05 Ford Ranger questions

[BigggT]

Guys i need your help. I have a 05 ranger with 3.0L manual RWD. I know this would be a perfect canadate for the 5.0l v8 im building but i want to make this truck a 4x4 lifted truck instead. I was wondering how hard is it to do the RWD to 4x4 conversion on a 2005 ford ranger. Or would a V8 swap be easier and make it a race truck?!

 

[BigggT]

P.S. i found a 03 ranger with a 4.0l engine and was a 4x4 that someone is selling for $900 because it was wrecked. would that be a good donor car to do the 4x4 swap? or is there big differences between the 03 and 05 ranger?

 

[straycat]

Use the search function. This has been brought up a bunch of times. If you can weld and wrench this is a very easy job with a buddy helping you out. Some things get heavy!!!

 

[97RangerXLT]

If you have the entire truck to swap parts from, this can be done. Personally I would just go and trade the 05 for a similar 4x4 ranger with the 4.0...

You will need to swap everything from the donor truck... engine, transmission, axles (if you are lucky, just the front, but if the rear is a different gear ration that will have to be swapped in too), radiator, computer, engine wire harness and probably a ton of other stuff. in addition, you may have to swap out frame cross members and do some light fabbing/ welding. Having the donor truck there makes it much cheaper and easier for the parts, but plan on having your truck down for a while when you do this.

There are a few members here that have done this on the older style Rangers. I don't know their names offhand tho, but I would peruse the axle forums and engine forums for swap ideas and to get an idea of what you are in for.

If you go ahead with the project, good luck and keep us updated with pics and stories

AJ