87 Ranger Build

[GilroyRacing]

Just wanted to put a thread together for our ranger build.

My dad and I just picked up a 87 Ford Ranger, 2wd, Reg cab, with a long bed.


Our plans are to build a drag race truck out of it.

So far we have decided to build a 347, C4 Trans, and a 8.8 rear.

Im still trying to figure out what rear housing to get. We picked up a 8.8 housing from a 99 ranger from a friend of mine. I have been reading here and online about swapping in a housing from a explorer.

We went to our local junk yard and looked at a few explorers trying to figure out if they had any available.

We found a 97 explorer that had the springs on top of the rear just like in a ranger, the rest of the explorers had the leafs under the axel.


The motor as mentioned will be a 347, we will be using a stock ford h.o roller block. We will be going carb for ease of install, I picked up a victor jr intake today for it. As far as a carb, we will more then likely be going with a quick fuel 750cfm carb. The heads we plan on using will be Trick Flow Twisted Wedge Aluminum, with 1.6RRs. The cam im thinking about going custom, but if we dont go custom we may end up going with a TFS STG 3 cam or something similar. Crank will be a Scat, Rods will be eagle H beams, and pistons will be Ross TW specific.
The motor will be built by my engine builder, he is a local guy.

Trans will be a C4 as mentioned above. It will be built by a local trans shop.... Reverse Manual Valve Body, JW steel bellhousing, Race Clutches, Race Bands, deep pan, Servo, and roller planets. We will be trying a 3,500 RPM stall at first to see how it works, may end up going higher later.

The rear as mentioned, we are going to go with a 8.8 out of a explorer, that way we can use the 31 spline axels, and rebuild stock T Loc. I ordered a set of 4.30 gears, they should be coming in soon.

I'll try and get some pics of the truck soon, and Ill try and post some pics as the build goes on.

 

[superds]

I'm not much into drag racing or building vehicles for such purpose so excuse my ignorance. Is it common to use a Traction Loc differential for drag racing? I would have thought you would want something with maximum traction, no chance of slippage, like a spool.

That Explorer with the spring over must have been a custom job, it didn't come that way from the factory.

As far as cams, everywhere I've read on the interwebs says to go custom with it, most off the shelf cams aren't worth a thing.

Good luck with the build, looks like fun!

 

[GilroyRacing]

No apologies needed.
The reason for a posi is so it will be street-able as well.
I am ( well was, just broke a axel a few weeks ago) running ranger 5 lug 28 spline axels and a 28 spline mustang posi in my mustang. We rebuild the posi with extra clutch discs. It cut 1.43 60' times and ran 10.80 in the 1/4 at 125.6mph.

A stock posi can and will work.

That explorer looked factory, I'll try and get some pics of it this week.


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[GilroyRacing]

Stopped by the junk yard today and bought a explorer rear, they are suppose to take it out tomorrow.


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[Teddyzee]

If it's a '95+ explorer, it will be 4.5" wider than your '87 rear...
Also, the driveshaft flange will be different (larger bolt pattern) than your stock one.

A Trac Lok rebuilt clutch/steel/clutch/steel etc. can be very tight. Mine is rebuilt this way, with the extra disc, and will not turn one tire, even with one side of the truck in the air. (on a jack, of course)

 

[GilroyRacing]

Bought a block last night for it


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[adsm08]

If you found an Explorer with the springs over the axle I'd crack the cover off, pull an axle out, and start counting, just to be sure.

 

[GilroyRacing]

That one was gone when I went there to buy one. I ended up getting one with 31 spline axels, posi, rear discs and 4.10 gears.


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