302 Swap

[JuJu1289]

I have a 87 ford ranger 2.9. Here lately ive been considering doing a engine swap, either 4.0 or a 302. Either way i dont really wanna do the swap myself. Does anyone know a ballpark price it would cost just for labor from a mechanic to do the swap. Ideally I would like to put a 302 down in there if i can find a good donor. Thanks!

 

[superdave1984]

You are looking at a LOT of $$$$ if you pay someone to do the grunt work. Seriously, you can figure at least 20 hrs just to get the old one out, parts swapped, fab work, etc. Then you have wiring, testing, etc. Plus a shop isn't going to clean up the engine compartment. If you do the work yourself you will save a ton of cash and have it the way you want it.

 

[JuJu1289]

I just dont know if I have the knowledge to do this swap by myself, but its something i really want done. I dont want to tear this apart and not be able to put it back togeather.

 

[Twizzler09]

If you cant/wont do it yourself, you'd be best off not doing it at all. Having a shop do it will literally cost hundreds if not a couple thousand more bucks than doing it yourself.

For the most part, I think it will just be time consuming, more than knowledge/brainwork intensive. IMO, the hardest part about the swap is going to be the trans/motor mounts and the wiring (if you go with EFI). Which in either case, isnt that big of a problem.

 

[JuJu1289]

Its really up to convience wether im gonna do FI or carb. Whatever I buy im buying a running donor. I have some friends that know alot about cars so ill prolly suck them into helping me.

 

[93Ranger4x4]

i can tell you one thing, a shop near me gave me a quote of $500 bucks just to yank my old motor and put the same size motor back in(old 3.0 quit on me), so i decided to do it myself. Took about 3 days total to do it all since it was my first engine i had ever pulled. But like everyone else is saying, if your not comfortable doing it yourself, just dont do it at all, the shops will probably charge you and arm and a leg to swap in a diff motor, plus labor for the fab work.

 

[JuJu1289]

Yea, after researchin alot more I feel alot more comfortable doing it myself. Really all I want out of a bigger motor is a nice deep rumble and some decent pickup. From what ive seen the 4.0 swap will be much easier. With a A4LD trans will I need to switch it out?

 

[Fast Doc]

One option would be to sell your truck and buy a Ranger already converted, or an F-150 or whatever. Bet it would be cheaper.

 

[Fast Doc]

The A4LD is standard in my 4.0 (1992)

 

[JuJu1289]

One problem with selling my ranger is just the amount of work i have put into it, it would be hard to seperate with it. Thats good to know the A4LD will work with a 4.0, thats gonna influence my decision.