Who wants to 7.3 a ranger?

[1990RangerinSK]

I have dreams of someday building TRS-3 from a 1989-1992 Gen II Ranger. A 7.3 would be cool, but I surely don't have the funds for it. At 600,000+ page views a month, I can get it exposure, but my pockets aren't deep enough to just go buy a new 7.3.

I know where you can get a '90. It needs a transmission, fuel pump, might need a power steering pump, and leaks brake fluid at the left rear wheel. Oh, and it's a blue supercab. But, it's an auto with a 2.9 and it's 2WD.

 

[ExploreNW]

Wait those are coils... on lifter covers... I think the 7.3 I had in mind would end in a twisted up pile of what used to be frame & axles as soon as someone found third gear!

 

[stmitch]

I want to know how well the Foxbody swap kit they're working on might work with this

83-97 Ford Ranger Kit 2 | AJE Suspensions

83-97 Ford Ranger Kit 2 includes Universal Mount K-Member, Engine Mounts, Bushing A-Arms, Coil Over Kit, CC Plates and Strut Towers.*Must use 94-04 Mustang Spindles.

ajesuspension.com

It wouldn't be cheap, but if you could combine the Foxbody swap kit in development with parts of the AJE Ranger clip (everything but the K member), you might get a nearly bolt in swap for an I beam Ranger. Plus you'd have Mustang suspension and brake options to play with. The AJE setup is supposed to remove a couple hundred pounds from the front of an I beam truck too which could offset some of the added weight from the Godzilla.

 

[Curious Hound]

I have dreams of someday building TRS-3 from a 1989-1992 Gen II Ranger. A 7.3 would be cool, but I surely don't have the funds for it. At 600,000+ page views a month, I can get it exposure, but my pockets aren't deep enough to just go buy a new 7.3.

We'll have to sell a lot of calendars.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I want to know how well the Foxbody swap kit they're working on might work with this

83-97 Ford Ranger Kit 2 | AJE Suspensions

83-97 Ford Ranger Kit 2 includes Universal Mount K-Member, Engine Mounts, Bushing A-Arms, Coil Over Kit, CC Plates and Strut Towers.*Must use 94-04 Mustang Spindles.

ajesuspension.com

It wouldn't be cheap, but if you could combine the Foxbody swap kit in development with parts of the AJE Ranger clip (everything but the K member), you might get a nearly bolt in swap for an I beam Ranger. Plus you'd have Mustang suspension and brake options to play with. The AJE setup is supposed to remove a couple hundred pounds from the front of an I beam truck too which could offset some of the added weight from the Godzilla.

This has me day dreaming of a bad ass first gen...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I want to know how well the Foxbody swap kit they're working on might work with this

83-97 Ford Ranger Kit 2 | AJE Suspensions

83-97 Ford Ranger Kit 2 includes Universal Mount K-Member, Engine Mounts, Bushing A-Arms, Coil Over Kit, CC Plates and Strut Towers.*Must use 94-04 Mustang Spindles.

ajesuspension.com

It wouldn't be cheap, but if you could combine the Foxbody swap kit in development with parts of the AJE Ranger clip (everything but the K member), you might get a nearly bolt in swap for an I beam Ranger. Plus you'd have Mustang suspension and brake options to play with. The AJE setup is supposed to remove a couple hundred pounds from the front of an I beam truck too which could offset some of the added weight from the Godzilla.

How much do they weigh?

With aluminum heads and plastic intake I wouldn’t think they are much if any heavier than a iron headed SBF which is less than 100lbs heavier than a normal RBV V6.

 

[stmitch]

This has me day dreaming of a bad ass first gen...

I don't need an enormous engine in a Ranger. My supercharged 3.0 overwhelms the chassis right now. But I'd like to do a lightweight turbo 4 like a Duratec or Ecoboost in a square Ranger one day with a kit like that. Between the engine and the lighter front frame you could probably take a few hundred pounds off the nose of one of those trucks and make the handling worlds better. Match it with an IRS in the rear and you'd be golden.

 

[stmitch]

How much do they weigh?

With aluminum heads and plastic intake I wouldn’t think they are much if any heavier than a iron headed SBF which is less than 100lbs heavier than a normal RBV V6.

