• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

97 ford ranger big block 4x4 project


Ford78

December 2012 OTOTM
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 12, 2011
Messages
752
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Iowa
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
351w
Transmission
Manual

Here's a pic of my steering box
 


Tisdale

New Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
460ci
Transmission
Manual
What did you use to go from the steering colum to the gear box?
 

Ford78

December 2012 OTOTM
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 12, 2011
Messages
752
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Iowa
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
351w
Transmission
Manual
Made a custom steering shaft,
Here are the joints and shaft I got, think they were around $200 got everything from jegs.


FR1716
Is the u-joint i used on the cab side. Its a
3/4 x 3/4 DD

FR1781
Is the u-joint that i used on the toyota steering box side. It is 1" DD x 11/16-36 spline

Part #450024 is the 24" telescopic shaft. one side is
3/4 DD and the other side is 1" DD. I did have to trim the shaft a little.

FR1810
Is the support bearing that i used to support the shaft.
 

Ford78

December 2012 OTOTM
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 12, 2011
Messages
752
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Iowa
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
351w
Transmission
Manual

Pic is upside down the support is next to the cab,
 

Tisdale

New Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
460ci
Transmission
Manual
So where did you hook up that support did you mount it on the fire wall somewhere?
 

Ford78

December 2012 OTOTM
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 12, 2011
Messages
752
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Iowa
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
351w
Transmission
Manual
Just made a mount from the frame
 

Tisdale

New Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
460ci
Transmission
Manual
Oh okay, thanks for all the information on how to do that swap
 

Ford78

December 2012 OTOTM
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 12, 2011
Messages
752
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Iowa
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
351w
Transmission
Manual
Any time, maybe after I get my ranger going too we can do some wheeling!
 

Tisdale

New Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
460ci
Transmission
Manual
Definitely, are there any good trails around where you are?
 

Ford78

December 2012 OTOTM
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 12, 2011
Messages
752
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Iowa
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
351w
Transmission
Manual
I'm with a local jeep club and their go on runs threw out the year, they usually let members bring some one if their interested in joining. Plus it's always nice to show a few jeeps how it's done.
 

Tisdale

New Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
460ci
Transmission
Manual
I finally got the truck rollable the other day and got it out
[/URL]
And I got the 460 for it today
[/URL]
 
Last edited:

Tisdale

New Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
460ci
Transmission
Manual
Well I got the engine in, but I had to take the heater box out cause it ended up being in the way
[/URL]
 

Ford78

December 2012 OTOTM
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jun 12, 2011
Messages
752
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Iowa
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
351w
Transmission
Manual
Tight fit! Just going to make your own heater box?Plan on trimming mine down just in case.
 

Tisdale

New Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
460ci
Transmission
Manual
Yeah I plain on making one for it, cause the factory one there isn't anyroom for it
 

bobbywalter

TRS Technical Staff
TRS Event Staff
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Technical Advisor
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ugly Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
23,470
Reaction score
4,668
Points
113
Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
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
[/URL]


looks like plenty of room to modify a factory box to me.:icon_confused:





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.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Today's birthdays

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Shran
April Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top