94 302 swap started

[scrapper]

Its going to be slow going but I started it. I just dropped the drive shaft for u joints/ change out the yoke and c-4 off at the trans shop to rebuild it. The engine is done but the top end is not installed. I pulled the 2.3 out and the drivers side motor mount fell apart. I cracked the electrical box in the engine compartment. I had bought a older engine lift. It didnt look good for getting high enough had to add some jack oil to get it out. It was impossible to push it in the rocks and mud, real small rollers. I'm going to try to get rid of the rust. I will have to find someone that has a larger sandblaster or soda blaster. Right now I can only do about an hour a day because I had a stroke and I am tired all the time. It feels good to wrench but man do I hurt at the end of the day. Right now I have the engine and tranny out.

 

[scrapper]

more

 

[scrapper]

as it is now

 

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more

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Find some 3/4" plywood to roll the lift on.

 

[19Walt93]

And some jack stands, if the truck falls on you it'll ruin your day.
There's info here about reshaping the heater box for clearance, my 93 came with no heater box so I kept the flat firewall and installed a Vintage Air kit instead but it wasn't cheap. Here's a picture of my 351 in the bare engine bay.

 

[scrapper]

I'm hoping I won't have to take the tires off.lol never know though.

 

[scrapper]

And some jack stands, if the truck falls on you it'll ruin your day.
There's info here about reshaping the heater box for clearance, my 93 came with no heater box so I kept the flat firewall and installed a Vintage Air kit instead but it wasn't cheap. Here's a picture of my 351 in the bare engine bay.

It did not come with air but it's going to have some. I added the evaporator blower box.I have everything to have air in the dash. I'm hoping it will go without to much trouble. I may take the radiator support and grill out to put the 302 in with the tranny attached. I replaced the support awhile back the rust came back. I'm going to pull the fenders and all the crap on the firewall. It's a 157 tooth tranny so hopefully it will fit good without beating the firewall lip down.

 

[19Walt93]

I ended up hollowing out the core support and locating the radiator inside it because I used Fox Mustang brackets and pulleys with a flex fan. The radiator cap lives in a cutout window I built into the core support.

 

[scrapper]

Got the tranny back from rebuild shop. Guess I better get started. It snowed today .lol

 

[scrapper]

Not much progress. I tried sand blasting the engine compartment in the frame. I'm thinking Just going to hit it with a wire wheel and rust converter. I painted the tranny and one head. The heads are mounted but not the intake.
I'm hoping to be done with the engine tomorrow. will have to clean the power steering pump bracket and demount the pump.I will try to paint the water pump pulley and crank pulley. going to go black. I suck at painting.It will look good for a little bit though.

 

[scrapper]

Havent done a lot. Started removing tranny mounts got one side off. Been adding stuff to the engine. Got heads, intake, and distributor installed, Got engine mounts installed. I removed some stuff from the engine compartment.

 

[scrapper]

Waiting on a 3g alternator and a wiring plug in the mail. Should work out great

 

[rjaaaaaa2]

Great start, I'm redoing my 2001 ranger and I know what you mean about being tired at the end of the day. My issue is I'm 71 yrs old.
I put a 4.6 with aod in the truck with radiator support in place using an over head ratchet come along by my self (a couple times). It went in pretty easy actually. I had to lose my ac but still kept my heat.
Clean the engine bay as best you can with the engine out, it's time well spent.
motor looks nice, I'll be checking in periodically.

 

[scrapper]

Well, good and bad. it's in but bent up the radiator support. I guess that happens when you buy a really old 40. engine hoist.sits lower than I thought seems like there's more room than when the 2.3 was in there