4.0 or 2.3 4x4 build ?

[xuout1]

Picked up a 1994 explore for $400 with the auto trans drove it home and was going to cut the top off to make a truck for around the property. Decided maybe to find a ranger and do a body swap or just runing gear swap. Actually found a very rare 1989 short box regular cab 4x4 with a busted stick shift trans with a 2.3 ! Ended up getting it for $500 . Truck is rough but in Oregon there is no rust in 80s vintage cars. Question is do I swap 4.0 explore engine wiring transmission and axles or take the easy way and rebuild the manual transmission and keep the 2.3 just because you never see them. Which way should I go ?

 

[adsm08]

M5OD isn't a hard trans to work on. I'd fix the Ranger and see what you can get from selling the Explorer, or just keep it as a backup.

Normally I'd say 4-cyl 4x4 is too heavy for doing any real work, but if you are just around the property and speed isn't a factor low range makes power a non-issue. Heck my brakes can't even stall my engine in 4-low 1st.

 

[xuout1]

Was thinking the same thing. Now that I have the explore driving good I can get a bit more money out of it to help fund the ranger project. This all started after I sold my old truck and got a new one then finished my restoration on my 76 bronco half cab and realized I had nothing to do rough work with.

 

[Dirtman]

The 2.3 is a great reliable engine. If you dont care about the low power (not that a 94 4.0 is a beast) I say stick with the 2.3 and sell the explorer for beer money.

 

[xuout1]

Part I like about the 2.3 is the engine bay has room. It's a nightmare of tubes and wires under the hood of the explorer.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Cool Ranger.... But that is one sweet ass Bronco!

 

[xuout1]

Hopefully I won't get to carried away with the ranger but it will get a quick restoration and paint. The bronco took me a whole year of going out to my shop every day before work and putting in several hours and weekends. I did a frame off on it and had to replace some floor panels.