1971 bronc 88 ranger frankenstein lol


88broncanger

10+ Year Member

Joined
Sep 23, 2010
Messages
3
Points
3,001
Vehicle Year
1988,1971
Transmission
Manual
Hey guys i am new to this sight and am entering into my first V8 conversion. I am not new to wrenching i have been doing it for 20 years so i have a lil knowledge lol. Intros aside I need to pick some brains. I have the chassis of a 1971 bronco(302 2bbl,3sd stick,dana 20,d44,9inch 3.45 gears) and a 1988 rcsb 4x4 ranger with no motor trans or axles. Im sure by now you have guessed what i am thinking:icon_hornsup: My questions are

1. will the 3spd physically fit? i assume it should actually be narrower than a c4?(i would like to use it cause funds, i know there are better trans but its what i got)

2. Are my 71 heads good enough for 300hp(I am gonna leave the motor alone except for performer rpm cam, rpm intake and 650cfm carb.)

Thats all I can think of now. But I am sure I will have more lol. Thank you guys.:icon_thumby:
 
your in good shape. 300 hp with those heads and a stock bottom end may be a dream though.
 
If the wheel base is close, stick the ranger body on the bronco chasis. Then you know the driveline angles are right and components fit:dunno:
 
bearsrngr said:
If the wheel base is close, stick the ranger body on the bronco chasis. Then you know the driveline angles are right and components fit:dunno:
Click to expand...

Short box/single cab Ranger has a wheelbase of @108", Bronco was 92", so it wouldn't be quite that simple! Too bad.
 
cut a little off of the box to shorten it. or extend the bronco frame
 
I have thought about putting the ranger cab and front sheet metal on the bronco frame. Especially since this will be strictly a dune/mud toy no stret use planned. if you all had my set up and knowing the use this beast will see which way would you go. opinions please
 
That sounds like the obvious thing to do. Show us some pictures...
 
88broncanger said:
Hey guys i am new to this sight and am entering into my first V8 conversion. I am not new to wrenching i have been doing it for 20 years so i have a lil knowledge lol. Intros aside I need to pick some brains. I have the chassis of a 1971 bronco(302 2bbl,3sd stick,dana 20,d44,9inch 3.45 gears) and a 1988 rcsb 4x4 ranger with no motor trans or axles. Im sure by now you have guessed what i am thinking:icon_hornsup: My questions are

1. will the 3spd physically fit? i assume it should actually be narrower than a c4?(i would like to use it cause funds, i know there are better trans but its what i got)

2. Are my 71 heads good enough for 300hp(I am gonna leave the motor alone except for performer rpm cam, rpm intake and 650cfm carb.)

Thats all I can think of now. But I am sure I will have more lol. Thank you guys.:icon_thumby:
Click to expand...


Good Luck and

1. Yes, you will have more room, but will need a bodylift to fit it or massaging of the firewall due to the highly mounted tranny.

2. Worked yes, but you'd be better off with a good set of used aluminum heads, and we're talking flywheel power not rear wheel power right, otherwise you'll need a little more.
 
one of my buds just welded the front section of eb frame to a ranger frame about 15 years ago and still has it. definatly not my first choice but works....would likely just put the bronco stuff on a ranger chassis.
 
Update... I got the bronco frame home only to find there is a signifigant rusted through hole in the frame just in front of the front rear spring mount :(
 
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