C4 not fitting in 1992 Ranger XLT

[GreenRanger090]

I'm swapping a 302 and a heavy duty c4 from an ecoline van into my 1992 ranger xlt for a future prerunner build. I got the motor in but when i went to lift the trans in from the underside it gets stuck on the trans tunnel and radius arm brackets, I've dented in the pinch weld on the trans tunnel to fire wall connection but it still needs about another inch or 2 to fit into the engine bay, i thought about dropping the trans in the engine bay first then putting the motor in but i want a way to drop the trans whenever it needs work and right now it wont go, any advice would be greatly appreciated, oh and i also don't know where to get rear floor pans for it since they rusted out completely, want aftermarket if possible since i don't want to ruin a perfectly good truck just for floors, extra details incase they help: motor mounts are from ricks rangers, trans mount has not been made yet, ac/heater box has been deleted, and headers aren't on yet

 

[franklin2]

They had two flavors of small block Ford bellhousings. You had the car which used a smaller diameter flywheel and the bell was smaller, and you had the trucks(I assume the vans too) that had a larger diameter flywheel and the bellhousing was larger. Even though the bell pattern was the same.

I think this is discussed in the engine swap articles in the tech library at the top of this page. If I remember correctly, they said a small body lift will help everything clear if you are using the larger style bell. Since you are building a pre-runner, the body lift may work into those plans. It also gives you more clearance around the HVAC on the pass side to the v8 valve cover.

 

[GreenRanger090]

They had two flavors of small block Ford bellhousings. You had the car which used a smaller diameter flywheel and the bell was smaller, and you had the trucks(I assume the vans too) that had a larger diameter flywheel and the bellhousing was larger. Even though the bell pattern was the same.

I think this is discussed in the engine swap articles in the tech library at the top of this page. If I remember correctly, they said a small body lift will help everything clear if you are using the larger style bell. Since you are building a pre-runner, the body lift may work into those plans. It also gives you more clearance around the HVAC on the pass side to the v8 valve cover.

yea the vans have the same setup as the trucks do, so does that mean the best move would be to dent in the trans tunnel, body lift isn't something i want to do since i plan to prerun it, want the body to be as connected to the frame as possible, and i already got rid of the ac and heater so i don't need clearance there, plan to run an aftermarket under dash ac and heater

 

[JoshT]

If C4 doesn't fit, you aren't using it right. For starters it's shapable, just mould it into the rough shape and push it in there. It's also pretty self clearancing, just put the juice to it and let it work. Might want to stand back a ways for that part of the process.

Wait, I'm thinking about the wrong C4. Well a little of the wrong C4 would also take care of your fittment issues. Can't speak to using the transmission as I'd dropped a 4R70W into an early 2wd frame, not a C4 into a 4wd frame.

Sorry, my brain went the wrong way when seeing C4 and I had to post. Guess I've been watching too many action movies and getting too annoyed by my rides recently.

 

[GreenRanger090]

If C4 doesn't fit, you aren't using it right. For starters it's shapable, just mould it into the rough shape and push it in there. It's also pretty self clearancing, just put the juice to it and let it work. Might want to stand back a ways for that part of the process.

Wait, I'm thinking about the wrong C4. Well a little of the wrong C4 would also take care of your fittment issues. Can't speak to using the transmission as I'd dropped a 4R70W into an early 2wd frame, not a C4 into a 4wd frame.

Sorry, my brain went the wrong way when seeing C4 and I had to post. Guess I've been watching too many action movies and getting too annoyed by my rides recently.

I use the explosive to remember what the trans is even called lol