck for 1000 I have seen some trucks around my area that will work and im going to try to use the tranny from the doner also.

[ICEMAN]

Oh, I thought you were going for the larger donor engine, plus upgrading your suspension to support the added weight.

[Mudman]

ddjj put a 302 in.  Don't waste money and time on v6 dude they are crap.  MPG is better on injected 302 and so is power.  Do an auto tran with throttle body and larger rad.  Swap kits available or advance adapters for everything else including 4wheel transfer case.  Coil upgrade and home free!  Oh and a spool or locker.  15 sec truck!

[YellowDog]

Do what you want.  I wanted a little Bronco II for an extra vehicle, trail/hunting rig to save some wear and tear on my then mostly new F-150 and hoped to delay getting the northwest pinstripes on my $30K+ truck.  I bought a 1989 Ford Bronco II that was in great exterior condition and pretty good interior except for the stereo being yanked (stolen) which broke some mounting brackets and a few plastic interior panels missing.  Paid $800 for the rig.  Turns out it had one dead cylinder.  I decided it made no sense to just rebuild or buy another 2.9L to put in it so I found a cosmetically beat up Explorer with a very good running 4.0L for $400.  My brother helped do the engine swap, I sold the auto tranny out of the explorer, and sold several other miscellaneous parts which basically got me to a break even on the replacement engine.  One of the biggest expenses was $400 to have someone almost completely rewire under the hood because I know jack about wiring and didn't want to screw with it.  I then decided I should go ahead and put Explorer axles under the BII so I found some 3.73 geared explorer axles for sale (my parts had 3.45 I believe) for $200 so I picked them up.  A few new spring perches and the help of a friend with some welding, a whole lot of cutting grinding and pounding to get the BII axle out due to rust and a small 2" lift and I was in business.  Later on, even though the manual tranny for the 2.9 still works fine I wanted the beefier manual from an explorer behind the larger 4.0 explorer motor so I found another donor explorer with a newly rebuilt tranny in it for $350-400.  I pulled the tranny and due to time restraints decided not to bother parting anything else out so I had Pull-A-Part come get it and they gave me $250 for the shell of a rig.  I have yet to find time to put the tranny in and honestly haven't driven the BII much but when I do it is a kick in the pants to drive and it makes me  .  With new wheels and some 31" tires, stereo and speakers and I am into it for maybe $2800.  I am happy and that is all I care about.

[raydog]

Keep in mind cooling. Might have to up grade the radiator. Even though there may seem like there is a lot of room for a v8 it will still be pretty tight. You can gain room by using an electric fan. If you use it for a d.d. you might want to get a v8 with fi and a brain instead of a carborated  engine. Good luck

[netcoyote]

I was thinking I could stronger coil springs like off  Old f350 to beef the front end up.

A good custom spring shop may be able to fab new springs that will be engineered to support the added weight and be an exact fit. Last time I checked, the prices for custom springs weren't too bad. Spring technology isn't rocket science but it does take engineering and fabrication tools. Saves a lot of trial and error.