One more 2wd 98 coil spring 5.0 swap.

[RangerSVT]

Looking, keep it up, you'll be done in no time...

SVT

 

[oddball101]

I'd almost rather eat off of that motor than my own plates. There is clean, then there is your kind of clean. Did I see correctly that you are using the explorer power distribution box?

 

[Jbrown1238]

I'd almost rather eat off of that motor than my own plates. There is clean, then there is your kind of clean. Did I see correctly that you are using the explorer power distribution box?

No, I used the stock Ranger distribution box. Just cleaned it up a bit while it was out.

 

[Jbrown1238]

I had to take a week or two off from the 306 V8 and replace the 2.5 in my 98 Ranger. After a quick trip to NC to pick up a new 2.5 engine package from a forum member, then back to Florida for the install, and now the 98 is back in business. It sure runs good with that brand new engine. Now I am back on track with the final touches of the rotating assembly. Here are a few shots of the last piston/rod assembly going in and the bearing shells being set into place for the last time.









Now just a quick wipe down of the excess assembly lube and the short block will be ready to be stored away until the timing set can be installed and the cam timing verified with a cam degree wheel.

 

[Lil-Pony]

Man i wish my 306 will look that prestine when im done. But i just don't have the patients.

 

[Jbrown1238]

Man i wish my 306 will look that prestine when im done. But i just don't have the patients.

That can be a good thing. You will probably have a running truck long before me. While you are out enjoying the fruits of your labor I will still be playing around. Some times I wonder if this one will ever be done.

 

[Jbrown1238]

Today I checked the connecting rod side clearance and it came in at .017 across the board. I also got the timing chain installed and went ahead and degreed the cam. Everything checked out to spec using the "O" keyway on the crank gear, 22 degrees BTDC on the intake side.



I made an extension for an old lifter so I could reach it with the dial indicator. I disassembled the lifter and threaded a bolt down the bore until it was tight. I also bought a piece of steel to use as a piston stop to find TDC. Most of the information I found on line recommended using a piston stop but I ended up going back to a dial indicator, it just seemed a little more accurate finding TDC.



(second lifter bore was used for better photo angle only, not to measure intake opening.)

 

[Lil-Pony]

Man I wish you would have taken some more pics, this is where I think I'll have trouble on my build. You think you could do a brief or detailed explanation. This turning to be almost a how to thread

Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Jbrown1238]

Man I wish you would have taken some more pics, this is where I think I'll have trouble on my build. You think you could do a brief or detailed explanation. This turning to be almost a how to thread

Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

If I get a chance I may go back and mock it up again before bolting up the timing cover. I really wanted some photos for myself as well. If not there are some good videos on you tube. That is where I got most of my info.

 

[Lil-Pony]

If I get a chance I may go back and mock it up again before bolting up the timing cover. I really wanted some photos for myself as well. If not there are some good videos on you tube. That is where I got most of my info.

Thanks for that info. She is lookin great.

 

[Jbrown1238]

I know I was going to wait until after the holidays to start back on the V8 Ranger but I just couldn’t avoid working on it today. The weather was nice and I managed to leave work earlier than expected. I had a couple of hours to take care of a few “busy” items. I washed the interior floor pan along with the in cab harness and then reinstalled the harness inside the vehicle.









Once that was done I went ahead and dropped it through the floor and back into its original position.





I included a few photos here of the power steering rack I reinstalled a few weeks ago. I still need to replace both hoses that attach to the power steering cooler.





I removed the stock gauge cluster and made a few adjustments on a spare gauge cluster I have so it will be ready when the new motor is installed.





I test fit the timing cover and water pump to make sure the new fasteners were correct and I had everything I needed. Just need to pick up gaskets and a seal.

 

[abelsep]

very nice build up! can't wait to see completed truck.....

 

[Jbrown1238]

very nice build up! can't wait to see completed truck.....

Thank you. I feel the same way, I have been working on this for so long I just want my life back!:

 

[RangerSVT]

Ok, you got me curious, what did the water pump bolts cost, and do they have a stud kit for them? As always, lookin great

SVT

 

[Jbrown1238]

Ok, you got me curious, what did the water pump bolts cost, and do they have a stud kit for them? As always, lookin great

SVT

With shipping I think it was about $26.00. ARP doesn't have studs but they can be found from other sources. I will probably just paint a stock set black to match so I can attach the wiring in the OE locations.

Allens Fasteners is where I pieced the set together. Let me know if you need the sizes.

http://www.allensfasteners.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamCat=61