Hagan's '86 Ranger build!

[Grunizzle]

That's right I forgot you don't have a body lift, it made doing my engine swap so much easier with one

 

[Hagan]

I probably should have done a body lift. I didn't want to move my front winch bumper up though. How are you liking your 351w?

 

[Grunizzle]

I probably should have done a body lift. I didn't want to move my front winch bumper up though. How are you liking your 351w?

The engine itself has been great. I was plagued with my tranny shitting the bed early on after I completed the swap as well as the strongbox shift mechanism shitting out twice. Working on that crap after finally getting it running sucked my motivation dry for a long time. I haven't got to even truly wheel it since the swap. Hopefully soon. Otherwise the power, torque and noise it makes is pretty freaking sweet.

 

[Hagan]

The engine itself has been great. I was plagued with my tranny shitting the bed early on after I completed the swap as well as the strongbox shift mechanism shitting out twice. Working on that crap after finally getting it running sucked my motivation dry for a long time. I haven't got to even truly wheel it since the swap. Hopefully soon. Otherwise the power, torque and noise it makes is pretty freaking sweet.

Man I can't wait for mine now! Sorry to hear about your issues. I feel like if I was in your situation with the trans and strong box issues I would have given up by now. Are you still running a strong box or did you ditch it? I haven't been following your build thread lol.

 

[Grunizzle]

Man I can't wait for mine now! Sorry to hear about your issues. I feel like if I was in your situation with the trans and strong box issues I would have given up by now. Are you still running a strong box or did you ditch it? I haven't been following your build thread lol.

Yeah I am still running the strongbox. The first time it was popping out of gear and I had to install a redesigned shifter. The second time the new shifter separated where two pieces are pressed together, so I welded it together and I'm praying I don't have any more issues.

I haven't hardly updated my thread in the last year, my motivation is limited lol

 

[Hagan]

Got some more work done today. I built a track bar with a 20 degree bend in it to help clear the oil pan/engine cross member. It's built using 1 1/2" DOM .25" wall tubing. The bend is is in center.

Next, I started working on my exhaust. I'm using 2.5" exhaust from the headers to y-pipe then I'm using 2.5" from the y-pipe out the back. I'm using an old Flowmaster muffler I had laying around that came off something else.

 

[Hagan]

Here is the end result of my exhaust

 

[Grunizzle]

Dang that looks real good, nice and professional

 

[Hagan]

Thanks! This is the 3rd exhaust setup I've built. I've learned a lot each time. Thankfully my welding skills are getting better!

 

[Hagan]

Picked up a battery and it fits my battery box perfectly!

 

[300I6Ranger4x4]

nice! looking good man. Im doing a 351/zf5/np205 swap on my 91 Ranger soon! just making the most complete list of every little thing i can think of that I'll need for the swap to get it done over a long weekend

 

[Hagan]

Thanks!

Are you planning on keeping it TTB? I couldn't move my 302 back any further because the zf is too big to fit without a lot of cutting or a body lift.

 

[300I6Ranger4x4]

Thanks!

Are you planning on keeping it TTB? I couldn't move my 302 back any further because the zf is too big to fit without a lot of cutting or a body lift.

Yup keepin er ttb, doin the d44 knuckle swap. I got new duff body mounts and a 2" body lift I'll be using.

 

[Hagan]

Yup keepin er ttb, doin the d44 knuckle swap. I got new duff body mounts and a 2" body lift I'll be using.

That should definitely help!

I was going to put on a 2" BL but I can't stand the looks of it. And I would have had to move my winch bumper up and that would be a huge pain.

Do you have a zf or np205 yet?

 

[300I6Ranger4x4]

That should definitely help!

I was going to put on a 2" BL but I can't stand the looks of it. And I would have had to move my winch bumper up and that would be a huge pain.

Do you have a zf or np205 yet?

ya its funny because i hate the look of a 3" BL, but i think 2inchs looks okay. id never go more than that, it just starts to look silly lol. for me though, a 2" BL had more pros than cons for this particular build.

Heres my thread
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=160275

I got an 88 zf5 and a 205 from 77. Picked up an 89 truck 351w that was in pretty rough shape lol. paid $80 though, so not a big deal. got it stripped down to the bare block now. but i've decided to find a running 351 i can swap in and just rebuild this other one in my spare time. need to get out on the trails sooner than later! Plus my 4.0L is gonna eat shit soon, shes got mad valvetrain tick goin down lol