New guy looking for help with a v8 swap

[Farmer83]

Hi, new guy here. My name is Jason, but I go by Farmer.
I picked up a 97 ranger extended cab 4.0 ohv 5spd this past summer. She runs ok for 220k but lacks power. I have always wanted to do a 302 swap & have been looking for a good solid truck like this for years, no rust at all but she has been used as a truck therefore she has a few minor dings in the bed rails ect.

Anyway, I have a fairly well built 306 with a c4 that I am planning to transplant by this coming spring. I'm looking for advice on headers & exhaust from there back. I have 1 5/8 fox body headers & a 2 1/2 h-pipe to work with. I also have a built 164 tooth c4 [large bell] that I need to find a 157 tooth bell for, along with a 50 oz imbalance 157 tooth flex plate. I have found a 3500 Stahl 26 spline converter that will work with the parts i'm looking for.

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

2wd the old school Shelby style Tri-Y's are hard to beat. They can be made to fit a 164t bellhousing but fit a 157t really nice.

After the headers will have to be custom. You could find a axleback kit and have a shop mesh the headers to the kit.