1990 ford ranger 300 swap in progress

[Thatbrokeranger]

1990 ford ranger with a 4.9 swap in progress and other tricks.

Never posted in here really but I was asked to do so…. So here it goes I’ve owned this truck for nearly 10 yrs now but it’s just had numerous 4.0s through the years. I’ve been told “ just drop a 302 in it” more times than I can count I think but always had a swap in my head I knew I wanted to do…. Of course something like this doesn’t come without backlash and the results have been great but feedback … sheesh none the less I continue. I’m on a wicked tight budget as I’m a stay at home dad working with parts I’ve collected over the last few years aswell as parts I bought from scrapping what I’ve taken off this thing that I won’t use and parting out my parts truck so with all that said… here’s my progress as of last night. I’m still in mock up and missing parts. Yes I haven’t put the accessories on yet. Yes they fit and clear fine I just haven’t bothered as I’ll be pulling the motor back out as well as trans and such to go back through. Reseal and clean up. But I needed the engine and transmission in so I could begins mock up on my xj Dana 30 I’m mounting with yj leafsprings. Basically just building this how I always wanted it by making mostly everything from scratch.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

So first gen front clip swaps, eh?

 

[Thatbrokeranger]

So first gen front clip swaps, eh?

All of it man only thing still 1990 is can shell and frame lol I hate the 89-92 interior and front end. Also wing window swaps are

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

All of it man only thing still 1990 is can shell and frame lol I hate the 89-92 interior and front end. Also wing window swaps are

I'm working on picking up a rust free1991 in the background. I hate the 89-92 front end and have an entire rust free 1988 front clip here. Was hoping it swapped. Looks like it does

The interior is annoying in a 1990, but the seats are so much better...

 

[Thatbrokeranger]

I'm working on picking up a rust free1991 in the background. I hate the 89-92 front end and have an entire rust free 1988 front clip here. Was hoping it swapped. Looks like it does

The interior is annoying in a 1990, but the seats are so much better...

Gotta cut drill and weld in the old rad support or get creative and nail the headlight bucket positions but it’s not a terribly difficult swap depending on the level of experience one has. I’m actually putting a 1988 solid bench seat in it I hate the later seats to split bench never liked buckets in trucks either.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

My low buck race truck has an 87 front on a 91 cab and frame. And then 95 or some year box. I drilled all the spot welds on the inner fender to cab and swapped the whole rad support and inner fender as one piece. Iirc there is 37 spot welds per side. Then I used sheet metal screws to attach it. They seemed to hold fine.

 

[Thatbrokeranger]

My low buck race truck has an 87 front on a 91 cab and frame. And then 95 or some year box. I drilled all the spot welds on the inner fender to cab and swapped the whole rad support and inner fender as one piece. Iirc there is 37 spot welds per side. Then I used sheet metal screws to attach it. They seemed to hold fine.

I’ve seen guys do this or riv nuts but just sketches me out on a street rig or trail toy lol.

 

[Thatbrokeranger]

For those curious I retained the factory cross member as believe it or not I was able to set the 300 pretty much in the same location as the old 4.0

Unfortunately I probably should have run my exhaust more “swept forward and down infront of the motor mount then under the trans and kept it inside of the frame rails but I’m lacking material and that would have added its own area of complexity but mainly hung e tremelyclow in the front and I didn’t like the look of it so I chose to run it tight and over the frame.

Next up was my intake valve to build my manifold… I had commissioned send cut send to do this after they assured me their “AI BUILDER” could make short work of it and what I received was absolutely useless… so I’m just going to hand cut all 6 intake port flanges from 3/8 steel and move on. As always anytime I outsource or think I can count on someone I get burned

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

As always anytime I outsource or think I can count on someone I get burned

PREACH

 

[Thatbrokeranger]

PREACH

Just how it seems to go

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’m definitely impressed, and excited to see it finished and working. I’m gonna be trying to get back on my green Ranger build this coming week, been busy trying to get a workshop put together. It’s finally almost useable but not exactly finished. Need money that I don’t have yet. The Ranger has a pile of stuff waiting for me to spend time on it and I really need it back on the road so…

Maybe if your rig is done in time you could come visit with @holyford86

 

[Thatbrokeranger]

I’m definitely impressed, and excited to see it finished and working. I’m gonna be trying to get back on my green Ranger build this coming week, been busy trying to get a workshop put together. It’s finally almost useable but not exactly finished. Need money that I don’t have yet. The Ranger has a pile of stuff waiting for me to spend time on it and I really need it back on the road so…

Maybe if your rig is done in time you could come visit with @holyford86

this trucks in need of solid axle swap, full rewire front to back and all new fuel lines and brake lines man it’s sat the last 5yrs I’m a long ways off from drivable and probably another year away from having it running unfortunately. Just what it takes to do it properly and not have something to just throw together. I appreciate the offer and hope though.