Straight dope on Ranger Swap

[rizz0]

So I have been working on getting ready for a 5.0 swap in my 96 ranger 2.3, manual 2wd.

I find there is a lot of conflating information about manual transmissions...hoping to get a straight reliable answer....

Ranger is 96 2.3 r1

Engine for swap is a 94 f150 5.0 that is getting holley sniper for engine mgmt and timing.

What r2 will mate up with that combo and have a good location for the shifter? I hear 97-2003 but I want to make sure.

Lastly, is there an 8.8 that is 100 percent bolt in for this truck...4.0 ranger..something else...?

Best

ARiz

 

[SenorNoob]

Supposedly, the manual transmission from a 4.2 V6 F150 has a different shifter location than the earlier 5.0 ones. It's supposed to come up in the stock Ranger location.

Most Ranger 8.8s are 28 spline so minimal improvement in strength over the 7.5. Those should be in any 4.0 Ranger. IF you can find an axle from an FX4 Level 2 or maybe a 2010-2011 Ranger it should be 31 spline. Those are pretty hard to find. That's why most people end up using an Explorer axle. If you wanna go WAY lower, it does bolt in. If you can weld at all, a Ruff Stuff Simple Swap Kit is easy. The welds don't have to be very good and locating the spring perches is as easy as setting the lower perches level and doing the same on top with the new ones.

Good luck whatever you choose to do.

 

[rizz0]

Thx Senor...
If anyone knows the years for r2 please let me know...

Appreciate the info.

Btw can weld like a mf...so no.problem...as this thing is lowered already...I might go with the ruff stuff solution.

 

[rizz0]

Best mounts?

Ricksrangerz perhaps?

 

[Snoranger]

Thx Senor...
If anyone knows the years for r2 please let me know...

Appreciate the info.

Btw can weld like a mf...so no.problem...as this thing is lowered already...I might go with the ruff stuff solution.

97+ with a 4.2L
The bolt pattern is the same but the bolt hole size is different. The 5.0L uses 7/16 bolts. The later 4.2L uses M10 bolts. You have to slightly open up the bolt hole diameter on the 4.2L M5OD.

 

[rizz0]

Excellent thanks ...I choose to go auto with a c4...didn't want to give up the manual but the 302 c4 combo was too cheap to let go...

So now onto procuring the rearend...

 

[stmitch]

Excellent thanks ...I choose to go auto with a c4...didn't want to give up the manual but the 302 c4 combo was too cheap to let go...

So now onto procuring the rearend...

Explorer axle can be bolt in for a lowered truck. Just get rid of the flip kit.