1985 302 Ranger Keeps Twisting....Cracking Windshields

[Bubs]

Well dudes, im new here (and to 5.0 rangers) and i am looking to buy this ranger that has a 302 roller motor in it with a t-5, but it keeps cracking windshields. a friend of mine who is a mechanic said its because the frame is twisting. is this a common problem? is it a full frame truck? and what the hell can i do to keep this thing straight?

also, what are some things to watch out for with these trucks? how fast should this one be in the 1/4? it has a 302 all stock with a t-5 expect for the intake (performer rpm) and a matching edlebrock carb. will it dip into the 14's? im going to use it to get around when its raining, or in the winter. I have a 11 second mustang that i drive in the nice weather, and i need something when the weather is not so nice. whats the insurance costs for these things? what rear end should it have from the factory? whats the stock gearing? what kinda tires, both tread and size should i be looking at? once agian, im totally new and i need to know everything, as much as i can about these trucks.

thanks a bunch for the help guys! i really appreaciate it.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

Well dudes, im new here (and to 5.0 rangers) and i am looking to buy this ranger that has a 302 roller motor in it with a t-5, but it keeps cracking windshields. a friend of mine who is a mechanic said its because the frame is twisting. is this a common problem? is it a full frame truck? and what the hell can i do to keep this thing straight?

also, what are some things to watch out for with these trucks? how fast should this one be in the 1/4? it has a 302 all stock with a t-5 expect for the intake (performer rpm) and a matching edlebrock carb. will it dip into the 14's? im going to use it to get around when its raining, or in the winter. I have a 11 second mustang that i drive in the nice weather, and i need something when the weather is not so nice. whats the insurance costs for these things? what rear end should it have from the factory? whats the stock gearing? what kinda tires, both tread and size should i be looking at? once agian, im totally new and i need to know everything, as much as i can about these trucks.

thanks a bunch for the help guys! i really appreaciate it.

that sounds more like the truck was wrecked and the body got tweaked or something to that nature. check to see if the frame is bent or cracked somewhere.

yes these trucks are full frame

theres a couple of guys running motors way bigger than a 302 with no problems, check out www.bigblockranger.com

insurance is cheap on these as they are old and not worth much. if you have a d.d then you could get classic insurance from www.jctaylor.com, thats what i had on mine, it was insured for 5,000 for 150 a year.

rear end will be the weak 7.5, and gears most common are 3.45, i would either stick a l.s in there with 3.73's or do an 8.8 swap from an explorer.

and as far as how quick the truck will be, it should hit the 14's with the right tires and just how good of a driver you are. traction is a big thing with these trucks.

as far as tires, 225/70/15's are most common, and i would look into a good street tire thats good in the rain, like the b.f goodrich t/a, i have cooper cobras on mine and i really liked em.

hope this answers some of the questions for ya.

 

[Bubs]

thanks you, that did help alot. i have a hoist and i will stick it up there and take a look at everything. are there any specific things to look for, ie problem spots? this truck has a pretty thick rad, it looks like a 4 core. and everything else under the hood looks pretty good. what other cheap mods can i do to this puppy?

 

[RangerFabWorks]

thanks you, that did help alot. i have a hoist and i will stick it up there and take a look at everything. are there any specific things to look for, ie problem spots? this truck has a pretty thick rad, it looks like a 4 core. and everything else under the hood looks pretty good. what other cheap mods can i do to this puppy?

i would be focusing my attention from the firewall foward. it might be worth taking the truck to a frame shop and have them check it out. kinda sounds like the truck got hit in the front at one point. or the body got tweaked somehow. i highly doubt its the engine, what are we talking, 320 horse maybe?? and im being extremely generous

what other mods do you mean specifically?

 

[Bubs]

i would be focusing my attention from the firewall foward. it might be worth taking the truck to a frame shop and have them check it out. kinda sounds like the truck got hit in the front at one point. or the body got tweaked somehow. i highly doubt its the engine, what are we talking, 320 horse maybe?? and im being extremely generous

what other mods do you mean specifically?

more like 220 haha. i mean like, whats good to do to these motors, since they are in a truck instead of a car...or does that not mean anything? ive done a buncha mustang motors before with strokers, porting, cams etc...but im wondering which mods are the best bang for the buck in this application. like engine mods.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

well, since its a roller motor, i would do a comp cams cam in it, you already have the intake and carb done, if it doesnt have em already, i would do headers, and a 2 1/2 exhaust.

that will help it out alot. what kind of distributor does it have??

and maybe gasket match the exhaust ports on the head.

there not alot to do without tearing the motor apart. but a good cam, intake and carb should get you close to the 300 hp mark.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

biggest thing i would do is change out the gears in the rear to 3.73's

this will make a HUGE DIFFERENCE.

 

[Bubs]

well, since its a roller motor, i would do a comp cams cam in it, you already have the intake and carb done, if it doesnt have em already, i would do headers, and a 2 1/2 exhaust.

that will help it out alot. what kind of distributor does it have??

and maybe gasket match the exhaust ports on the head.

there not alot to do without tearing the motor apart. but a good cam, intake and carb should get you close to the 300 hp mark.

its got two sets of headers, the ones on it are long tube, the other set are brand new shorty's. the truck has some crazy exhaust on it. its loud. really loud. i would probablly do a top end with a cam, ported heads, and port the intake. b303 cam would be nice. but im not sure if i would want to get a cam, because it doesnt look like fun ripping the front of that motor completely appart. just a ported head and intake. that should be good.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

yeah. is all about what u want outta the truck. but def get it checked out first

 

[Bubs]

whats the bolt pattern on the wheels? im curious to know which wheels i can stick on there.

 

[kunar]

whats the bolt pattern on the wheels? im curious to know which wheels i can stick on there.

same as a 5 lug mustang, 5 on 4.5"

as for the cracked windshield thing... what do the body mounts look like? just a thought, if they are really stiff, that might be part of the problem. if they are really soft, the frame should be able to move without the cab and windshield moving much.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

same as a 5 lug mustang, 5 on 4.5"

as for the cracked windshield thing... what do the body mounts look like? just a thought, if they are really stiff, that might be part of the problem. if they are really soft, the frame should be able to move without the cab and windshield moving much.

that a possiblity

or it could be it has solid motor mounts and a rubber tranny mount. i highly doubt its that and im not sure if that could do it, but its worth a look.

 

[Bubs]

i will try and go take another look at it later on if i have the time. which 8.8's can be bolted right into this thing?

 

[constant_projecttruck]

An 8.8 from an Explorer or 4.0L Ranger will go in pretty easily. The Ranger rearend will be an open diff though.

As for your windsheild thing. I cracked my windsheild by dropping a speaker on the bottom corner. It made a small crack (about 2 inchs) but it has grown to well over 8 inchs long now. I changed my motor mounts and it has stopped cracking. I had 1/4 plate "custom" solid mounts to the old 2.9 mounts. Now I have the mounts from Jegs.

500TH POST!

 

[kunar]

i will try and go take another look at it later on if i have the time. which 8.8's can be bolted right into this thing?

direct bolt in?? only an 8.8 from a ranger. the explorer rear will need spring perches and shock mounts welded on.