Tbird v8 5.0 HO conversion

[Robertm1991]

I’m buying a 1997 tbird with a v8 5.0 in it. Looking into swapping this into my 1984 ranger but need some help is this a practical swap?

 

[RonD]

Practical........................no way, fun................yes, yes, yes

One BIG DEAL BREAKER is your location, you will need to find out what you need to do to get the 1984 Ranger road worthy when engine is swapped out with a different size
Calif has some very limiting laws on engine swaps

One of them is that the new engine must be equal or LESS polluting than the original engine, not sure what your 1984 has in it but I am betting the 1997 V8 HO won't be less or equal to it, lol

Only exemptions are 1965 and older vehicles

 

[snoranger]

1993 was the last year the T-bird had a 5.0l... ‘97 would be a 4.6l

 

[franklin2]

His 1984 would have the 2.3 with a carb or a 2.8 with a computer controlled carb. No where to go but up from there if he keeps the fuel injection. They would probably not like it if he converted to a conventional carb. But I don't know, a 84-85 302 in a mustang had the simple holley 4bbl on it.

 

[rubydist]

Well a 97 will be way less polluting than any 84, so that part won't be a problem.

However, if its really a 97 with a 4.6, then its a major project to get it to physically fit, and all of the 4.6 swaps I have seen have had to delete the a/c system, which I would expect in southern California would be important to retain. So the first order of business is to clarify if its a 97 TBird or if its a 5.0 TBird.

 

[Robertm1991]

I’m buying a 1997 tbird with a v8 5.0 in it. Looking into swapping this into my 1984 ranger but need some help is this a practical swap?

My bad 1993 tbird correction

 

[Robertm1991]

My bad 1993 tbird correction

1993 tbird 5.0 v8

 

[franklin2]

Before you start a project like this, why not go down and talk to the place that will be giving you a inspection, certificate or whatever it is. Do you have a choice of stations? If you do, and they do not give you a answer you like, find another and ask them. Where I live what passes and fails is really up to the person doing the inspection, and their opinions vary wildly.

 

[rubydist]

CA is much more regimented than that - they will give you a set of rules that you must comply with to pass. Conceptually, you will need all of the computer control stuff from the TBird to get transplanted into the Ranger, along with all of the cats, etc. but they will have very detailed rules.

 

[Robertm1991]

Awsome sounds good thanks for all the help! Would I be able to retain the stock automatic transmission the 93tbird comes with or will I have to find another trans?

 

[Robertm1991]

And is this considered the c4 ranger station talked about or is the 93tbird transmission differnt ?

 

[Bird76Mojo]

The 93 T-Bird transmission should be an AODE electronically controlled trans. You'll need to swap over all of the Thunderbird electronics with the engine and trans.

 

[tinman_72]

The Thunderbird never got the AODE. It used the AOD up to 93 then changed to 4R70W in 94 with the 4.6 change. The AOD does not need electronics to work.