engine swap in 1984 ford ranger

[ThatRanger00]

Hey, y'all. I got a 1984 ford ranger. lets say..... theoretically I wanted to put a big block 454 in it......... would that be possible in a million years at all? or would I be better off 305 or LS swapping it?

 

[2011Supercab]

Depending on your fabricating skills, almost anything is possible.

 

[Brain75]

with enough money and a welder and cutting torch anything is possible.
FWIW, I think I saw a thread where a guy started swapping in a small block 400, no room for steering box, etc - thread just died... a big block 400 no go without stretching the fenders/frame the whole front end a few inches a big block 454 that's a fantasy.

 

[Brain75]

302 is the most common, and in the tech library you will find enough help there to actually finish a 302. LS ...well there is someone active in one right now. Don't know how many finished one, or if there is enough info to not be out on a limb and up a creek when you get half way there.

 

[ThatRanger00]

with enough money and a welder and cutting torch anything is possible.
FWIW, I think I saw a thread where a guy started swapping in a small block 400, no room for steering box, etc - thread just died... a big block 400 no go without stretching the fenders/frame the whole front end a few inches a big block 454 that's a fantasy.

would it be possible for a 305 or a gen 3 - 4.8 or 5.3 LS?

 

[Rangerrunner95]

mine currently has a gen 4 5.3 LS in it. it definitely takes some fab work, but not too hard. the hardest part was getting the steering shaft to fit around the headers using u-joints and heim joints (as I wanted to keep the headers on the inside of the frame). the mounts did get more gussets on them, the pics were just as i was going along. so far, I've had just over a year of run time since the swap

 

[ThatRanger00]

mine currently has a gen 4 5.3 LS in it. it definitely takes some fab work, but not too hard. the hardest part was getting the steering shaft to fit around the headers using u-joints and heim joints (as I wanted to keep the headers on the inside of the frame). the mounts did get more gussets on them, the pics were just as i was going along. so far, I've had just over a year of run time since the swap

you got a running video of this thing. i think this is awesome

 

[Rangerrunner95]

Here’s a quick walk around, from after the swap.

 

[ThatRanger00]

Here’s a quick walk around, from after the swap.

Man thats frickin sweet. How long did it take you and how hard was it?

 

[Rangerrunner95]

It took me right about 4 months of weekends and occasional few hours after work. It really wasn’t to hard. The LS is a pretty compact and narrow engine so it fits in tight places well. This was my 6th LS swap so I have some experience with them. Definitely easily doable for someone with some sort of fabrication experience. In my case I had to get rid of the AC hvac box on the firewall and am going with a non AC hvac box to retain heat for the cold fall months