1988 Ranger 5.0 Swap Purchase

[1991dangerranger]

So i found a 1988 ranger with a 5.0 swapped in on craigslist for $1350 and it runs and drives. i have always wanted a 1986-89 extend cab ranger 2 wheel drive with some sort of V8. I don't care if it was a 302,351, Chevy 350, doesn't matter. so here is my question is this truck worth buying fixing and most likely i will re sale it. I'm decent with making a ranger look good but is this truck worth the money and did the do a good job with the swap.

Below are pictures of the truck in question and the last is my ranger i recently sold.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Aside from the hickey on the PS it looks pretty straight/solid.

If you are wanting to flip it probably not a lot of money to be made though.

 

[Jim Oaks]

It's a good start for a personal project, but I agree that there isn't much money to be made from trying to fix it up and reselling it.

 

[1991dangerranger]

Thanks

ive seen some go for around $6000 where i live here in florida and i have parts trucks and paint booth and everything so i should only have 500$ extra in the truck plus what i paided for it. but my big question was about the motor does it look like it was done correctly or no. Im only 17 and ive flipped a few trucks and i want something i can get cheap and have fun and sell.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Even if you break even you will have learned something.
It really depends on the market in your area. If your research shows a v8 Ranger with good paint and interior going for $4 to 6 thousand, then there is room for profit. I would buy a mechanics time to check over the install and front end and brakes, those can eat up any profit.

 

[Shran]

V8 swaps are either done really well or really bad, not much in between. From a cursory glance that one seems OK, judging by the fact that the AC is hooked up alone makes me think that it could have been done well.

I have seen trucks that were just hacked to bits in order to do an engine swap though... pieces of frame cut out, wires twisted together, you can imagine.

I'm just curious what "needs to be finished." Also curious what kind of fan is cooling that radiator... it looks huge and there's just not much room for fans there, especially if it has AC.

I would not be buying it and expecting to fix and resell for a profit... you could have a LOT of hours into it fixing a lot of weird shit. Or not, who knows.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Start a build thread, show all the work you do, what you pay, and how much you end up flipping it for.

 

[1991dangerranger]

Build Thread Hell Yes

Thanks guys that is what i needed to hear. I'm gonna go checkout the truck and if i get it I'm do a build thread i figured i could at least part it out at $1300 and the seller did tell me he would take less so hopefully a $1000 cash will do the trick. he did send me a video of it i will post it also.

i guess he is running a electric fan im not sure but it does look like a hodge podge of stuff. thats why im asking yall for advice yall do seem to be the experts.

The Video- https://youtu.be/HZZYknl_DkI

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have a pusher efan on mine, it ran a lot before I added a flexfan. I agree with Shran, it looks tight on the engine side of the rad. On a first gen with a pusher there is no room for a A/C condenser for what that is worth.

 

[1991dangerranger]

It Sold

Thanks for you for your help. he said it sold i think he just irriated im asking all the right questions, lol, but thanks for your help i do know what to lok out for now.

Yall should really consider doing a 5.0 ranger swapped buyers guide it would be extremely helpful.

 

[Shran]

I have a pusher and a puller fan on mine with the Duff radiator and no AC. I had to cut out part of my grill to clear the pusher fan motor, and the puller is dangerously close to the water pump pulley. I don't know how anyone fits mechanical fans in these things without firewall mods or a tiny radiator - and mine still runs hot.

A 5.0 buyer's guide would be cool but it's just like any other vehicle... nice, hacked up, or somewhere in between. It helps if you've done a 5.0 swap and know what goes into them.

 

[1991dangerranger]

Would it be better to get it and then swap out radiators. does that truck really need that huge radiators.

 

[Shran]

I don't think you need a huge radiator for a 302. Especially if you have a manual trans. A 4.0 automatic trans radiator would be fine for a 302 I think but you have to hack up the core support to make it fit - it goes where the Duff radiator does.

The one that's in that truck is probably fine, the bigger issue is either fitting a mechanical fan or finding electric fans that will clear everything and have a high enough CFM rating.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't think you need a huge radiator for a 302. Especially if you have a manual trans. A 4.0 automatic trans radiator would be fine for a 302 I think but you have to hack up the core support to make it fit - it goes where the Duff radiator does.

The one that's in that truck is probably fine, the bigger issue is either fitting a mechanical fan or finding electric fans that will clear everything and have a high enough CFM rating.

With an Explorer belt drive I have the Explorer radiator sitting on the stock mounts with a low profile flex fan and the pusher efan for backup, the flex fan won't keep up if the truck sits or is moving slow.

With the long water pump it did clear but there was room for nothing on the engine side of the radiator.

Cooling system setup ver3.0 is going to envolve going to puller efan(s) and trading the pusher fan for a A/C condenser so I can get A/C. Still haven't nailed down exactly what I am doing yet. The mechanical Explorer fan would fit but the fins on the clutch would rub on the radiator, it is that close to fitting.