My OL' Red Project.......

[rangerslim]

After years of contemplation and deliberation i have decided to go ahead with the 302 conversion in ol' red so I could get her painted this summer....I pulled the 2.9 last night, here is a few pics and will update as I go:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/goportisgo/olred7.jpg


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/goportisgo/olred4.jpg


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/goportisgo/olred3.jpg

[ZMan]

good lookin truck! There was one just like it for sale here a few months back..they were asking a wee too much for it though considering it was in worse shape body wise.

[86isuzu]

nice truck! whadaya runnin'? 33" and a 6" lift?

[Danger-Ranger96]

wow thats a nice gen 2, is that a huge CB whip i see near the roof, if so, wow thats pretty long heh

[dougs3.0L98]

thats a very nice truck. it warms my heart that you are putting a 302 in it.

[danger88ranger]

badass man, the 302 will really fling the mud when its together

[Maverick]

After years of contemplation and deliberation i have decided to go ahead with the 302 conversion in ol' red so I could get her painted this summer....I pulled the 2.9 last night, here is a few pics and will update as I go:

[/IMG]

Thats your truck in your avatar right? Wasn't that in readers rides of a 4x4 magazine along time ago? The specs were 6" of lift and 36x12.50's back then correct?

[rangerslim]

^^^yea, it was......man, that was a while ago.....now it's got 35/15 swampers on it....it sure looked a lot better back then.....I have been using it for coon hunting, hence the 9ft. whip antenna-ha-ha...

[klogtruck]

nice truck, the 302 is going to be nice in there

[GatorBlue92]

very nice truck

[rangerslim]

thanks all....just scored an 8.8 out of a 98 ranger 4x4 for $125.....so many things to do, so little time--ha-ha....

[BlackBII]

Very nice truck, I like it a lot man, I'm looking to build one with almost that exact setup sometime this year, most likely in the fall, gotta get the compilation of BII's done!

[rangerslim]

thanks brother, it has a 4" susp. and 3" body but when all this is over with I want to put on an 8" lift cause I want 38 boggers in a bad way!!!

[BlackBII]

38" boggers and a 302 = Carnage! :headbang:

[rangerslim]

one more for now:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/goportisgo/olred6.jpg

[BlackBII]

looks like your windshield has small crack, and what is with fog horn lookin thing there? Looks like your battery and engine compartment could take a visit from a pressure washer and a wire brush:icon_thumby:

[samsonitesamsonite]

you want to run 38" boggers with a 302 on stock a stock d35 and 8.8?!

[rangerslim]

looks like your windshield has small crack, and what is with fog horn lookin thing there? Looks like your battery and engine compartment could take a visit from a pressure washer and a wire brush:icon_thumby:

A small crack to say the least..... that horn is a pa hooked to the cb so I can hear it outside the truck while I am hunting......and yes, this weekend will consist of a lot of cleaning...:annoyed: as I said it has been a hunting truck...

you want to run 38" boggers with a 302 on stock a stock d35 and 8.8?!

I have been running either 35 boggers or 35 swampers for the last 8 years on 4.56 gears to a 7.5/d28 setup just fine...have busted 2 ring and pinion sets, that is all.....you don't think d35/ 8.8 setup can't handle 3 more inches worth of tire.....keep in mind I don't drive like a maniac.....:icon_hornsup:

[red85]

Looks like a great conversion so far. What are you running for a tranny? Is that a roller 302 or a regular flat tappet motor? Definitely get in there with a pressure washer and some degreaser. If you have access to warm water, use it. It really helps with the degreasing. Our pressure washers at work use warm water and it makes engine shampoos alot easier.

[rangerslim]

^^^^^thanks....using a c-4 with c-5 endhousing........old 302 block.....

[red85]

That is going to be a good solid truck when you get it all finished. Be patient with the project and yourself. I'd sure hate to see the project end because you got frustrated with some of the stupider details of this project. Have you got all of the swap parts?

[rangerslim]

^^^Man, I've been nervous as heck ever since I pulled the motor out......Even more so probably after Sun. when the guy comes and picks up the 2.9....there will be no turning back then!!!!! But I don't think now I would even try to put it back in if I wanted to, ya know?
I've got most of the swap parts: motor brackets, oil relocator, trans. will be done hopefully by sat., wiring harness for distributor, shifter and carb. is in the mail, headers (if the pinto 302 headers will fit).......All I've got left to get I think is fuel regulator and what I'm going to do about a radiator (I'm keeping the pump in-tank and regulating it down the right way)

[mhughes165]

you want to run 38" boggers with a 302 on stock a stock d35 and 8.8?!


i used to run 33" boggers on a d28 and 7.5, buddy of mine ran 38.5 hawgs on his exploder with a 35 and 8.8 and never broke, guess its just how ur luck runs

[Maverick]

^^^yea, it was......man, that was a while ago.....now it's got 35/15 swampers on it....it sure looked a lot better back then.....I have been using it for coon hunting, hence the 9ft. whip antenna-ha-ha...

