New to rangers , have lots of questions...

[Clean90Gt]

Hello , while I don't have a ranger just yet I'm in the market for one. That being said , I have LOADS of questions... I'm looking at more or less building a 302 powered pre runner. Looking for any tips /tricks any one may have to offer. Are there any kits I should stay away from? Any worth knowing about? While this isn't going to be a race truck I do take full advantage of my cars/trucks when I can so i don't want to cut any corners or skimp out on any thing.

I came really close to buying a ranger spash , last second I turned it down bc I had heard there not a good one for this type of build. Anyone know why that is and for that matter witch years/trucks to look for? My only thing is it has to be 95 or older. Don't have exact specs set out yet but I do know I'm going to use the motor and rear end from my mustang as I'm building new ones for it.

I know this is over kill but as they say , there's no kill like over kill lol.
I've got a nice 306 with eledelbrock heads , f cam , ported tubular gt40 intake , 70mm throttle body , 76mm mas air , 24lbs injectors and a tuned chip for the set up I'll be droping in. Rear end is a 8.8 with 3:73 gears. I'd like to run a built aode in it but most I see have a aod. Why is that? I realise I'll have to get alittle fancy with the gauges , that's fine. Anything I should expect or avoid here?

Any ideals and input would be awsome. I've always wanted to do a build like this , more or less just looking for the truck and alittle bit of tips at this point. Eventually I'll be needing some fiberglass body panels but I want to start with the motor then love travel kit first. Thanks in advance.

 

[LilGreen]

Oooo, ill be watching this when it gets goin....
Not to knowledgeable in the prerunner aspect, but it is gonna go like stink with that built motor

 

[Clean90Gt]

I know my mustang screams with it. Should be interesting to see how it dose in a ranger. It's a beast on top end.

 

[Jraymer360]

I know my mustang screams with it. Should be interesting to see how it dose in a ranger. It's a beast on top end.

the only thing that a splash is , is a stepside bed.
you might have to get crafty with the headers but most of it should be pretty straight forward. there's a bunch of 302 swaps on here so if you track down someone whose done it look in their build thread.

in 95 they re-did the interior as well as a couple other small things.
oh and an explorer rear end would also be another way to go as it's a 31 spline.

couple things in the tech library :
http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/January2011/explorer-v8_95-97_ranger.shtml

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/V8Conversions.shtml

 

[swynx]

Stay ttb?

 

[Clean90Gt]

A explorer rear end may be worth looking in to. Thanks.
Swynx , ttb? You lost me there...

 

[Frank The Tank]

TTB is a non issue. It's a pre-runner not a 4x4

 

[4x4junkie]

TTB = 4WD Twin-Traction-Beam front suspension
TIB = 2WD Twin-I-Beam front suspension.

The Splash stepside bed is fiberglass. Also, the OE suspension on a 2WD Splash is lowered 1.5" (IIRC) from a normal Ranger (4x4 is same as non-Splash Ranger). Other than those (and tires/wheels/paint) I'm not aware of any difference between it and a non-Splash ranger (what parts are different should all be easily swappable with regular Ranger stuff if needed).

Sounds like you got a great plan though.
Welcome to TRS