I haven't seen any quotes about the weight of the new 7.3. But for reference, a 7.0L LS7 weighs around 450lbs with all aluminum construction and a dry sump oiling system. The Ford 7.3 has a cast iron block and traditional wet sump. I'd be pretty surprised if it's under 500lbs.

That may not be a ton more than a regular RBV V6, but if I were going to the trouble of a modern engine swap into a lightweight 1st or 2nd gen Ranger, and then removing a couple hundred pounds of I beam, cross member and radius arms, I'd want a lighter engine too. The biggest reason that I'd consider a swap like that would be to reduce unwanted weight and improve the balance of the truck. I don't need or really even want 500+hp/tq in a Ranger that weighs 2500-2600lbs. A turbo Duratec that weighed 250lbs and made 350-400 would be an absolute riot in a chassis that lightweight. But that's my particular dream build, and I know plenty of others would take the big engine and call it a day.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I haven't seen any quotes about the weight of the new 7.3. But for reference, a 7.0L LS7 weighs around 450lbs with all aluminum construction and a dry sump oiling system. The Ford 7.3 has a cast iron block and traditional wet sump. I'd be pretty surprised if it's under 500lbs.

That may not be a ton more than a regular RBV V6, but if I were going to the trouble of a modern engine swap into a lightweight 1st or 2nd gen Ranger, and then removing a couple hundred pounds of I beam, cross member and radius arms, I'd want a lighter engine too. The biggest reason that I'd consider a swap like that would be to reduce unwanted weight and improve the balance of the truck. I don't need or really even want 500+hp/tq in a Ranger that weighs 2500-2600lbs. A turbo Duratec that weighed 250lbs and made 350-400 would be an absolute riot in a chassis that lightweight. But that's my particular dream build, and I know plenty of others would take the big engine and call it a day.

I think a 302 is around 400lbs with iron heads, probably longblock.

The biggest reason I would do a swap like this is to get a late model FORD V8 that actually has a chance of fitting in a Ranger engine bay. As it sits now the best swappable Ford V8 is at newest a 2001.

I really wish they could apply the same principle to the Coyote... I don't need 500+hp/tq either and if they could get the whole thing physically smaller that wouldn't hurt a thing either.

 

[stmitch]

I think a 302 is around 400lbs with iron heads, probably longblock.

The biggest reason I would do a swap like this is to get a late model FORD V8 that actually has a chance of fitting in a Ranger engine bay. As it sits now the best swappable Ford V8 is at newest a 2001.

I really wish they could apply the same principle to the Coyote... I don't need 500+hp/tq either and if they could get the whole thing physically smaller that wouldn't hurt a thing either.

Ford says their 302 Crate engine with aluminum heads, and minus the intake/exhaust manifolds, distributor, water pump and fueling has a "shipping weight" of 525 lbs:

302 CI 340 HP BOSS CRATE ENGINE WITH "E" CAM

302 CI 340 HP BOSS CRATE ENGINE WITH "E" CAM|Ford Performance Parts

performanceparts.ford.com

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ford says their 302 Crate engine with aluminum heads, and minus the intake/exhaust manifolds, distributor, water pump and fueling has a "shipping weight" of 525 lbs:

302 CI 340 HP BOSS CRATE ENGINE WITH "E" CAM

302 CI 340 HP BOSS CRATE ENGINE WITH "E" CAM|Ford Performance Parts

performanceparts.ford.com

Probably about right by the time you get the extra parts and a crate structure to ship the engine.

engine weights

 

[Dirtman]

Engines is goes vroom.

 

[G8orFord]

A Ford/IH/Navstar 6.0 turbo diesel is around 800 lbs fully dressed. I doubt a 7.3 is much, if any, lighter. You can get aluminium heads for a 6.0 now. That drops about 80 lbs or so.
Before all the jokes about 6.0 HGs, this was just for reference and the AL heads are o-ringed.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

A Ford/IH/Navstar 6.0 turbo diesel is around 800 lbs fully dressed. I doubt a 7.3 is much, if any, lighter. You can get aluminium heads for a 6.0 now. That drops about 80 lbs or so.
Before all the jokes about 6.0 HGs, this was just for reference and the AL heads are o-ringed.

We are talking about the new 7.3 gas, not the old 7.3 diesel.

 

[G8orFord]

We are talking about the new 7.3 gas, not the old 7.3 diesel.

Brain fart. My bad, but someone did mention a diesel earlier.