5.0 swap and SAS "Half-Pint"

[Rooster]

Went back and fixed the pics (I think) and added a couple I had left out before. This update made the site way easier to work with

 

[Rooster]

Making progress. Got the radius arms finished, as well as a radius arm crossmember, so the truck is sitting on four wheels, no jack stands!
Welded on a reinforcement piece where I had notched the frame to clear the transfer case. The trans crossmember, radius arm crossmember, and tcase reinforcement all wound up right next to each other, so that spot on the frame is pretty busy

 

[Rooster]

Made some backward progress as well. I realized that the steering gearbox I'm using was going to hit my AC compressor. I had been using some of the other SAS builds on the site as a guide, but I hadn't realized that the 5.0 compressor is a little lower than it is on a 4.0
So temporarily Im gonna be running no AC. Got a shorter belt (83.7 inches) for the AC delete, will have to find a way to relocate the compressor later.

With the compressor out of the way, I was able to mock up the steering linkage and track bar. I had bought a drop pitman arm, but it looks like its not going to be necessary, so I'm waiting on a new pitman arm to get that finished.

 

[Rooster]

Today I got the rear bumper on. It was made for something other than a ranger, so I had to get creative with brackets, but I think it turned out fine. Also butchered a driveshaft together, just for moving it onto a trailer or around the block. There’s no way its balanced, ill have to get custom driveshafts made later

 

[Jim Oaks]

Hey neighbor!

Truck is coming along pretty good ?

 

[Vikingmetalfab]

Cool project and good progress. I'll be watching this build for sure. Good luck on the build.

 

[Rooster]

Thank y’all! I’ve got some exciting stuff coming, hopefully next weekend ?

 

[Rooster]

Big plans for the future. Found a deal on craigslist for a hot rod explorer. Current parts list: Ford Racing crate motor, Crower 15511 cam, Torque Monster headers w/ dual 3 inch and Flowmaster mufflers, port matched Typhoon intake, 77mm mass air, 30lb injectors, MSD ignition, Holley fuel pump, and an Interceptor transmission. Im sure there is plenty more, I haven't started taking things apart at all.
The owner said the heads started leaking and it got a rod knock, so he parked it and it sat for ten years. So the plan is to pull all the good stuff, fix whatever is wrong with the engine and put it in the Ranger.
Of course, this is all after I finish the SAS. Ill probably drive it around for awhile and enjoy it with the stock 5.0 before doing this swap, I don't wanna take out the engine that I just put in

 

[Rooster]

The best part is it came with a bunch of stickers, because looking cool is everything!

 

[Jim Oaks]

Can't wait

 

[Rooster]

Steering box mount. Cut one inch holes and then welded in 1 inch OD .25 wall DOM tube for the 1/2 inch bolts

 

[Rooster]

Made a steering shaft out of a shaft from a junkyard. I don't have anything supporting it yet, Ill probably make that happen after I get shock hoops done.

 

[Rooster]

Realized I haven't posted any pics of the whole truck recently

 

[TimberMoto]

Can't wait to see the end result on this build.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Looking good. Can't wait to see it all one color someday.