big block v8 in a ranger

[HOT_ROD_CAR]

Sounds like fun!

i have aquired a 79 400 modified and im looking to shoehorn it into a 98 shortbox ranger... if anyone could throw some advice my way id appreciate it

You will have to reinforce the frame. A 400M has enough torque and horsepower to twist the frame if you ever really nail the throttle.

These websites will help... http://jamesduff.com/broncoII/v8conversion.html

http://www.mre-books.com/ranger.html

 

[HOT_ROD_CAR]

This is from the "Technical Library" on this site, under "Ranger V8 Swaps"...

351C - 429 - 460 Engines:

The 429 and 460 can be installed in a Ranger, although this is not a very practical swap. The big blocks length complicates installation and makes clearance in certain areas very tight. The stock Ranger/Bronco II chassis isn't capable of handling the torque of the large displacement motor and this adds to problems. We don't recommend the big block installation for any but the most serious race applications and never in a four-wheel drive.

 

[BigBlockRanger]

psst.

www.bigblockranger.com

 

[BLOODBANE]

I think the guys from MRE(they have a 302 conversion book out) put a 429 in a Ranger. IIRC the had to box the frame, move the firewall and inner fenders. Like the above says "The 429 and 460 can be installed in a Ranger, although this is not a very practical swap. The big blocks length complicates installation and makes clearance in certain areas very tight. The stock Ranger/Bronco II chassis isn't capable of handling the torque of the large displacement motor and this adds to problems. We don't recommend the big block installation for any but the most serious race applications and never in a four-wheel drive."
http://www.mre-books.com/ranger.html

 

[bobbywalter]

this is fawking bullshit.



sure, the 400 is a turd in its own right, but can be easily built to usable power and converted to efi using mostly stock ford parts...especially with the sla chassis..the engine is well proven...


in your chassis the 454 fits with only pan mods, all else stays the same, and they handle it just fine, staying at conservative power levels offers no challenge to the frame on these trucks. though most do a bed mounted radiator setup.. theres a few clevelands mounted in tib chassis running around the detroit area that chose firewall mods, one guy put dakota rack on it to steer and seems to like it. not for me.

naturally if your building a 9 second truck your in for a world of hurt. of course you will have to beef the frame....

i missed where you stated your intentions for the truck...without knowing that theres no way to really make a solid suggestion.

my next engine is the MOTHER OF ALL TURDS....glad i dont have to ask how to install it...


freakin pussies...

 

[bobbywalter]

i have aquired a 79 400 modified and im looking to shoehorn it into a 98 shortbox ranger... if anyone could throw some advice my way id appreciate it

yeah....where i come from they call that using what you got....





run what you brung



if you had i tib/ttb chassis i would suggest trading it for a 302 but you dont....


you got the best chassis for motor swappin...



do it....get it done.

 

[mhughes165]

this is fawking bullshit.



sure, the 400 is a turd in its own right, but can be easily built to usable power and converted to efi using mostly stock ford parts...especially with the sla chassis..the engine is well proven...


in your chassis the 454 fits with only pan mods, all else stays the same, and they handle it just fine, staying at conservative power levels offers no challenge to the frame on these trucks. though most do a bed mounted radiator setup.. theres a few clevelands mounted in tib chassis running around the detroit area that chose firewall mods, one guy put dakota rack on it to steer and seems to like it. not for me.

naturally if your building a 9 second truck your in for a world of hurt. of course you will have to beef the frame....

i missed where you stated your intentions for the truck...without knowing that theres no way to really make a solid suggestion.

my next engine is the MOTHER OF ALL TURDS....glad i dont have to ask how to install it...


freakin pussies...

ive seen more then my handfull of big block trucks, never with stock ttb suspension under them, there is always 2 out at my local spots, ones on 1 tons and the other is on rockwells, both have a big block 460 installed and both HAD to box the frame and apply massive cross bracing as they snapped frames like twigs, the amount of power a big block will make can and will twist a ranger c channel frame, its not about bein a pussie, its about wantin to make sure the truck doesnt fold up like a taco and go down the road like a crab........

and i know for a fact the 400 is a good motor, as ive run it before, but without knwoing his intentions i cant reccomend one way or the other aswell

 

[281Ranger]

sure, the 400 is a turd in its own right, but can be easily built to usable power and converted to efi using mostly stock ford parts...especially with the sla chassis..the engine is well proven...

You can convert a 400 to OBDII EFI with mostly stock Ford parts? What parts are needed?

 

[bobbywalter]

obd1 is easier.


mustang pcm setup with a 460 dizzy and bunged intake, run an elbow on the manifold to a 70 mm tb..


its all stock stuff, only non stock item is drilling/bunging the intake.




with rockwells and huge tires you need to brace the chassis anyway.


in a 2wd you wont need to do shit, till you want traction. you would have to be hooking hard with an insane amount of power to worry about the frame. trucks like that dont drive around much on the street, fuel just isnt that cheap.

 

[281Ranger]

obd1 is easier.

But the person who started this thread had an OBDII truck. An OBDI setup doesn't help him at all.

 

[bobbywalter]

well its a step up from ob none



the 400 is extinct dude.


so hes stuck in a retitle in any event for legality if he is located where inspections will mandate it. and obd1 with cats is eons better then 4bbl and straight pipes. in reality you cant put a v8 in a ranger anyway without retitling it from a federal standpoint.



any efi system on an extinct powerplant is moot for what your inferring.. he needs a 97 up system, or compliance to a 97 up system of equal size...


so running a 454 setup on it would be the cheapest most cost effective solution.


me i would go with the bolt on stuff and get awn with er...