Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and I have a 1999 Ford Ranger ExCab 4.0L 5-spd 4x4. It currently has about 226xxx miles on it or so. At this point it is still running good and strong, but I know that eventually I am going to have to start spending some money and replace a few things. So I have decided that before it all goes out, I would like to have a game plan and start aquiring some parts.
Once the engine goes out, I want to swap it out for a V8. I am thinking either a 5.0L out of an explorer or possibly a 4.6L. I have read through the tech articles about this a know the 5.0L is an easier swap, but I do like how the 4.6L performs. I want to keep the a manual transmission behind the which ever V8 I go with. Can I keep the stock tranmission behind either of those, or do I need to get a different transmission? Same questions goes for the transfer case.
Another thing that I am wanting to do is work on the axles. I am starting to get a very slight clunking noise from the rear at times. I am going to take the driveline apart and grease the slip yoke this weekend, but I know that the rear end is going to need work in the future. Current gear ratio is 3.73 and current tires are LT235/85R16E (stock tires were P245/75R16). I am not sure at this time yet if I will be going with any bigger tires. I am happy with this while it is going straight, but going up hills, even at freeway speeds, it lacks. It also lacks pulling. I am probably going to have to do the axles before the engine. Should I keep the 3.73 knowing I am planning on a V8, or swap down to a 4.11? Eventually I plan on getting a 16 to 20 foot boat that will be pulled by this Ranger.
I would like to do a 2-4 inch lift eventually as well. Would it be better to stay with the stock front axle, or do a SAS? The most this will see offroad is mild to occassional medium. Mostly powerline roads (which are quite rough) and occassionaly mud play. I like the idea of the SAS, but it sure looks like quite a hassle with the rack and pinion steering setup.
Other plans are to do all the body mount bushings, possible disk brake conversion on the rear, home made front and rear bumpers, winch in front, and bedliner in the bed and lower 6 inches or so down the sides and fender flares.
Well sorry this is so long. I just want to get things figured out so that I can start aquiring parts so that things do not cost so much to do in one lump sum. Thanks for all your patience.
Ray
Once the engine goes out, I want to swap it out for a V8. I am thinking either a 5.0L out of an explorer or possibly a 4.6L. I have read through the tech articles about this a know the 5.0L is an easier swap, but I do like how the 4.6L performs. I want to keep the a manual transmission behind the which ever V8 I go with. Can I keep the stock tranmission behind either of those, or do I need to get a different transmission? Same questions goes for the transfer case.
Another thing that I am wanting to do is work on the axles. I am starting to get a very slight clunking noise from the rear at times. I am going to take the driveline apart and grease the slip yoke this weekend, but I know that the rear end is going to need work in the future. Current gear ratio is 3.73 and current tires are LT235/85R16E (stock tires were P245/75R16). I am not sure at this time yet if I will be going with any bigger tires. I am happy with this while it is going straight, but going up hills, even at freeway speeds, it lacks. It also lacks pulling. I am probably going to have to do the axles before the engine. Should I keep the 3.73 knowing I am planning on a V8, or swap down to a 4.11? Eventually I plan on getting a 16 to 20 foot boat that will be pulled by this Ranger.
I would like to do a 2-4 inch lift eventually as well. Would it be better to stay with the stock front axle, or do a SAS? The most this will see offroad is mild to occassional medium. Mostly powerline roads (which are quite rough) and occassionaly mud play. I like the idea of the SAS, but it sure looks like quite a hassle with the rack and pinion steering setup.
Other plans are to do all the body mount bushings, possible disk brake conversion on the rear, home made front and rear bumpers, winch in front, and bedliner in the bed and lower 6 inches or so down the sides and fender flares.
Well sorry this is so long. I just want to get things figured out so that I can start aquiring parts so that things do not cost so much to do in one lump sum. Thanks for all your patience.
Ray
