I hope you've inspected and reinforced the frame... No way my 97 would handle the torque from a BB engine. It'd end up like a cinnamon twist, only less tasty.
you would have to define that for me....because a stockish power big block is no issue for a ranger chassis for sane use.
of course beefing the frame for off road use is always a great idea. 110hp or 1000.
Well I got the engine in, but I had to take the heater box out cause it ended up being in the way
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looks like plenty of room to modify a factory box to me.
please do not take my comments as
insults or
condescension in any way....
i dont know if i am puzzled more by the definition of the floor mods as being extensive some how....the hvac being difficult in some way, or the fact that a guy that can and will do a sas and big block swap, does not have a solid understanding of steering systems.
your obviously no stranger to a junkyard, so i would suggest you study all systems "here and there" when you have a few moments when scrounging parts, then tear into the how and whys of those various systems out there from jeep to benz to chevy and so on.....
where i usually shop you can handle the steering portion of this for 30-90 bux safely and properly with solid oem parts.
i would consider using a cut to fit wrangler setup from firewall to gear if you can find one along with an over rail box of some sort. but if what you have will work start there by all means. my reason for this has a few points. one is freeing up room inside the rail of course, the main one is making a longer drag link. longer links are easier on angle change thru suspension cycle. this can be a non issue on a mud racer, but can pay dividends for a soft suspension street driven machine that sees trail work as well.
there is always compromise with a build of this magnitude, so goals need to be known in order to keep from wasting time and resources. but mistakes are great instructors to say the least and can be as valuable as they are dangerous.
i am pretty busy or i would keep watching this to possibly add advice when you want some other perspectives... but you are doing great so far. dont see you really having any need of help with what you have done to this point.