Questions about buying 5.0 Rangers

[mc_muench]

No, this isnt a question about swapping one in...

Im going to be looking at a 1986 ranger with a 5.0 thats I found craigslist soon and had some questions on what to look for. Im pretty knowledgable when comes to looking at ranger's bodies, suspension, brakes, interiors, electrical, basically everything but driveline, and seeing if they're good or not. But the whole swap thing throws a twist into it...

-How do I tell if the swap has been performed properly and it'll be safe?
-I dont, know too much about 5.0's, what do I look/listen/feel for when inspecting them...the ad says the engine was recently rebuilt.
-Same with the tranny, it's an AOD, so what should I look/listen/feel for to see if it's working properly?
-I know there are so many different heads, intakes, exhausts and other parts for the 5.0, how would I find out what parts this engine all has?
-Overall, what should I look for and ask when I go to look at this truck?

Im really excited about looking it and maybe buying it, but dont want to buy something that was throw together all willy nilly and have to deal with a lawn ornament, so I want to go in with some background knowledge in 5.0 rangers.

Ill be sure to take pics and post them up when I go to look at it.

Thanks to all ahead of time.

 

[Mac]

Pictures by all means. Is it a local truck? Got the CL posting? He might be a member on RPS. Really hard to tell what parts are on it, carb or EFI? Can't recall any 5.0 swaps down that way other than Duster (the tank guy).
Dave

 

[mp3deviant721]

Ask them if they did the swap or had someone else do it for them.

 

['99 EB Explorer]

I always ask to take a vehicle out for a quick spin when I'm looking. If there's anything wrong, it'll show up on the road. If he's iffy about letting you drive his truck...tell him to come along for the ride.

 

[dasfinc]

Pictures by all means. Is it a local truck? Got the CL posting? He might be a member on RPS. Really hard to tell what parts are on it, carb or EFI? Can't recall any 5.0 swaps down that way other than Duster (the tank guy).
Dave

Ditto, I've never seen a ranger V-8 build that hasn't had some sort of activity on RPS or TRS... not exactly a dime a dozen

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If it is 2wd and they used the Hedman 89500 swap headers there will probably be some interferance with the passenger side front axle beam.

If it is 4wd check for clearance for the oil drain plug with the passenger side beam pivet bracket.

Drive it for sure. I would never buy a vehicle by just looking at it. If they won't let you drive it run hard.

Some trimming of the core support to move the radiator is commonly done, as long as they did cut away ALOT of it don't let it scare you. Some people get the mentality that I got this rad for free, out comes the sawzall and by god its gunna to fit.

Electric fans are usually required. Make sure they are wired properly, a friend of my brother has them on his Foxbody and they are just wired to a toggle switch... I wouldn't think it would take too many times of forgetting to turn
them on to cook a engine.

If it is carbed, make sure it has the right sized carb on it. Some people get really optimistic about how big of a carb their 302 needs.

That is all I can think of right now...

 

[mc_muench]

Ya its local...it's somewherez in Waukesha

And it might actually be the one I saw on CL about 6 months ago, that was also a 1986 ranger with a 5.0 and AOD...I dont think to many people have that exact combo, at least here anyways. If it is in fact that truck, I emailed the guy about it we he first posted it and got some info...it's a 1989 5.0HO and AOD from a mustang GT that had 52,000miles on it and sat for 3 years before the rebuild and swap into the ranger. The body had 154,000miles on it and was redone in 1998. He said the engine and trans cost him $750 and total the swap cost him 3,400 big ones, which leads me to believe that a shop did it.

Ill post a link if I dont buy it...dont want any competition

 

[mc_muench]

I have confirmed it is the same ranger I saw on CL 6 months ago, same guy by the name of Bob Cherney. Anyone know if he's on TRS or any of the other ranger forums?

 

[straycat]

No, this isnt a question about swapping one in...

Im going to be looking at a 1986 ranger with a 5.0 thats I found craigslist soon and had some questions on what to look for. Im pretty knowledgable when comes to looking at ranger's bodies, suspension, brakes, interiors, electrical, basically everything but driveline, and seeing if they're good or not. But the whole swap thing throws a twist into it...

-How do I tell if the swap has been performed properly and it'll be safe?
-I dont, know too much about 5.0's, what do I look/listen/feel for when inspecting them...the ad says the engine was recently rebuilt.
-Same with the tranny, it's an AOD, so what should I look/listen/feel for to see if it's working properly?
-I know there are so many different heads, intakes, exhausts and other parts for the 5.0, how would I find out what parts this engine all has?
-Overall, what should I look for and ask when I go to look at this truck?

Im really excited about looking it and maybe buying it, but dont want to buy something that was throw together all willy nilly and have to deal with a lawn ornament, so I want to go in with some background knowledge in 5.0 rangers.

Ill be sure to take pics and post them up when I go to look at it.

Thanks to all ahead of time.

One thing, Bro. If you have no knowledge of this kind of swap...don't buy it. If you can find somebody to go with you that is a real geek at motors...take him along...if not...you could be buying a real POS!!!!!

 

[adsm08]

I'd be real careful with that trans. AODs are, IME, finiky creatures that have three states. Working perfectly, slipping and skipping shifts, and blown up. They experience all 3 regularly and can change between them without notice, in no particular order, and in any direction that they choose.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ya its local...it's somewherez in Waukesha

And it might actually be the one I saw on CL about 6 months ago, that was also a 1986 ranger with a 5.0 and AOD...I dont think to many people have that exact combo, at least here anyways. If it is in fact that truck, I emailed the guy about it we he first posted it and got some info...it's a 1989 5.0HO and AOD from a mustang GT that had 52,000miles on it and sat for 3 years before the rebuild and swap into the ranger. The body had 154,000miles on it and was redone in 1998. He said the engine and trans cost him $750 and total the swap cost him 3,400 big ones, which leads me to believe that a shop did it.

Ill post a link if I dont buy it...dont want any competition

$3400 probably isnt' that far out of line for doing it yourself actually, especially with a fuel injected engine.

With $400 in my engine and trans I know I have over a grand in everything else so far on a carbed swap... with no exhaust or driveshafts yet.

I'd be real careful with that trans. AODs are, IME, finiky creatures that have three states. Working perfectly, slipping and skipping shifts, and blown up. They experience all 3 regularly and can change between them without notice, in no particular order, and in any direction that they choose.

They are a common tranny for RBV V8 swaps.

 

[adsm08]

They are a common tranny for RBV V8 swaps.

I know they are. I also know a lot of Mustang and FSB guys who blow up a lot of AODs with stock engines. I used to work with a guy who went through 5 of them before getting a T-5 in his Fox body.

They like to lose OD. Just like the A4LD, they are great until they aren't, but I've seen a lot of them go from looking like they are knocking on death's door to being fine, to not working at all and back again in a week. AODEs are worse.

I'm just trying to let the OP know of something to keep an eye out for.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'm just trying to let the OP know of something to keep an eye out for.

That is fine, I would want to check out any tranny.