6.9l International

[mhuggler]

As you've probably already gathered from the thread title, I am a very disturbed individual for even considering this swap, but I wanna try it. Most of the problems I already have solutions to, except the steering shaft. Even if I offset the engine, it's still in the way. I can fab pretty well; I just have problems visuallizing what it should look like before I start. Any ideas? Oh, and before the chastising begins, I already know this is not a practical swap. It might not even be possible. The 2.2l diesel in there now is getting tired. I'm a diesel junky and I hate being conventional so this is what I came up with.

 

[baddad457]

I guess you like driving overloaded wheel barrows too, huh?

 

[mhuggler]

I guess you like driving overloaded wheel barrows too, huh?

Yup, I'm kinda unique! How bout it, anyone mess with the steering shaft?

 

[bobbywalter]

2wd or 4x4?


if 4x4 run a straight axle and the swap is cake. it will allow you to shitcan the factory engine crossmember.


otherwise you will need to mod the pan firewall and still want to run a 2-3 in bodylift in combination with an outside framerail steering box like from an older f/truck/bronco or toyota, hell even 4x4 dodge/chevy.


even if it is a 2wd or 4x4 and your keeping the ttb/tib i strongly suggest you move the factory k member forward 2-3 inches to offset the weight. this combined with the outside rail box should pretty much get ya going down the road.









let us know when your done.

 

[mhuggler]

She's 2wd. Not sure on the firewall. I work with someone that has a bunch of 6.9's laying around. I'll take a Saturday soon and pull mine out and set the beast in just to see what I'm dealing with. Body lift is already on and the brake booster is off(converted to manual brakes). I'm also planning on modding the heater box like Bigblockranger and fabbing some kind of drop down radius arm bracket. Suspension will be custom rate f150 springs with dual shocks. I'm not familiar with this outside steering box you mentioned. Can you give me some specifics or a link? Should I go with a crossover steering setup while I'm at it? When you say modded firewall, do you mean getting rid of the seam or hacking the whole thing? TIA.

 

[Will]

And all that work for a 170hp, 315ft# engine.

I don't think you'll get it to fit unless you put it in the bed. Back there, your axle is actually strong enough to support it, although it's going to be destroyed. It's not that the 6.9 has much torque, because it doesn't. But as a naturally aspirated diesel has so much unused oxygen in the combustion chamber at any given time they care capable of extreme violence at very low rpms--unlike a gas motor that has to wait for air to accelerate into the chamber.

With the motor in the bed you could cover the bed with one of those tonnuea covers and put the F250 radiator under the hood at an angle like a HMMWV's and use a ProStock hood scoop--of louvre the hood. And that will also give you room to install a turbo. No way a turbo is going on that deisel because the Ford kits put the turbo on the back of the engine. It would be about where your radio is. You could light cigars off of it.

Maybe with the engine in the bed you can flip the exhaust manifolds so they point toward the cab. That would make it easy to mount stacks.

I would give the engine in the bed a decent chance of success. I would give the engine under the hood a zero chance of success. You'll butcher and hack that thing until it's in the scrap yard. The oil pan most likely isn't going to fit with the crossmember under it. Your 2wd will be gone because it needs to hang off of that exact crossmember. You've got no place for a radiator--and that motor needs a big radiator--measure one in an F250 that has that motor and then take the tape to your core support. If you get the engine out of there, no problem.

Put the power brakes back on. The manual brakes only came on the wimpiest of Rangers. They are not legal for manufacturers to install on vehicles over a certain GVWR. You certainly will want them when you have 1,000# heavier truck.

 

[Psychopete]

I don't think you'll get it to fit unless you put it in the bed.

What would be the point? It would make a pretty useless truck, that's for sure.

Pete

 

[racsan]

that motor is very heavy and doesnt really have alot of horsepower behind it. tourque, yes but a 302 would be a better swap choice. we had a '86 F250 with that motor and it was a 2wd. it would get stuck on a level grass surface that was wet. way too much weight up front and not enough in the rear. it was a tire-burner on pavement but a dissapointment as a farm truck. twice we had the transmission shifter come apart and go into reverse when shifting from 2nd to 3rd. (creeper 1st 4-speed manual) we ended up trading it at 12,000 miles for a new bronco ('89 302 4-speed manual) a cummins 4bt would be a better diesel choice for the ranger chassis. and i would go with a 4wd unless you never leave the highway or see snow.

 

[Will]

What would be the point? It would make a pretty useless truck, that's for sure.

Pete

You are suggesting that putting a school bus engine in the front of a little Ranger will make it a useful truck?

I don't think use is the point of this. Putting it in the back is much easier.

We've seen a thousand pipe dreams on here.

A Cummins 4BT required a new crossmember as well.

 

[Psychopete]

You are suggesting that putting a school bus engine in the front of a little Ranger will make it a useful truck?

Hell no.

Obviously a truck with an engine in the front is going to be more useful than a truck with in the engine in the back, regardless of what's under the hood.

What other "use" would there be, besides as a truck? He's definitely not going to win races. Putting the engine in the back is just going to make it even more useless than it is, but comparitively putting it in the front would be more useful than putting it in the back. (and I say that so I don't get words put into my mouth again)

Pete

 

[Will]

Except in my opinion it will never run again unless it goes in the back.

 

[mhuggler]

Whoa fellas! I think we're getting off track here. I'm just looking for info on steering shaft solutions.

 

[bobbywalter]

well. i will have to say.

your most definatly wrong about that Will


the engine will fit and work in the ranger. if it came in a 3/4 ton or 1/2 ton it can be adapted to a ranger. a major pia...certainly.


though to minimize mods with a 2wd a late model chassis would be what i would use. these facilate big block use like they were born for bigblocks.



you can get all the bracketry and steering from a dodge/chevy early style leaf truck, toy ifs truck, or big fords with the outside of the rail steering box. say a 78 f150 4x4/bronco.


if you plan to keep the tib, i would suggest also to use a custom hydro swingset setup for steering to further the insanity.


i guess perspective has alot to do with it. a ranger is just a simple lil hotrod chassis to me.


sky is the limit. only thing i have not see is a real hemi in one yet. and i am sure there are many around.

 

[Will]

well. i will have to say.

your most definatly wrong about that Will

I'm sure you could put it in.

Most of the time people hack their truck up past the point where they can't go back, and can't go forward, and we never hear about how it all came out.

Put it in the bed and you'll be popping wheelies in a couple weekends even if the radiator is zip-tied to a lightbar and the fuel's coming out of a milk jug.

 

[BigBlockRanger]

I used an Aerostar shaft, but it certainly was not a bolt-in solution. If I were to do it again, and I may, I will judt buy the joints and make up my own shaft.

BTW, cool swap. I like out of the ordinary stuff!