cutting radiator support?

[fordtrucknut77]

I have seen many pictures of people cutting the top out of there radiator support when installing a V 8 in a ranger is this needed to get the engine in the hole or whats the deal?

 

[bearsrngr]

With the explorer FEAD you may not have to cut it. I used an F150 FEAD and wanted to use a flex fan so I could keep my A/C condensor in my 86. Without cutting the support I would have to run an electric pusher. At this point I still don't know if it will run cool enough for the A/C but hope to try next summer. Hope this helps

 

[RangerFabWorks]

it depends.



i run a jegs 28x16 rad and didnt have enough room in the front of my engine without cutting the support and setting the rad foward.

i was able to use an electric fan and use it as a puller.

had i installed a short water pump, i could have ran a mechanical fan.

but it all depends on where you set your engine.

 

[fordtrucknut77]

ok so basically the long and short of the story is you cut the rad support for radiator clearance right? I was thinking you had to cut it to get the motor IN the truck

 

[Teddyzee]

Good pics in this thread

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94525

Of the clearance on mine, stock Fox style Mustang 5.0 accessories, stock 4.0 rad placed under the core support.

 

[fordtrucknut77]

ok thanks teddy, how hard was it to hook up the fuel injection and get it running? what did you do for a fuel pump? what about motor mounts? im getting ready to the exact swap (5.0 mustang engine with injection into a ranger) and im just trying to get a game plan. also what about the exhaust did you have to get custom headers?

 

[Teddyzee]

Just do some more reading... It's all on the interweb.

Fox Mustang mounts,

www.fordfuelinjection.com, www.veryuseful.com, http://www.harwoodperformance.bizland.com/ for wiring,


Stock fuel system,

Shelby tri-y headers

There's a detailed build on RPS, link in my sig, also a version 2.0, and the beginnings of this year (version 3).

 

[fordtrucknut77]

ok thanks man, its gonna be a couple months before i can get other things caught up so i can build this thing and the itch is making me ask millions of questions lol

 

[RangerFabWorks]

I cut my core support because it was alot easier to swing my engine in and out wit out it there. It was easier to mod also. Welding it back together was no big deal for me.

 

[Teddyzee]

Oh, I misunderstood the question. I thought you were talking about rad/accessory clearance.

No need to cut the top of the rad support, engine fits easily.

I put mine in with the T5/belhousing attached, no problem at all.

I'm the one sliding the the thin backward with the 2by...

 

[fordmike1]

I stabed my 5.0l in with the 4R70W trans hooked to it and did it all by myself. It can be done you just need to take your time and keep looking at everything to make sure that you dont get hung up on something.

 

[fordtrucknut77]

ok thats cool, so what IS the point of cutting your support in half?

 

[RangerFabWorks]

ok thats cool, so what IS the point of cutting your support in half?

if you dont have a hoist that lifts the engine and trans high enough like mine then its needed.

i had to custom make my brackets and everything. so i had my motor in and out atleast 5 times.

so 5 mins of cutting and half hour of welding is time well spent instead of fighting the engine everytime you take it in and out.

 

[v-8power]

It's just a matter of preference. here is a pic of me pulling the 302 and c-6 out of my 83

Here is a pic of my 90 with the core support removed. It made putting the engine in easier.

 

[Iron Ranger]

I only had to cut the lower corners off my core support (since this was the radiator I had to work with.), and simply stretched out and up the filler cap so that it was the highest point under the hood.