351w Swap Into 98 Ranger

[Mac]

Really wondering how those headers would work in the later models, never heard of them working. Think too much interference with the control arms.
Dave

 

[bobbywalter]

you have to move the steering over a bit and raise the engine a little more then desirable and off to the passenger side(well allot higher for my tastes) from what i have seen...

didnt seem too bad. better then what i have now anyway.

 

[evergr3y]

Oh well tanks all for your tips. The year of my 351w by the way is 1990.

I know that my T-5 3.8L will not long last ( maybe 1 summer ? ) considering that I will use it sometimes for the track ( Drifting ).

I guess that some T-5 is more durable than other, 5.0L ones ?

For the headers, Bobbywalter, you say me to use the Cougar 5.0 ones, is there any reason why the cougar's ones ? I assume that you know what your talking about, i am just curious cause I have to buy somes next week and I want to be sure to pay for the best ones. I will do my searchs too dont worry I am not lazy hehe

Anyway, here is a pic of the 351w in the engine bay. Not bolted, just trying to figure out how it will place itself.

 

[bobbywalter]

For the headers, Bobbywalter, you say me to use the Cougar 5.0 ones, is there any reason why the cougar's ones ? I assume that you know what your talking about, i am just curious cause I have to buy somes next week and I want to be sure to pay for the best ones. I will do my searchs too dont worry I am not lazy hehe

i stated the base reasons in my post.

supercoupe performance has a nice header and a pic of the log style i refer too.

the log style is easy to cut a little with a cut off wheel and bend in a little and reweld....or cut off and refit as desired for even better clearance. i would use either of these due to cost effectiveness for a street driven truck sub 450 hp.

combine that with o2 bungs already in place and they have a good fit to the block for most applications. they sure as hell are not perfect. just easy to work with in the modification at home prospect.


the sla platform trucks essentially live with the same 24 inch span limitation of the ttb trucks measuring across the exhaust drop line areas.. most see that as a similar restriction. but the plane that the rail height exists at is not the same, so it offers some separate options beyond a ttb.

i seen quite a few explorers fitted with nice jba headers with minor tweaking the first few years they came out because they relocated the steering situation and brake and fuel lines etc.... that is a major job to do. it is allot of work to modify all of those things with the engine in the vehicle and make them easier to work with in the process. and keep it all emissions compliant...

all factors in a swap. you with a 4bbl tells me emissions is a non issue.

compared to the ttb trucks the steering columns and path of these are a bit easier to modify. you can come up straighter from the rack to the shock tower and compound joints over it and add one on the firewall side and really open things up. this is not usually necessary but definitely helps in header selection. you can offset the engine and cock it a little and really fit up some decent engine combinations from 351 to big blocks to 5.4 or andy of the las engines....newer hemis....whatever you want..


some guys want things to look factory. well factory often sucks. you ever put a starer in a sohc stock 4x4 or pull a trans from one in the rust belt? once you do that a few times you dont know if you want to change the starter or hang yourself..... i like to make things look ok, but be functional.

the packaging and wiring scenario on the oem trans and etc just sux without a body lift.


i have had people pass on swaps because i prefer to make the inner fenders and core removable and on a 4x4 go at least with a 1.5-2 in body lift. passed on basically free help. one truck has been sitting for years because the guy refuses to put a body lift on it or cut the core...


so you can make it what you want. dont fall into the keeping it stock trap. stock explorer motors suk anyway compared to the power out there now.

 

[CreepyCrawler]

post pics please of how you ran exhaust and placement/motor mounts. im planning to do a windsor stroker swap on my 91

 

[bobbywalter]

post pics please of how you ran exhaust and placement/motor mounts. im planning to do a windsor stroker swap on my 91

the 91 you have is a ttb chassis much of the reference i made above was for a sla chassis. this is one style of my truck before i put the big diesel v8 in it.... i removed the material on the passenger side due to the long/mid tube selections available at the time, starting around 99-2000 i usually only rolled the rail down for clearance to about the 50 percent point, i do not have pictures available of that procedure. but i drill a 3/4 hole near the k member and roll the rail down for clearance and strength that mimics the clearance i have here....

i also run the engines in a position that requires the oil pans to be modified to clear the passenger side pivot beam mount on stock 4x4 applications and requires a 3 inch body lift to keep from heavily modifying the firewall.. this distinction sets clearances with greater tolerances for valve covers and cooling that cause so many others problems. while the exhaust can be tighter on the rail it will have better clearance on the steering shaft and oil relocater.. an outside rail steering gear really opens it up.



a 351 drops into the situation here with zero issues. the cobra r headers work well and the cougar sn95 styles are workable too.

 

[bobbywalter]

the corner i cut and invert...you can see it here sort of...