85_Ranger4x4
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V8 Engine Swap
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VAGABOND
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- Joined
- Aug 7, 2007
- Messages
- 32,318
- Reaction score
- 17,775
- Points
- 113
- Location
- SW Iowa
- Vehicle Year
- 1985
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- V8
- Engine Size
- 5.0
- Transmission
- Manual
Welded the tab on the FWD rail and drilled a hole in the tube for the RWD rail. Unanticipated snag in that the RWD rail is tight enough to the trans that there isn't room for a nut on the bolt.
Overbored the bottom hole and welded a nut into it for a shorter bolt to screw into. If I had it to do again I would have used thicker tube and just tapped threads into it. Also bent and welded the piece onto the RWD rail tube.
Threw some paint on them, should fit nicely once I get the linkage put together to go between the shifters and the rail brackets.
I decided that before I do a floor pan I probably ought to replace the cab mount bushings to get everything sitting as square as I can.
One casualty so far, PS middle mount. Bolt broke with ease, lower steel liner is seized in the upper.
Middle DS mount is shaping up to be similar. Much rustier obviously but the bolt must be stronger as it hasn't broken yet.
PS side has new bushings under it, I need to replace the one shim yet obviously. Front and rear bolts are out of the DS.
Rear PS bushing, had no weight on it. I could wiggle the bodymount spacer with ease before doing anything.
Center PS bushing.
Front PS bushing, pretty mushed down.
Had to pull the battery and alternator to change the front bushing, haven't put it back together to see if I am going to have clearance issues with the alternator and battery tray yet...
Overbored the bottom hole and welded a nut into it for a shorter bolt to screw into. If I had it to do again I would have used thicker tube and just tapped threads into it. Also bent and welded the piece onto the RWD rail tube.
Threw some paint on them, should fit nicely once I get the linkage put together to go between the shifters and the rail brackets.
I decided that before I do a floor pan I probably ought to replace the cab mount bushings to get everything sitting as square as I can.
One casualty so far, PS middle mount. Bolt broke with ease, lower steel liner is seized in the upper.
Middle DS mount is shaping up to be similar. Much rustier obviously but the bolt must be stronger as it hasn't broken yet.
PS side has new bushings under it, I need to replace the one shim yet obviously. Front and rear bolts are out of the DS.
Rear PS bushing, had no weight on it. I could wiggle the bodymount spacer with ease before doing anything.
Center PS bushing.
Front PS bushing, pretty mushed down.
Had to pull the battery and alternator to change the front bushing, haven't put it back together to see if I am going to have clearance issues with the alternator and battery tray yet...