Newbie v8 swap

[Newbie_ranger]

Hello everyone,

This is my 1st post, my 1st Ford too! I just picked up a 1993 Ranger reg cab, short box 2wd 4cyl 5 spd. Body & frame mint, motor blown. I need info on a v8 swap project. Please don't be too harsh on me, I'm a diehard Mopar guy but this ranger was too good to pass up.

I wanna go with a 302 carbureted motor , aod trans ( do alot of highway driving) manual steering box. 8.8 posi rear end with 3.73 gears. Alloy rad with electric fans. I'd like to pro street it in the future (9" rear end, tub it out, etc).

Whats the best years of block / tranny's / rear diff's for my build? Keep in mind I only want to run a water pump and alternator on the belt , keep it simple. Same with trans less electronics is better for what I want.

Is this all possible or am I hoping for too much?

For me simple is better

Thanks guys

 

[Kingkoala92]

how much power are you wanting?

 

[gsp]

A 93-97 Ranger 4X4, 4.0 uses an 8.8 that will bolt right in... Thats where I found mine cheap..

 

[STRUCK]

By the sounds of it you want a nice quick cruiser for the street. 87+ ford 302 roller motor would be good(nice heads, cam, intake and carb), if your dead set on an aod get a late 80s early 90s they are vaccum controlled(if not 71+ c4, they are 3spd but good platform for a strong trans in the future), for a rear the explorer 8.8s are more common and easier to find(96+ have disc brakes) most of them have 3.73s from the factory. The explorer 8.8s aren't a direct bolt in have to weld on new spring pearches but they are stronger than the ranger 8.8s.

Thats my 2 pennies on it lol! Good luck on the build and welcome to the site!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Depending on what you want for ride height you can bolt an Explorer axle in spring under, it will lower the rear of the truck about 5-6" though. Then you would only have to weld in shock mounts.

A Explorer 8.8 (31 spline) is a tad stronger than the best STOCK 9". You can build a 9" a lot stronger but out of the box a 8.8 has it beat. 95+ Explorers have factory rear disc brakes as well.