donor truck questions, v8 swap

[joshtako]

So I've wanted for years to swap a v8 into my 86 2.9l 5 speed ranger. and i think i've finally happened upon a quality donor truck for this.

Its a 91 f150 that was rolled, with a 302, 5 speed, 4wd. so this should have pretty much all of the main drivetrain components i would need, right? and it would have a wiring harness.

is there anything big here that im not really seeing? or that would make this not quite work? any advice or comments would be appreciated

 

[RonD]

F150 302 intake won't fit under the hood of a Ranger, it sticks up probably 10" above distributor cap
'91 trans has the shifter about 6" farther forward than ranger so it will hit the dash, but you can custom bend the shifter and of course cut a new hole.

Since a lot of the engine wiring is on the intake, not sure what the best swap would be for that, explorer intake would fit but wiring probably wouldn't match up.
Since it is a manual trans and distributor spark, a carb setup would be an option but IMO not a great choice, so no computer needed

 

[joshtako]

F150 302 intake won't fit under the hood of a Ranger, it sticks up probably 10" above distributor cap
'91 trans has the shifter about 6" farther forward than ranger so it will hit the dash, but you can custom bend the shifter and of course cut a new hole.

Since a lot of the engine wiring is on the intake, not sure what the best swap would be for that, explorer intake would fit but wiring probably wouldn't match up.
Since it is a manual trans and distributor spark, a carb setup would be an option but IMO not a great choice, so no computer needed

is there any way to make the intake fit? such as some body lift? or is there just too much to overcome in this way? the shifter issue sounds workable though.

 

[RonD]

Have a look here: http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Fall2009/explorer_v8_swap.shtml

In the second picture you see the 302(5.0l) in the explorer, intake is same height as distributor, throttle linkage adds a 2" as the highest spot
That's the way it will sit in Ranger without body lift.

Farther down you will see that engine installed in a Ranger with 3" body lift.

There is some room at the top, but is it enough for a '91 302 intake???
Don't know, you would need to measure actual height of complete intake

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

is there any way to make the intake fit? such as some body lift? or is there just too much to overcome in this way? the shifter issue sounds workable though.

I paid $60 for an Explorer intake with the TB at U Pull It.

They are a cast aluminum version of a Cobra intake and flow about as good as anything out there. I don't have a home for it but it was in perfect shape, the right year (as far as EGR goes for older EFI systems) and already pulled and laying on the ground... too good to pass up.

With a body lift and a heck of a cowl induction hood you might clear your F-150 intake... they were hardly a barn burning engine in a F-150 though.

You can make your shifter hole bigger, I know guys that have done it but having a hole from the firewall to the front of the seat has to weaken the cab.