4bt into a 87 ranger

[1987 4x4]

Hello I have a 87 ranger 2.9 5 speed 4x4

I picked this truck up for $600. It runs and shifts good and the body looks like it just cames off of the lot. This is a second car and I'd like todo a 4bt, 4.0, or maybe even a carbed 302. The carbed 302 sounds pretty strait forward other than the mounting & oil pan, the 4.0 seems the hardest with all the wireing but the easiest to fit in, now the 4bt would just be awesome but I'm a little bit confused on what box truck I need to take the engine & trans out off to have the ford bell housing adapter on and how much wireing and what mounts I need to change. Out of all of these I'd like todo the 4bt swap but I'd like others opinions on which would be the most strait forward todo considering wireing(but I red some 4bts have barely any wiring) right now I'm at a block on what todo.

 

[cody93]

ask yourself this first, what do you plan on doing with the truck? wiring would be the least of your issues with a 4bt swap.
1. 4BT's wiegh alot
2. you will have to replace your fuel system
3. 4BT's will cost more than a good running complete ready to drop in 302 or 4.0, even a used one.

although the 4BT gets good MPG.

wiring a 4.0 in a gen1 ranger has been done so many times now that im sure you'll have no issues finding out how to hook one up.

 

[Snoranger]

Its going to cost almost 10X what you paid for the truck to put a 4bt in it.

Trust me.

 

[1987 4x4]

I'm not gonna be doing anything that I would actually "need" a diesel other than having a pretty sexy ranger but if it's gonna be like 5-6k for that set up I might as well try todo a mild biuld for a 4.0 to get a lil bit more power and I could prob get my buddies off of him (96 with 80k for $200) find a 5speed to bolt to it and finding wiring diagrams shouldn't be too difficult todo the 302 just seems like it's too much for my needs of basicly just crushing with a reliable engine on weekends

 

[cody93]

the 4.0 is a reliable stout engine. power of a 6cyl, with the thirst of a v8.. TBH, id flip a coin between the 4.0 and the 5.0. 4.0 is probly easier overall, but then again, there aint no substitute for a V8. but im different and plan on stuffing a slant 6 in my truck someday..

 

[lost86broncoii]

cody93 are you talking about the mopar 225 slant 6? or the ford 4.9 inline six?

 

[cody93]

yea, the mopar one, its one the few chysler engines with a good reputation. the 4.9 is too long for me to bother with. especially in a 2wd that i dont want to do a bodylift on