seriously thinking 1984 camper

[Angie]

Just something newer, stronger, more reliable and efficient than the 2.8L.


hi josh, i don't know..... the 2.8 that i built up and is in my 78 pinto is a stout little engine. i wouldn't hesitate to drive that car across the country. what i will do with this engine is drill out the back water passages in the heads to improve water flow..... bad design flaw from ford. as said i have 2 - 2.8's sitting on the floor if need be ... but if all is wrong with this is head gaskets? damn check the heads, swap if needed and new gaskets... no brainer

why complicate the truck with V8 swaps and stuff?? i get it but come on, if i wanted a V8 camper why would i buy a ranger camper and not a full size dodge 318 camper van?

cheers all

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Id throw a headgasket in it and see how it runs. Might not even need an engine

 

[Angie]

exactly what my point was rusty ..... check the heads and redo the top end gaskets.... pretty easy fix to start with. cheers

 

[rusty ol ranger]

exactly what my point was rusty ..... check the heads and redo the top end gaskets.... pretty easy fix to start with. cheers

If the engine has good oil pressure, no noises, no smokes etc id duraspark it then run it.

 

[JoshT]

Just something newer, stronger, more reliable and efficient than the 2.8L.


hi josh, i don't know..... the 2.8 that i built up and is in my 78 pinto is a stout little engine. i wouldn't hesitate to drive that car across the country. what i will do with this engine is drill out the back water passages in the heads to improve water flow..... bad design flaw from ford. as said i have 2 - 2.8's sitting on the floor if need be ... but if all is wrong with this is head gaskets? damn check the heads, swap if needed and new gaskets... no brainer

why complicate the truck with V8 swaps and stuff?? i get it but come on, if i wanted a V8 camper why would i buy a ranger camper and not a full size dodge 318 camper van?

cheers all

I don't question the capability of the 2.8L in a Pinto, or even a Ranger. The 84 in my sig was a mildly built 2.8L and it pushed that regular cab long bed 2wd Ranger along pretty damn well. Mild port and polish, mild cam, offenhauser intake, Holley 390, headers, dual exhaust. But a 2.8L, stock or otherwise, is not what I would want for that rig if I were planning to use as you describe. Power band is wrong, limited parts availability, and many other reasons. If it were only going to be used locally and on fairly flat terrain, maybe, but not for a cross country adventure.

FWIW I've still got that 2.8L. Was going to drop it into another shell, still kind of want to, but I've realized that there are much better options to achieve what I want.

I'm not saying that it has to be a V8 swap. A newer engine, V6 or V8, is going to be more efficient, more powerful, and do a better job of pulling that weight and poor aerodynamics up long steep grades. If done right it'll probably also be more reliable, or at least have or better parts availability if something did happen out on the road. It's your truck, I'm just saying what I would do with it. After being around my dad's '21 F-150, I'd probably be looking at an Ecoboost. At the least a 4.0L.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

One thing no ones mentioned and i dont know how heavy the camper outfit is on those but what about the rear end?

A 4.0 might not grenade it but bolting a healthy 302 infront of whats probably a already pretty taxed 7.5 might lead to issues.

I really think the 2.8 would be fine. I mean look at how many of them little 22r yota campers used to run around...and those had to be heavier....

...and hills are no more steep then they were in the 80s....and im sure it has atleast a 4.10 rear.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

One thing no ones mentioned and i dont know how heavy the camper outfit is on those but what about the rear end?

A 4.0 might not grenade it but bolting a healthy 302 infront of whats probably a already pretty taxed 7.5 might lead to issues.

I really think the 2.8 would be fine. I mean look at how many of them little 22r yota campers used to run around...and those had to be heavier....

...and hills are no more steep then they were in the 80s....and im sure it has atleast a 4.10 rear.

Some cab Chassis first gens had a 31 spline 8.8.

With the goofy duals who knows what is under there.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I wonder what the gvwr is? More than a regular ranger of the year?

 

[Fast Eddie]

One thing no ones mentioned and i dont know how heavy the camper outfit is on those but what about the rear end?

A 4.0 might not grenade it but bolting a healthy 302 infront of whats probably a already pretty taxed 7.5 might lead to issues.

I really think the 2.8 would be fine. I mean look at how many of them little 22r yota campers used to run around...and those had to be heavier....

...and hills are no more steep then they were in the 80s....and im sure it has atleast a 4.10 rear.

You make a good point. Look at the Toyota Dolphin. I STILL see some of those on the road.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

You make a good point. Look at the Toyota Dolphin. I STILL see some of those on the road.

We actually got a 79ish one around here...with tandem axles.

 

[Angie]

Hey all. checked it out yesterday. very nice little rig for sure. does need work, but nothing too extreme (engine gaskets to start and swap if needed) for a decent project. going to think about it for a few days and see what I can do with it.

cheers and will keep you informed. With something like this, its not the speed of the trip but the destination ... would be a great little unit for weekend excursions too!

 

[RobbieD]

Thanks for the update. I hope that you end up with it; looks like it deserves a good home.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Hey all. checked it out yesterday. very nice little rig for sure. does need work, but nothing too extreme (engine gaskets to start and swap if needed) for a decent project. going to think about it for a few days and see what I can do with it.

cheers and will keep you informed. With something like this, its not the speed of the trip but the destination ... would be a great little unit for weekend excursions too!

Very best of luck, whichever direction you choose. If you to get it and start digging into the camper portion, reach out. @85_Ranger4x4 is another person who may be of help as well.

 

[Angie]

Hey all, thanks for the encouragement... the truck went to a good home ...... it is sitting in my driveway now ..... she will get the details and attention it deserves .... I will start a new thread about the rig and how we get her built up. look in the 1983-2011 mini trucks section for updates and progress ..... probably best place to start the thread as it will be a "build" style progress thing.

cheers all

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Hey all, thanks for the encouragement... the truck went to a good home ...... it is sitting in my driveway now ..... she will get the details and attention it deserves .... I will start a new thread about the rig and how we get her built up. look in the 1983-2011 mini trucks section for updates and progress ..... probably best place to start the thread as it will be a "build" style progress thing.

cheers all

Any verdict on the motor?