4 liter

[ranger_mclaren]

i don't thank this belongs in the general discussions but oh well i was thanking about swaping in a 4.0 insted of a 5.0 the 302s are hard to find but cheap around here, and 4.0 liters grow on trees and are also cheap and come more complet. the 302 needs several things to make the swap successful i been looking to see what all i need not counting motor i need about $3-$4,000.00 worth of other parts, how hard is it to put in the 4.0 insted i currently have a 2.3 in a first gen. and its 4 wheel drive.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you are comparing against a EFI 5.0 you would pretty much need the same stuff (complete harness, computer, engine, transmission...)

A carbed or TBI 302 would by far be the cheapest/easiest.

 

[metalmacguyver]

I would be partial to a Turbo conversion on your 2.3.


2.3T 4x4 rangers are awesome.....

 

[AllanD]

Yes there is still a lot of stuff that must be changed to put a 4.0 into
an earlier ranger

I know this because this time last year I was finishing up converting my '87 to a 4.0 (from a 2.9)

HOWEVER as comared to a 5.0? even a carb'ed 5.0 the 4.0 is EASY.

How can I say this? because you essentially get to do the ENTIRE job
with factory parts.

Motor mounts, exhaust, accessory brackets etc are all stock pieces.

Granted knowing WHICH factory pieces you need is most of the mechanical
battle, but in essence the wiring work while tedious isn't particularly difficult
IF you have the proper documentation.

If you don't have the proper documentation and you undertake an engine swap you gotta be nutz.

AD

 

[Hahnsb2]

Even in a 1st gen ranger the wire splicing needed for the 4.0 is minor. The motor drops in, tranny mounts line up, 88+ exhaust bolts to y-pipe, fuel lines is the tricky part.

 

[AllanD]

How "minor" depends on what year 4.0 you are attempting to install and how much of the ancillary wiring you are trying to install with it.

In my case I was installing a '93 4.0 engine WITH the 1993 "power distribution"
(If you've ever studied the power distribution on a gen 1 you'd be convinced
that someone at ford had a company financed hash pipe)

The biggest part of my install was eliminating the 4-wheel ABS wiring
that I wasn't going to use (Besides I wanted to use those two relay
sockets for my fog and driving lamps)

AD

 

[Boggin]

if your gonna go 5.0, ask Dishtowel, he done a 5.0 on a first gen

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

HOWEVER as comared to a 5.0? even a carb'ed 5.0 the 4.0 is EASY.

How can I say this? because you essentially get to do the ENTIRE job
with factory parts.

You can do a V-8 with factory parts... but they are a mix and match from different vehicles.

 

[rickcdewitt]

You can do a V-8 with factory parts... but they are a mix and match from different vehicles.

and they will probably wind up costing more than a 500-1000$ donor explorer

 

[Hahnsb2]

How "minor" depends on what year 4.0 you are attempting to install and how much of the ancillary wiring you are trying to install with it.

In my case I was installing a '93 4.0 engine WITH the 1993 "power distribution"
(If you've ever studied the power distribution on a gen 1 you'd be convinced
that someone at ford had a company financed hash pipe)

The biggest part of my install was eliminating the 4-wheel ABS wiring
that I wasn't going to use (Besides I wanted to use those two relay
sockets for my fog and driving lamps)

AD

I used my original B2 wiring and just changed engine harnesses and spliced together everything. Probably would have been better to change everything but it's a lot of extra work.

 

[ranger_mclaren]

You can do a V-8 with factory parts... but they are a mix and match from different vehicles.

yea i was looking at jamesduff.com they just about everything to do a v8 swap. but i 've heard from other people that its better to get a starter from a crown vic insted if a truck because there smaller and will fit easier, but its better to get this and that from a truck and so on. so i was really thanking about doing a turbo set up as well but i'd like to have alot of aftermareket support as well so i wanted a 5.0 or 4.0 but i thank i'm leaning more toward the 4 liter now.

 

[AllanD]

Including the cost of my explorer I figuire I have <$800 into the conversion.

That INCLUDES converting my truck from 2wd to 4x4
(crossmember swap) and I didn't actually
use any of the front end parts from the donor explorer,
as I wanted the two piston brakes from a 95-97 TTB Ranger.

It also includes a 1998 4.0 4x4 trans that I have not installed yet
(I'm running a "wide ratio" 2.9 trans)

AD

 

[AgPete139]

Allan, can I take a guess at what your 87s name is? By any chance, is it Frankentruck?



Pete

 

[AllanD]

I've never actually bothered to officially name it.

Though I have been caught calling it "old grey"

Kinda like my cat which until he was hit by a car last weekend
answered to the name "Cat".

I don't need a "new" truck, none of the parts on my truck are old
enough to worry about.

I DO need a new cat however.

the ideal candidate is a Yellow Tiger, preferably a Manx Yellow Tiger
and only Toms need apply.


AD

 

[Ranger44]

I think that a 4.0 swap would be your best bet.