engine crossmembers 83-92

[svtcards]

hi y'all.love the sight getting a lot of useful info.i just need a tad more info.i was wondering if anyone out there knows if all the engine crossmembers are all the same in the 2wd and 4wd rangers in all engine sizes in 83-92?i know the 2.9l an the 4.0l motor mounts are the same.but will a 1991 4x4 ranger with a 4.0l bolt right up to a 1987 2wd with a 2.3l engines crossmember?i hope someone out there could answer this question to give me peace of mind.thank u.

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

hi y'all.love the sight getting a lot of useful info.i just need a tad more info.i was wondering if anyone out there knows if all the engine crossmembers are all the same in the 2wd and 4wd rangers in all engine sizes in 83-92?i know the 2.9l an the 4.0l motor mounts are the same.but will a 1991 4x4 ranger with a 4.0l bolt right up to a 1987 2wd with a 2.3l engines crossmember?i hope someone out there could answer this question to give me peace of mind.thank u.

no. the 4x4 ones have a different passenger beam pivot location and mount

 

[adsm08]

I think the answer to the question you wanted to ask is yes, what you are doing will work. I also think you are asking the question wrong.

As Jolene said, the cross members are different for the axle mounting on the under side, and the size and shape of the U is slightly different. A 4x4 doesn't go as low, but it is wider front to back. As far as how the engine sits on them, they are pretty much all the same. I think the 2.3L is a little different, because it is the narrowest engine used, but I believe all the correct holes are there to bolt the correct mounts to it.

 

[svtcards]

no. the 4x4 ones have a different passenger beam pivot location and mount. so do I need 2wd mounts instead of the 4x4 ones?or do I need to change my 87 crossmember all together?what do u suggest I do to get 4.0l to fit in my 2wd 1987 ranger with the 2.3l?

 

[adsm08]

Go buy the 2.9L mounts most appropriate to the truck you want to put this engine in. Use those.

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

Autofab.com sells fabricated polyurethane bolt in engine mounts for almost all application/motor combos


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[svtcards]

Autofab.com sells fabricated polyurethane bolt in engine mounts for almost all application/motor combos


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thank u guys for all the responses.sorry I miss understood what u meant about the pivot angle thing.not much of a 4x4 guy so termaknowlogy im not to good with.

 

[svtcards]

Go buy the 2.9L mounts most appropriate to the truck you want to put this engine in. Use those.

makes sense.thank u for the peace of mind answers?i will buy them asap.

 

[adsm08]

thank u guys for all the responses.sorry I miss understood what u meant about the pivot angle thing.not much of a 4x4 guy so termaknowlogy im not to good with.

That pivot bracket isn't a 4x4 specific part. It is used on both the 2wd and 4x4 versions of Fords twin I-beam front ends. It is just located and angled differently between the 2wd and 4x4.

 

[AdirondackRanger]

I did the 4x4 conversion on a 88 2wd extanded cab. I removed the engine crossmember/cradle from a donor front frame section. I ground down the factory rivet heads (then pounded the remainder out). Then used a long blade sawzall to cut along the factory weld that holds the crossmember inside the frame rail. The 4x4 engine cradle is wider from front to back. The 2wd frame had the rivet holes in it from the factory. Grade 8 bolts and lock washers replaced the rivets. So alignment was not an issue. The cab and box was off the frame. So it was relatively easy to do this swap. I removed the bolt in crossmember at the front of the frame and was able to spread the rails apart enough for it to fit. I'm sure it could be done with the cab on the frame... but the front body mounts will need to be unbolted.

 

[benbristow]

I am hoping some of you are still watching this thread. What if I wanted to swap a 4.0 out of a explorer into my 87 ranger 2.3 2wd 5 speed? From I am understanding from this site is it should all bolt up. Am I wrong?

Any help would be great and I did not mean to hijack this thread.