1990 Ranger 302 swap

[tjm73]

Well now. The shifter is not as far back as I expected it to be.

 

[JokerLS240]

Well now. The shifter is not as far back as I expected it to be.

It's not that bad. With a straight shift lever, 2nd gear gets close to you but it isn't uncomfortable. Any lever that leans back may get too close.

 

[tjm73]

I might be able to get away with a lever that points kinda forward. Kinda how Shelby dealt with the shifter in the Cobras.

 

[19Walt93]

Hurst sells a lever intended for bench seat cars that could be bolted to a T5 shifter.

 

[tjm73]

I've seen that. It's crazy expensive.

 

[SenorNoob]

Maybe so, but the shape wouldn't be impossible to replicate.

 

[tjm73]

Any updates on this fine project?

 

[JokerLS240]

Not a lot. Had to replace the axle bearings.

Oh, I did get a used Holley 600cfm 4160 from eBay and put on it. It seems to like that better than the Edelbrock, but I may have messed up the rebuild on the Edelbrock to begin with. The accelerator pump never did work right and I don't know what jets were in it from the previous owner.

Most work has slowed down on the truck. Money is getting tight and I'm still chasing suspension issues. The alignment still isn't right and now there's a vibration and occasional rattle coming from the front. Some balancing weights came off the right front wheel. I need to get back to the tire shop and get it rebalanced. Hopefully that fixes the vibration. Wheel bearings are new and still good.

The steering did get a lot less twitchy after I put the axle bearings in the rear. (Someone else can explain that. ) Before it would dart when turning the wheel, and now it's very smooth. Bump steer is still a problem though.

Other things on my list are to get some flooring in it. Probably vinyl instead of carpet. I do use the truck as a truck, so carpet isn't very practical. There's also an oil leak coming from the pressure sensor that I haven't gotten around to. Got a coolant leak somewhere around the water pump or timing cover. That's been happening since I first got the engine running.

I also want to get an actual Performer RPM intake. The motor feels like it lacks torque down low. I know the cam I have doesn't really kick in until 3000 rpm, but I'd like to see if the intake would help out below that. But after about 4000 it blows the tires off!

 

[tjm73]

I was looking at your first post and I vsee you used a new T5. Is it Z spec T5 with the 2.95 gearset?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Not a lot. Had to replace the axle bearings.

Oh, I did get a used Holley 600cfm 4160 from eBay and put on it. It seems to like that better than the Edelbrock, but I may have messed up the rebuild on the Edelbrock to begin with. The accelerator pump never did work right and I don't know what jets were in it from the previous owner.

Most work has slowed down on the truck. Money is getting tight and I'm still chasing suspension issues. The alignment still isn't right and now there's a vibration and occasional rattle coming from the front. Some balancing weights came off the right front wheel. I need to get back to the tire shop and get it rebalanced. Hopefully that fixes the vibration. Wheel bearings are new and still good.

The steering did get a lot less twitchy after I put the axle bearings in the rear. (Someone else can explain that. ) Before it would dart when turning the wheel, and now it's very smooth. Bump steer is still a problem though.

Other things on my list are to get some flooring in it. Probably vinyl instead of carpet. I do use the truck as a truck, so carpet isn't very practical. There's also an oil leak coming from the pressure sensor that I haven't gotten around to. Got a coolant leak somewhere around the water pump or timing cover. That's been happening since I first got the engine running.

I also want to get an actual Performer RPM intake. The motor feels like it lacks torque down low. I know the cam I have doesn't really kick in until 3000 rpm, but I'd like to see if the intake would help out below that. But after about 4000 it blows the tires off!

I don't know about top end but I have always been happy with the low end power mine has had with a Weiand Stealth intake.

 

[JokerLS240]

I was looking at your first post and I vsee you used a new T5. Is it Z spec T5 with the 2.95 gearset?

Yeah, 2.95 first and .63 5th.

I don't know about top end but I have always been happy with the low end power mine has had with a Weiand Stealth intake.

I'll look into that. Hopefully I can find something used.

 

[tjm73]

I'm kinda surprised the intake, cam, T5 ratios, 3.73 r&p and tire size feels like it has low torque at low rpm. Especially in a realitivly lightweight little truck. Not sure a different intake will boost your low end much. Power delivery is a direct result of you engine combo and how well it's matched to your usage. The Summit F303+ is a mid range and higher rpm focused cam.

 

[JokerLS240]

I understand that the cam could be my problem. The engine definitely has more torque than a V6 down low. There's a high chance that the problem sits between the seat and steering wheel. I think I may just be too easy on the throttle.

To update on the radiator, the temps down here have been in the 90's and the motor stays at 180° while cruising at 70mph. We don't have many red lights down here so I can't say how it does in traffic.

 

[tjm73]

You could adjust the cam timing by advancing the cam. It'll lower the power range at the expense of the top end. But on a street truck you may not be using the top end all that much anyway. It'll just bring the power in sooner. You should degree the cam so you don't end up with mr valve introduction himself to mr piston. You could have power come on 500-1000 rpm sooner.

I bought a 3 row ebay swap radiator so your experience is reassuring. We've been in the upper 80's with high humidity in western NY.

 

[JokerLS240]

Degreeing a cam would be a job, but it would give me a good reason to chase down that water leak.

I may live with it for a while. I mean, it is pretty rowdy when you get in to it. Just not what I was expecting down low. This is my first ever "performance" build and first SBF in 25 years. The last one I had was in a 79 F100 and it was bone stock with a 2 barrel and a C4 behind it.