Ford 300 (4.9L)?

[danielp3344]

Sure, I tend to count on making custom adapter plates for swaps. It opens up a lot more options.

 

[adsm08]

Sure, I tend to count on making custom adapter plates for swaps. It opens up a lot more options.

That's fine, but why bother when a transmission that will bolt right up already exists? You are already going to have length issues, wouldn't adding an adapter plate add to that issue?

 

[danielp3344]

Yeah fair enough, although it's usually only an inch or two. If it makes the difference between a $300 junkyard trans and a $3000 ebay one it's worth it though IMO.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Yeah fair enough, although it's usually only an inch or two. If it makes the difference between a $300 junkyard trans and a $3000 ebay one it's worth it though IMO.

A 351 ZF is going to be more plentiful (and thus, cheaper) the a 460/7.3 trans.

Also, the diesel ZFs use different gearing then the gas ZFs that are more suited to the narrow diesel powerband. If you cant find a 351 ZF then a 460 would be the other option.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah fair enough, although it's usually only an inch or two. If it makes the difference between a $300 junkyard trans and a $3000 ebay one it's worth it though IMO.

That makes sense enough, if it makes a difference of thousands of dollars on the trans, but an inch or two is going to be the kind of spacing issues you have already.

 

[19Walt93]

A 351 ZF is going to be more plentiful (and thus, cheaper) the a 460/7.3 trans.

Also, the diesel ZFs use different gearing then the gas ZFs that are more suited to the narrow diesel powerband. If you cant find a 351 ZF then a 460 would be the other option.

We sold a few 460/ZF's and none with 351's so plentiful isn't how I'd describe them, and we had to fix a handful of them. They were a pain to work on and a handful is a big percentage considering how few we sold. I never liked the Mazda 5 speed but other than a sticking feel shifting into 3rd we never had any problems with them and we sold a bunch of 300's with the 5 speed.

 

[19Walt93]

I had an 89 F150 with a 300 and a Borg Warner T18 creeper gear 4 speed for 10 years and liked the truck but I wouldn't use a 300 for my Ranger. It had 3.08 gears and I could drive through town at 800 rpms and it would willingly accelerate with a tough of the throttle. 3.08's worked better that you'd think, I could use creeper low to take off on steep hills and cruise somewhat comfortably on the highway- at 62 mph. If I ignored the speedo and tach and just ran the engine at the rpm where it sounded happy I'd look down and see 62 mph. It wouldn't have been ideal for long trips. If you want low end torque and don't care about high rpms, a 300 is a good choice that doesn't stink or thrash like a diesel. A 302 with an RV cam would be a good choice, too and fit easier.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

We sold a few 460/ZF's and none with 351's so plentiful isn't how I'd describe them, and we had to fix a handful of them. They were a pain to work on and a handful is a big percentage considering how few we sold. I never liked the Mazda 5 speed but other than a sticking feel shifting into 3rd we never had any problems with them and we sold a bunch of 300's with the 5 speed.

Probably depends on your location. 351/5sps are plentiful around here.

I had an 89 F150 with a 300 and a Borg Warner T18 creeper gear 4 speed for 10 years and liked the truck but I wouldn't use a 300 for my Ranger. It had 3.08 gears and I could drive through town at 800 rpms and it would willingly accelerate with a tough of the throttle. 3.08's worked better that you'd think, I could use creeper low to take off on steep hills and cruise somewhat comfortably on the highway- at 62 mph. If I ignored the speedo and tach and just ran the engine at the rpm where it sounded happy I'd look down and see 62 mph. It wouldn't have been ideal for long trips. If you want low end torque and don't care about high rpms, a 300 is a good choice that doesn't stink or thrash like a diesel. A 302 with an RV cam would be a good choice, too and fit easier.

I had an 83 with a T18 and a 300. Torque for days, i think itd be fun in a ranger. I bet you could gear the piss out of it (some 150s had like 2.47) and get awesome mileage and cruise all day at 70-75

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The M5ODR2 out of a '97-04 4.2 F-150 has the right pattern and the shifter is at the back like a Ranger trans.

You will need the starter, block plate and flywheel/clutch from the '150. Clutch hydraulics from an R1 RBV. Drill out the holes in the bellhousing for the bigger standard bolts on the 300. Renotch the shifter stub and a M5ODR1 shifter from a Ranger will fit. Shifter will look like it came that way.

 

[danielp3344]

I had an 89 F150 with a 300 and a Borg Warner T18 creeper gear 4 speed for 10 years and liked the truck but I wouldn't use a 300 for my Ranger. It had 3.08 gears and I could drive through town at 800 rpms and it would willingly accelerate with a tough of the throttle. 3.08's worked better that you'd think, I could use creeper low to take off on steep hills and cruise somewhat comfortably on the highway- at 62 mph. If I ignored the speedo and tach and just ran the engine at the rpm where it sounded happy I'd look down and see 62 mph. It wouldn't have been ideal for long trips. If you want low end torque and don't care about high rpms, a 300 is a good choice that doesn't stink or thrash like a diesel. A 302 with an RV cam would be a good choice, too and fit easier.

My 87 F150 also has a T18, I loved it. That transmission had *the best* feeling shifts ever hands down, if it had more gears I'd put it in my ranger. I really just want a trans like that with an overdrive.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

My 87 F150 also has a T18, I loved it. That transmission had *the best* feeling shifts ever hands down, if it had more gears I'd put it in my ranger. I really just want a trans like that with an overdrive.

I think theres aftermarket add on kits for the T18. I agree the T18 shifts perfectly.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Dad's T18 was weird but it had been beat. You kinda had it hook it to the left to get it into third.

Never struck me as particularly awesome to shift but it was an old company truck when I started driving.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Dad's T18 was weird but it had been beat. You kinda had it hook it to the left to get it into third.

Never struck me as particularly awesome to shift but it was an old company truck when I started driving.

A good one has a super long, very notchy, mechanical feel. There a great truck box.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

A good one has a super long, very notchy, mechanical feel. There a great truck box.

By the time he sold it the odometer was almost on its third time around...

 

[danielp3344]

Dad's T18 was weird but it had been beat. You kinda had it hook it to the left to get it into third.

Oh yeah, that took me forever to get used to, but I loved how solid each shift felt, going into each gear was like hitting a hardened steel wall, no flex anywhere.