My First Ranger...

[Black P-38]

Yesterday I bought my first Ranger, an '86 2wd 4 cyl. It's a carbed 2.0 5 speed, standard cab short box, Black. Needs ALOT of work but it will be the basis for my 5.0 HO, T-5 "Mini Lightning". I will swap out the fenders, hood etc to change the appearance to the 89-92 style. This thing is SO minimal, no A/C, manual steering, non power brakes so it will be pretty easy to remove the drivetrain and strip the engine compartment clean for the 5.0 install. Since I'll be removing the front end it should be extra easy to remove the 2.0 and re-install the 5.0. ...and so it begins. I'll try to post up some pics of the new addition when it stops raining long enough to snap a few shots.

Mike

Watch for it!!!

 

[177CIOfPureLove]

Hey man, good luck with the project! I have a 351w laying around....i wish i had the money and another truck to put it in...so i am pretty jelous of your project... very nice. I wanted to warn you that the front end off of a Gen II (89-93) might only fit yours with modification, as the frame on those trucks is different in the front, the bumper is bolted directlyto it whereas in a gen 2 it is is held up by brackets, i was looking to do the opposite to my truck when i did the motor swap favoring the old front end, but it was not worth the time or effort. The fenders should be no problem if i remember correctly. you might be able to get away with cutting the closed ends off of the frame and fabbing some steel to make it close. Depending on your skills. What you going to use for the new 5.0 powertrain?

 

[Black P-38]

Thanks!!! It will be one helluva project fo sho, truck needs... everything redone. Luckily my friend and neighbor of 6 years is a top notch body/paint/fabrication specialist so all I have to do is figure out how to PAY for it all!!!
I have a 5.0 HO from an '87 GT, collected most of the pieces to build a shortblock.
I have .030 over KB281 flat top lightweight hypers, Scat 4340 I beam rods with 3/8 ARP bolts, crank is stock unit. Parts are heading to machine shop soon, block is there now.
I have the Explorer timing cover and Ford short water pump too.

Will probably run the Comp Cams XE-264 HR-14 roller, 212/218, .512/.512. lift with 1.6 stainless roller rockers on a pair of AFR 165's, (when I can afford them). I have a 600 cfm EPS or a 625 Road Demon jr, (currently on my '94 5 speed Lightning), that I will mount on a Summit copy of the Weiand Stealth intake. Haven't decided which headers yet but exhaust will be custom duals to the rear bumper, not too loud, nice mellow V-8 sound.

Trans is a World Class T-5 from a '92 GT, stock aluminum bell housing converted to hydraulic. Rear will be Ranger 8.8 with either 3.55 or 3.73 trac loc. Hoping to convert the front to a Mustang II manual rack and pinion IFS, like a "Fatman Fab" unit.

Only things standing in my way currently are TIME, MONEY and LIFE!!! Click on link below to see concept of finished project.

Mike

 

[177CIOfPureLove]

Wow man,that is sick as hell. i like the wheels you shopped on that truck,muchless the Lightning II decal you created, thats a nice touch, i always loved the older lightning trucks.... and being that the trucks are nearly the same vintage makes it even cooler. All that power you will be making, i hope you have some ideas to stiffen that rear, and idk how long a stock 8.8 will thrive under that kind of abuse, but it will surely be a good time while it lasts. But yea, money seems to limit everything. I was going to buy a fox to put my 351w in, but, this year i wanted to put the money into my boat. One day... but hell yea man, good luck wth the project. i cant wait to hear of the progress.

 

[twitch]

you would love my ranger for your project it is 1990 2.3 with nothing but a heater everything is manual like everything and it only has 85000 thousand and im the second owner i love it and cant wait to get a hold of money and a 5.0

 

[garyl]

NICE if you haven't picked a hood yet you might wanna usbody.com tey got some sweet hoods