1986 4x4 V8

[Merritt]

I just picked up this 1986 longbed 4x4, with plans to do a mild restoration, and a v8 swap. It currently has the 2.9L with the 5 speed trans, plans are to keep the 5 speed and find a 302 to stick in front of it.

Here she is when I first got her home after 3 hours of pressure washing to get all the mud off..

 

[Merritt]

And here's a few days worth of progress, been gutting it and making a trash pile. I also picked up a tailgate, seat, grill, and a few interior pieces from the junkyard all for $80.

In the process of taking the seats and carpet out, I found out there's a lot more rust than I first thought. Looks like I'm gonna have to replace the floorpans, and part of the cab.

 

[RangerSVT]

That's a good find. You will need to get a 5 spd from a v8, the one you have won't bolt up nor handle the power...

SVT

 

[-Nathan-]

nor will the axles....regardless, truck is sharp

 

[Merritt]

According to the Advance Adapters info on this site they offer bellhousing adapters to retain my stock 5 speed, and they also say that my 7.5" will hold up fairly well to the V8 power.

I'm planning on a fairly stock 302, probably around 275 hp at the most, and running 33's. I was under the impression that I'd have to change the tranny and swap in bigger axles, but then I read that info and thought that maybe I'd get lucky and not have to swap everything out.

Original plans were to keep the stock 5 speed, and the 7.5" and then later on if I had any trouble out of the rear end I could just swap in an 8.8.

 

[shane96ranger]

The 7.5 will be OK. I beat the piss out of the 7.5 in my 85 GT. It held up. Don't think your D28 will like it though.

Sent while I should be doing something else

 

[Merritt]

That was the main thing I was worried about. I was contemplating swapping in a D44 my buddy has from a 78 F150 Ranger and shortening it.

What about the stock 5 speed, do any of yall have any experiences with a stock tokyo 5 speed behind a mild V8?