My 83 306/C4 Ranger Build

[frank91lx]

My 91 306/C4 Ranger Build

I have been wanting to put a 302 in a Ranger for many years now. I had this Ranger when I moved to Hawaii in 2003. It was a 2.3 Turbo 5 speed truck that sat for 3 years in a friends garage. I drove it for a while when I moved back to Washington in 2006 until I bought my F150.

After I bought the F150 I sold it to a friend who wanted the engine to put in a SVO that he was restoring. After he pulled the engine he parked it behind his shop where it sat for a few months until he decided he wanted to sell it. After so discussion about the price I gave him a $100 for it.

I had been collecting parts for a while. The engine is a rebuilt 302 bored .030 with GT40 heads and a "mild" cam, performer intake and edelbrock 600 carb. I have Hedman swap headers and explorer mounts ready for it. The Tranny is a fresh C4 with shift kit and 2800 stall and B&M Star Shifter.

I have an 8.8 out of an 97 ranger with 3.55 gears for it also. The truck already has bucket seats from before. I had also bought new carpet just before I sold it.

I have been picking up gauges off of ebay and other websites and just finished the instrument panel for it last weekend.

I am hoping to have the engine put together and in the truck next soon.

Here are a few pics.

The truck.

The instrument panel with Ultra-lite gauges.

 

[traildevil67]

Very nice panel.

 

[frank91lx]

Here are some pics of the engine build.

 

[dusto2]

i like that man looks sic, i like the black and red valve covers

 

[bombsquad]

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTT, good luck put pics when done!

 

[Dangeranger3]

that panel does look very clean, but I want to see that shiny new engine stuffed in the engine bay

 

[frank91lx]

It is going to be a few months before it goes in the truck. I have to clean up the engine bay and paint it before it goes in. I also have a 91 mustang that I am putting back together.

 

[frank91lx]

Project has taken a slight turn. Picked up an 88 ECSB Ranger of craigslist for a wonderful price of $80. Already has the engine/trans pulled. needs a little interior TLC but should turn out good. This is the only pic I have for now. It is the picture from the craigslist ad so it is kinda small.

 

[frank91lx]

Another change in plans. The 88 has some body damage in the passenger side of the bed and the previous owner cut the dash wiring harness out of it. So in my search for a bedside and other parts. I came across a complete 91 ECSB. Ended up getting it cheaper than what a bed would have cost me. This one also has a better interior.

So this is what the 306/C4 will go in.

Anyone need any parts for an 88 Ranger.

 

[dogboy]

Are you just going to go for the sleeper look, or will the body be seeing changes?

Looks like a good project!

 

[frank91lx]

Sorry I have not updated in a while. Between work and remodeling the Kitchen, livingroom and dinningroom of my house I have had zero time. The remodel is done so now it is time to get to work on the truck. I have the wiring harness and everything out of the way, I just need a nice day to pull the 3.0 and trans out.

Here are some pictures of what I came up with for gauges.

I am going to put the tach in its own mount on the dash somewhere.

 

[Sunk]

Nice, I'm liking this project! I'm from Bainbridge originally, not too far from ya.

 

[TS6034]

Hey, did your valve covers come with the red on them? Or did you paint them?

 

[frank91lx]

I bought the valve covers off ebay. They were painted by the person I bought them from.

 

[JoshT]

Do you still have the gauge panel you made for the 88? If so I'd like to see more pics of how you cut it for the gauges. Just a good pic of the back side will do fine.