r2.8 diesel?

[94longranger]

i have a 1994 ranger xlt i'v been messing with for years. i'm now looking into an engine swap to a cummins r2.8 this will also require a transmission replacement. i'm looking at the tremec tr4050 and since my bw1354 won't fit that'll be replaced with an atlas by advance adapter. none of this is cheap but but this is going to be my forever truck and it's better than buying new. has anyone installed the r2.8 in a ranger? i've got a 4.0 with m5 that i change gears to the lower set from a 2.3. better gearing but did nothing for reverse.

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

Not sure it will fit
R2.8 has these dimensions 28.3 in (h) x 25 in (w) x 25.1 in (d)
Depth/length is not an issue at 25"

The most common swap into a Ranger is a 302/5.0l V8 engine that is 21" high, 19" wide and 27" long
And it barely fits in Ranger engine bay

Height is an issue but you can do a body lift, but will need quite a few inches, can't really mount engine lower on a 4x4

Width is another one, because steering shaft will have to be moved over, maybe mount steering box outside the frame
And you would need to get rid of heater box

Google: Ranger 4BT swap

That's been done alot so maybe you will find some tips on fitment

Trans and transfer case are probably the easiest part of your build

 

[4x4prepper]

> none of this is cheap but but this is going to be my forever truck

Then I would skip the computer control 2.8L and go with a mechanical injector pump engine, 3 or 4 cyl Cummings. I would consider a 3" body and bed lift ad installing the batteries under the bed.

My next door neighbor had her SUV parked out in front of her house and it was almost totaled by a neighbor on the other side of my house, that left her driveway, less then 300 feet away, at the end of a cul-de-sac, and managed to go fast enough to clip the SUV and almost total both vehicles. I know the SUV suffered along the lines of $6,000, the mini-van that hit her, probably the same. The only thing forever in this earth age are death and taxes. $0.02

 

[bobbywalter]

I work with the ind version of these and caterpillar....well ...caterperkins may be a better description and the kubotas.

For a road truck, for sure keep the system as sold. It is incredible. From the installations I have seen in jeeps, it's a cake swap. I would be tempted to run the 4l80 with a 241 case myself.

But the nv4500 or current 4050 with a Jeep 231 or gm 241 or dhd version will save 3 grand. The 4050 is serious coin too. But NEW.

My main truck I have had almost exactly 30 years, and it's been stable with it's current platform since 08....SO.....it's been a forever truck in that regard, and I can relate.

I run a mechanical v8 idi diesel with the 4l80 and 208 ford case . It's pretty good for what it is. But the r 2.8 is next level comparatively. I never would have guessed I would have left it without a turbo this long.

But it is fiercely loyal and a pia at the same time. So careful what you wish for.

If I had to spend more then 2g to swap it. It wouldn't be a diesel.... It would have a hemi or a bigger Cummins.

15 grand into a 94 ranger? Yeah. I can justify that when my wife is not around