350 in a ranger

[Blmpkn]

Put the Cheverolet motor in a Cheverlot Truck. Weird to do otherwise in my opinion.

The fastest truck on this forum uses an SBC to claim that title..

 

[ranger man'02]

pretty easy swap.


i suggest a 5 speed from 4.3 s10 or the 1/2 ton if the ranger is already a manual. otherwise an auto. the shifter for the granny tranny will be in the dashboard.

I do not know how I would mount that up to a 350 but thanks for the advice.

 

[ranger man'02]

I think you can use a T5 fairly easily. Not sure what donor you'd use - maybe a Camaro, Firebird, S10 perhaps.

One of the old 4 speeds from a car would be good too, I am not a GM guy but I know there's at least a few options there if you don't mind not having an overdrive gear.

Tere is a NV3500 5 speed that was available starting sometime in the late 90's. I had one in a 2000 Silverado. That might be a good option too - it felt a lot like a truck transmission but the shifts were a lot smoother and shorter than an old 4 speed.

I just drove a mid 80's one ton dually Chevy about 50 miles last week and it had an SM465 in it... similar to the SM420... definitely a lot like driving a school bus. The gears are a mile apart.

Thanks I'll look around.

 

[Blmpkn]

I do not know how I would mount that up to a 350 but thanks for the advice.

With bolts?

Gm v6&V8 bell housing patterns are the same.

 

[dvdswan]

If you're hell bent on doing an SBC swap or you're getting the engine for free. Find a 90s GMT400 style, they came with 350s and a NV3500 5 sp. with hydraulic clutch like @ranger man'02 stated. The 350 had a one piece RMS, 5 speed is pretty smooth and doesn't have the granny gear like the NV4500 or SM465/435 trannies.

 

[ranger man'02]

I think you can use a T5 fairly easily. Not sure what donor you'd use - maybe a Camaro, Firebird, S10 perhaps.

One of the old 4 speeds from a car would be good too, I am not a GM guy but I know there's at least a few options there if you don't mind not having an overdrive gear.

Tere is a NV3500 5 speed that was available starting sometime in the late 90's. I had one in a 2000 Silverado. That might be a good option too - it felt a lot like a truck transmission but the shifts were a lot smoother and shorter than an old 4 speed.

I just drove a mid 80's one ton dually Chevy about 50 miles last week and it had an SM465 in it... similar to the SM420... definitely a lot like driving a school bus. The gears are a mile apart.

All the 3500 transmissions I could find were set up for dodge.

 

[ranger man'02]

I do want a manual

 

[ranger man'02]

Can you, sure, it's been done. You will need to rewire a lot of stuff in the dash and steering column and it will probably be easier to use aftermarket gauges. A lot of work but it could be cool. If you are totally confident in your wiring and fabrication abilities, then I would say go for it... if you're not then maybe it would be best not to attempt something like this, very easy to get yourself into an unfixable disaster that nobody wants to work on.

SM420 would not be my first choice by a long shot in a 2wd truck. A V8 in a Ranger is fun... but driving one with a V8 that shifts like a school bus and has no overdrive gear is not really ideal. Is the intention here to make a cool street rod type truck or are you just trying to make a dead truck run & drive because you have the parts already?

Something fun i can daily and show off with.

 

[Shran]

All the 3500 transmissions I could find were set up for dodge.

www.car-part.com

The one I had was in a 2000 Silverado, 4x4, with a 4.8. Start with that and look for S10 transmissions too around the late 90's. 4.3 V6's and LS V8 engines share the same bellhousing pattern as any older SBC so it's pretty easy to use parts from many years and there is ton of aftermarket support if you need an adapter or something.

 

[ranger man'02]

www.car-part.com

The one I had was in a 2000 Silverado, 4x4, with a 4.8. Start with that and look for S10 transmissions too around the late 90's. 4.3 V6's and LS V8 engines share the same bellhousing pattern as any older SBC so it's pretty easy to use parts from many years and there is ton of aftermarket support if you need an adapter or something.

like this? https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...h&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post

 

[bobbywalter]

I do not know how I would mount that up to a 350 but thanks for the advice.

as mentioned it shares the engine bolt pattern....4.3 specifically.

problem being 4wd applications can add complexity due to t case bolt patterns.

this i took as a 2wd application,
which the Camaro style t5 or t56 application may be ideal. not cheap for a t56 though.

i have done a fair amount of big block and small block swaps in this platform with gm dodge and ford power trains....and a few other oddballs.

my current truck has a Humvee diesel with a 4l80 transmission and f208 transfer case.

any of the 90 degrees4x4 gm manual transmission and t case combos will bolt in. while my engine is the size of a big block....it dimensionally mounts anything a LS engine....or gen 1 or gen 2 350 engine can use.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

as mentioned it shares the engine bolt pattern....4.3 specifically.

problem being 4wd applications can add complexity due to t case bolt patterns.

this i took as a 2wd application,
which the Camaro style t5 or t56 application may be ideal. not cheap for a t56 though.

i have done a fair amount of big block and small block swaps in this platform with gm dodge and ford power trains....and a few other oddballs.

my current truck has a Humvee diesel with a 4l80 transmission and f208 transfer case.

any of the 90 degrees4x4 gm manual transmission and t case combos will bolt in. while my engine is the size of a big block....it dimensionally mounts anything a LS engine....or gen 1 or gen 2 350 engine can use.

I think he is 2wd...

 

[bba952]

You should buy the cheapest non-running Ranger (rusty or not) and a junkyard 350 and think of it as a learning opportunity. Everyone does something wrong or stupid the first time doing an engine swap. and if you change your mind mid swap you can just either sell the project or scrap it and not loose much money.

Also cross reference any advice you get with at least 3 different sources