Ground up build on a 88 Ranger F150 drivetrain swap

[Lambertw26]

Hello, I'm getting an 88 Ranger like my first vehicle with a great body but is 2wd and want to swap to a 4wd. The truck is now an automatic but want to make it a manual 4x4 with a manual transfer case. I am looking at around a 95 model or so F150 with a 5.0 for a donor vehicle but need a little guidance as I have searched but can't find the answer. I know the motor will swap over but am worried about the axels. I know they are wider than stock but what has everyone done in that case? leave them wide or go with explorer axels? I don't necessarily think wider would be bad but what about adding a lift and matching everything up with the Ranger frame? What type of lift should I go with If swapping from an F150 or explorer to a ranger? Wanting to go 35's... TIA for the help

 

[RonD]

Welcome to the forum

F-150 drive train wouldn't be best option
You will need to switch over the front accessories to the "short" version, i.e. water pump, crank pulley and brackets
Also the manual trans shifter will come up under the dash, which can be used with custom bent shifter arm
But you CAN DO IT

Reason the Explorer V8, 1996-2001, were good to swap is because they have the short front accessories

F-150 axles would be too wide
Find a 1990-1992 4.0l Ranger 4x4 with 8.8" rear axle(limited slip if possible) and Dana 35 front axle
But 1993-2009 Ranger will also work, only 1" wider on each side
These are plug and play, spring perches are at the same place 1983 thru 2011
8.8" and Dana 35 are heavy duty enough for V8 power under 300HP, Mustang V8s used the 8.8"

1983-1992 Rangers used 56.5" axle width
1993 to 2011 Rangers used 58.5"
F-150s were 65" in most years, so quite a bit wider, 4"+ inches on each side

4x4 Rangers used a boxed frame up front, 2WD didn't
So 4WD Ranger was NOT just a "bolt on option", it started with a different 4x4 frame
So there will be no cross-over "holes" on a 2WD frame to align and bolt on the 4WD front axle, you will need measure and drill and weld to install front axle

 

[scotts90ranger]

If I were to start from scratch with those plans I don't think you can harvest everything from one vehicle and keep it clean without big fender flares and the axles sticking way out... a fuel injected 302 would be nice but nothing they came in had a front axle or transfer case that fits in without major work... a TTB D44 can be done like in that era F150 but is wider as noted and the suspension pivot points would have to be located from scratch...

If you are set on a 302 and can do some fabrication like Ron said the Explorer is a good donor for engine, trans and wiring (stick with '96-97 to avoid PATS), the rear axle will also be a disc brake 31 spline 8.8" as well, fairly easy swap... for transfer case you can get a manual transfer case from a '97-03? F150 and it will bolt to the Explrer's 4R70W Transmission, the manual transmission from a V6 F150 of similar vintage is supposed to fit as well with the shifter in a better spot... Front axle options suck for on a budget, the easy route is a Dana 30 from a Jeep to keep the same bolt pattern wheels but there's other options too...

 

[Lambertw26]

Welcome to the forum

F-150 drive train wouldn't be best option
You will need to switch over the front accessories to the "short" version, i.e. water pump, crank pulley and brackets
Also the manual trans shifter will come up under the dash, which can be used with custom bent shifter arm
But you CAN DO IT

Reason the Explorer V8, 1996-2001, were good to swap is because they have the short front accessories

F-150 axles would be too wide
Find a 1990-1992 4.0l Ranger 4x4 with 8.8" rear axle(limited slip if possible) and Dana 35 front axle
But 1993-2009 Ranger will also work, only 1" wider on each side
These are plug and play, spring perches are at the same place 1983 thru 2011
8.8" and Dana 35 are heavy duty enough for V8 power under 300HP, Mustang V8s used the 8.8"

1983-1992 Rangers used 56.5" axle width
1993 to 2011 Rangers used 58.5"
F-150s were 65" in most years, so quite a bit wider, 4"+ inches on each side

4x4 Rangers used a boxed frame up front, 2WD didn't
So 4WD Ranger was NOT just a "bolt on option", it started with a different 4x4 frame
So there will be no cross-over "holes" on a 2WD frame to align and bolt on the 4WD front axle, you will need measure and drill and weld to install front axle

Thanks for the help. Lots of good info there. What would you choose for a manual transmission and transfer case if you wanted the 5.0.

 

[Lambertw26]

If I were to start from scratch with those plans I don't think you can harvest everything from one vehicle and keep it clean without big fender flares and the axles sticking way out... a fuel injected 302 would be nice but nothing they came in had a front axle or transfer case that fits in without major work... a TTB D44 can be done like in that era F150 but is wider as noted and the suspension pivot points would have to be located from scratch...

If you are set on a 302 and can do some fabrication like Ron said the Explorer is a good donor for engine, trans and wiring (stick with '96-97 to avoid PATS), the rear axle will also be a disc brake 31 spline 8.8" as well, fairly easy swap... for transfer case you can get a manual transfer case from a '97-03? F150 and it will bolt to the Explrer's 4R70W Transmission, the manual transmission from a V6 F150 of similar vintage is supposed to fit as well with the shifter in a better spot... Front axle options suck for on a budget, the easy route is a Dana 30 from a Jeep to keep the same bolt pattern wheels but there's other options too...

Thanks for the reply. There are a lot of options out there and I’m hoping to do it right the first time…. If you were to use the Dana 30 how would you pick a lift? Are they universal across that axel?

 

[Josh B]

Looks like they've both checked out for now Lambert. Welcome to TRS

 

[RonD]

Thanks for the help. Lots of good info there. What would you choose for a manual transmission and transfer case if you wanted the 5.0.

1997-2004 M5OD-R2 trans and BW4406 transfer case from a F-150 4.2l V6 will bolt to a 302/5.0l block, and shifter comes up at the same place as Rangers M5OD-R1
The R2 is the heavier duty V8 trans used in Full Size Ford trucks

 

[scotts90ranger]

Thanks for the reply. There are a lot of options out there and I’m hoping to do it right the first time…. If you were to use the Dana 30 how would you pick a lift? Are they universal across that axel?

The only bolt on lift and axle stuff for a Dana 30 is from James Duff, I think they make a kit, everything else is custom so there's no "lift" about it, it's designing it to be what you need... For the record I plan on putting a Dana 44/50 hybrid axle in my 5.0L explorer on 36-37" tires, but it's not going to be a clean street friendly setup, mainly for wheeling...