460 in a 93 ranger based 4x4

[rckcrwlr85]

ok, so i hope not too many people on here think this is a bad idea but...

im building a fourhweeling rig that i would like to base around a 93 ford ranger. im plannin on running a dana 60 frnt, 14bolt rear. both fourlinki\ed with air shocks. this rig by no means is going to drivin on the street. bascially strictly fourwheeling.

i have a 460 based 514ci motor i built a few years back that i would like to power my trail rig. its mated to a np435 4sp and 205 case.

im really hoping some people on here can give me some advice/ tips on doing this swap. i want to keep the vehicle a manual trans as well. any help would be great! thanks!!

 

[rckcrwlr85]

somehing im really curious about is the clutch linkage... the bellhouseing i have now is a 70's model housing, that uses the manual clutch linkage. i know the ranger uses a hydraulic set up using a slave cylinder. would this be as simple as jus gettin a newer style bellhousing that uses a slave cylinder? and ideas on motor mounts???

 

[superman22x]

When the database errors at RPS stop, there is someone there that did a 460 bases 545 swap. It took a lot of work if I am not mistaken. I don't see that as being the best trail rig engine. Really heavy and big. Wouldn't a smaller V8 be much better?

 

[Gotta_gofast]

Thats a really nice project. My only concern would be too much power and torque for the trails and rock climbing (if you plan on doing that). It's going to be extremely hard to grip the tires without overpowering them.

 

[v-8power]

When the database errors at RPS stop, there is someone there that did a 460 bases 545 swap. It took a lot of work if I am not mistaken. I don't see that as being the best trail rig engine. Really heavy and big. Wouldn't a smaller V8 be much better?

Are you talking about? www.bigblockranger.com

 

[mikepotts]

could be interesting... i would try to find a bellhousing with an EXTERNAL slave, i cant stress EXTERNAL enough!

 

[superman22x]

Are you talking about? www.bigblockranger.com

That's the one. His whole build thread is on RPS though.

 

[rckcrwlr85]

beleive me, i have been trying to deide whether to jsut do a small block or not for a few weeks now. i just have this motor and would prefer not to build another one. as far as too much power, i dont think that would be an issue. im gonna run a doubler transfer ccase setup, so i will have several optins for gearing when on the trail. you would be surprised at how many hardcore fourwheeling rigs i have seen with built big blocks in them. this rig wont be so much just rock crawling, i do mostly trail riding... lot of hill cllimbs and a mud hole here andthere. so the extra power on tap will be nice.

 

[rckcrwlr85]

ya, i saw his build.. very nice. only thing is he did his with an automatic. and im wanting to keep mine a manual