New member from Louisiana

[Chuckie25]

Hey y'all my names Cj and I've been a mini-truck addict since last summer.

That's the first step right? Admitting your problem? LOL

Arite. A little about my MONSTER rig!!

1992 Ford Ranger XLT (either XLT or XLS I don't feel like walking out right now to check the badge).

92 block EFI 2.3/2300. Fixing to go with the 350sbc rod swap and an Esslinger cam kit. When I find an intake for the 8-plug head ima go to a distributed and carb just to get rid of all the wiring.

Thinking of selling my 79 Dodge Power Wagon to fund this thing (or I may have found a Datsun 240Z to trade it for. Y'all help me decide on this part please).

Mods as of RIGHT NOW: (this is a HUGE and TECHNICAL list so get your thinkin caps on boys and hold on to your boxers!)

Intake torpedo/silencer removed
Hose from valve cover/intake removed (breather put on the valve cover and nipple blocked off on intake)
Rear main seal leak (it's sweatin' horsepower!)
Clutch worn half-slap out.
Interior STRIPPED of all carpet and headliner
Added a tach
No radio (who needs a radio when you have all that HUGE power to listen to!!!)
Super trick custom paint job (dark blue cab, metallic green bed. Spray bombed baby blue with paint peeling back from the insane acceleration. So it's got some Krylon True Blue spray bombed areas as well)
Exhaust cut off, cherry bomb welded on but the MASSIVE torque busted the welds so the exhaust kinda just flops around. I call it 'custom tuning'

http://youtu.be/eaRnzU1ecEs


Ok seriously. Seriously.

Truck looks like shiz, leaks erl, clutch going out, has no huevos, but it gets 25mpg around town. 5-speed of course (whoop whoop!).

As soon as I either save the money up (or sell the Dodge) I'm gunna buy a clutch kit, Esslinger cam kit (with the oversized valves) and pull the engine to swap in a set of 350sbc X rods we have laying around (Mom built the engines Dad ran in the sprint cars so I have a nice stash of aftermarket rods to choose from) and go ahead and replace the front and rear main seals. And put a new clutch behind it as well. Gunna be about $2000 worth of parts, seals and gaskets I figure. Probably less but I like to have a cushion. Oh and I'll probably re-ring it while it's all apart as well.

Here's my first question: Will the X rods I have laying around work? What all goes into the 350 rod swap? I've heard it's just a direct bolt in and go? Will I need to go ahead and get a set of the ARP rod bolts for them?
Does ARP offer a bolt/stud kit for the 2.3's?

Ok. Sorry it's so long and random. I'm half asleep and still got crap to do before I can crash.

Thanks for looking! This place seems pretty cool!


Ain't no thang but a Goat thing

 

[Chuckie25]

My Bronco I traded for the Ranger

And the Ranger with one of my other toys in the bed

Ain't no thang but a Goat thing

 

[XLTsplash]

Your Ranger looks like a nice project, As for 2.3L parts and information look here http://www.racerwalsh.zoovy.com/

 

[Chuckie25]

After doing some researching and all. I think I'm going to just build a Folvo.

I found an 83 NA Fox body that the dude said if I find him a 302 I can have the 2.3 out of (27,000 miles) and I found out my uncle has an SVO Fox sitting and rotting away with the turbo 2.3 in it. So I'm going to try and get my uncles car and that NA 2.3 and build a ranger and a fox. Should be fun.


Ain't no thang but a Goat thing

 

[Chuckie25]

Needs moar low...

What year explorer do I need for the axle-over-leaf and disk brake conversion?


Ain't no thang but a Goat thing

 

[SenorNoob]

95 - (I think) 01. If it's too new you'll know immediately after looking under it. It won't even have a solid axle. Those do have an aluminum differential cover that can be made to fit the earlier axles though if that is your thing. Basically just chop the "arms" off of it.

 

[Chuckie25]

Sweet! Thanks man! I think I know where a 96 is sitting at.

I'll need to run the Explorer master cylinder/splitter too right? I heard somewhere that if you put disks on a drum vehicle then you'll have too much pressure going to the disks or something like that. Any weight there?


Ain't no thang but a Goat thing

 

[SenorNoob]

I've heard both ways on that and have decided to just find out first hand when my axle goes later this year...

 

[Chuckie25]

Went ahead and bought a new clutch kit, slave cylinder/throw out bearing and rear main seal. This weekends gunna be fun


The explorer didn't have the correct rear end in it. Pretty bummed about that


Ain't no thang but a Goat thing