The only reason I remember it is because I liked it so damn much. It was the same truck I had at the time and still my favorite body style. It's good to see it still kicking around. Good luck with your build :icon_thumby:

[red85]

^^^Man, I've been nervous as heck ever since I pulled the motor out......Even more so probably after Sun. when the guy comes and picks up the 2.9....there will be no turning back then!!!!! But I don't think now I would even try to put it back in if I wanted to, ya know?
I've got most of the swap parts: motor brackets, oil relocator, trans. will be done hopefully by sat., wiring harness for distributor, shifter and carb. is in the mail, headers (if the pinto 302 headers will fit).......All I've got left to get I think is fuel regulator and what I'm going to do about a radiator (I'm keeping the pump in-tank and regulating it down the right way)

"the point of no return". That's a nervous time. Forget about what you removed and concentrate on getting the motor and trans installed. As for a rad get a rad out of a gen 1 Explorer (91-94) that was an automatic. I'm midway in a teardown too and no matter how many times I do it, there's always that "oh shit" element:D

[rangerslim]

little update:Got some things done this weekend that wasn't picture worthy:
1.Finished the transmission rebuild, the c-5 tailshaft changeover worked out great.
2.Cleaned and degreased the engine bay, nice coat of gloss black spraypaint.
3.Got the shifter (Hurst promatic 2) sat it in, gonna look great.
4.Extended the 4x4 shifter, something I've been meaning to do since the body lift was put on 10 years ago,ha.
5.Replaced the leaking front output shaft seal on transfer case.
6.More to come...........

[lil red]

wow,i wish i had the time and money for a project like that
awsome truck man,good luck

[rangerslim]

Went home at lunch today and bolted up the motor and transmission and starter. Will attempt to get it set in the truck tonite......:icon_thumby:

[rangerslim]

got the motor and trans. set in but the c-4 is about 4 inches closer to the front than the 5 speed was....I will have to move my crossmember forward....Is this normal? I will have to lengthen my driveshaft if this is the case......

[rangerslim]

more pics tomorrow....getting late:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/goportisgo/olred.jpg

[majorranger1]

Is that 5.0 gonna just drop right in is it?lol

[j brooks]

hey man nice looking truck what did you use for your motor mounts ?

[rangerslim]

I had plates made and used my existing rubber mount...sat the motor a little high but with the body lift, no worries......sat the radiator in and there's about 1-2 inches between it and the fan....looks good.......

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/goportisgo/olred11.jpg


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/goportisgo/olred12.jpg

[rangerslim]

In the infamous words of Dr. Frankenstein....IT'S ALIVE!!!!!! IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!! I got it started last night and it sounds great with no exhaust:) I get my rear shaft extended and do all my plumbing and acessories I'll be on the road....:tease:

[ZMan]

very cool man!

[rangerslim]

Just to give an update on my progress: The motor runs great!!! I had it completed but had to take the transmisssion back out cause it wasn't shifting properly. Turns out the forward clutch pack fried and the governor was stuck. We got it repaired Sat. night and tonite I will get it back in the truck.....I will take pics as it rolls out of the shop.......

[danger88ranger]

Looks good in there, now get a video clip of that motor!

[rangerslim]

ha-ha, somebody will have to show me how to do that!!!

[rangerslim]

Well got it on the road last night around 10 o'clock and the trans. shifts good and hard, maybe a little too quick from 1st to 2nd but I think I can work that out of it....With just a few loose ends to tie up I am just about finished.....I will post some pics tonight when I get off work.....was a little too dark and too late last night...
Btw, I drove it to work this morning with no exhaust and woke all the neighbors!!!!!!!

[rangerslim]

Ol' Red's motor swap is 99% complete....project is almost over:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/goportisgo/olred15.jpg


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/goportisgo/olred14.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/goportisgo/olred13.jpg

[CTswampyankee]

Looks good man!!! Hmmmmm my 2.9 looking like its gota go soon. hmmmmmm

[brizonco]

lookin good man i just started pullin the 2.9 last night . cant wait to drop that 5.0 in you must be stoked