Throttle cable question from newb in blue.

[peganit]

New guy here, hello everyone.

I got an 85 Ranger 2WD, dirt cheap, from my recently passed brother's estate, which is pretty rough as he used it for his yard truck.

It came with a really anemic 2300 5 speed that could barely move itself out of the way, let alone what I need it for. It has zero options, and I do mean zero. It even had radio delete.

I like it that way, but it needed more power. (And a radio. I put one in.)

So with the help of your excellent website I put a 5.0 HO from a Lincoln Mark VII in it. It's in there already and I should have it running by the end of this day.

I fabbed the flat plate motor mounts per the V8 conversion tech section here using the mounts that came in it, I'm using a dual remote oil filter setup using the $18.00 transdapt right angle adapter, a Carter low pressure electric fuel pump, I'm using some brand new V8 Ranger swap headers that I bought off of Craigs List, an old Overdrive Top Loader 4 speed that I had for a transmission with the 2300 hydraulic slave cylinder pushing on the clutch fork for actuation, and I modded the hell out of the Mark VII accessory drive brackets to get them down to just an alternator and a Supercharger. (lets see who reads this) The SC is true though. All I need to do with that is make an SC pully, as it's a V belt and I'm using the Mark VII's poly belt. (I'm a toolmaker/fabricator)

Enough of the backstory; Since I also converted the engine from fuelie to carbed 4BBL, what factory throttle cable can I use for my 302 4bbl? The 2300's is about 4 times too long.

A thanks to your tech section and thanks for all responses in advance.

P.S. I bet the 2300 wasn't making 50 horsepower since it was a turbo shortblock without the turbo. The 5.0 could easily be at 300. How often do you get to have a 6X increase in horspower?!?!

Down and Dirty. I have others that are for show. I don't have to worry about this one.

It's in there!

I did have to notch the frame for those headers.

Franken-Ranger

 

[dangerranger83]

My truck came with a 2.3 originally and after a few other engines, I now have a carbed 5.0 HO in it. What I did for the throttle cable was use what the truck had but made a custom bracket of one that came off my 2.8 I had under the hood and some flat iron I had laying around. I just hooked up my cable to the carb and then looked where the mount needed to be so it moved properly and went from there.

Only pictures I got of it but you can see what was the 2.8 bracket and what was the flat iron.

 

[peganit]

No problems with it's function with that huge loop in it?

Is there a pic of the entire cable from firewall to carb?

 

[old guy]

if you have an autozone by you they sell a throttle cable kit for 24.00 that would work but you will still need to make your own bracket for the intake.

 

[v-8power]

I have used the one from Autozone and I hated it. I ended up getting a lokar, worth the money.

 

[peganit]

if you have an autozone by you they sell a throttle cable kit for 24.00 that would work but you will still need to make your own bracket for the intake.

Autozones are everywhere!

What part number or application?

 

[peganit]

I have used the one from Autozone and I hated it. I ended up getting a lokar, worth the money.

I'm not a huge fan of aftermarket stuff.

How long have you run your Lokar parts?

 

[dangerranger83]

It is actually easier to push then when it was hooked to my 2.8. It still has a loop in it but its not effecting it that much. Now if you could come across a 2.8 throttle cable, that should do the trick. But you have to have everything in place before doing anything or it may not be correct. be sure that the plce where the cable mounts to its mount and where the socket mounts to the throttle lever ball there is no slack in there or you will get slack in your pedal.

 

[allnpt0]

My '86 had the same 2.8 cable with the same loop. Wasn't hard to push at all.

Pete

 

[kimcrwbr1]

LMC truck has a variety of cables but the 2.8 I got for my truck works just fine.
http://www.lmctruck.com/ford/

 

[dangerranger83]

I just saw that you dont have power brakes. I would recommend that with the added weight and power going under the hood.

Also re-reading that it had no options, put power steering on her too.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I just saw that you dont have power brakes. I would recommend that with the added weight and power going under the hood.

Also re-reading that it had no options, put power steering on her too.

Actually a 4cyl weighs about the same as a SBF, you wouldn't think it though...

I used my stock 2.8 throtle cable, it does push a little harder than it did with the 2.8 but it works fine and you get used to it pretty quick.

I made bracket out of a POS Edelbrock bracket that I have yet to figure out its purpose and a piece of strap. I later happened apoun a V8 Mustang II in a JY and nabbed its bracket.

 

[JoshT]

Actually a 4cyl weighs about the same as a SBF, you wouldn't think it though...

You sure about that? From my understanding a factory 5.0L is about 100 lbs heavier than a 2.8L, and I have a hard time believing that the 4 cylinder is heavier than a 2.8L. That said I've never dealt with a Ranger 4 cylinder. I know the one in the Probe was lighter than a 2.8L, but it had more aluminum and plastic too.

 

[peganit]

Thanks again guys.

I'll try the big loop, and if I don't like it, I'll get the Lokar.

Hey I came from the days when power steering/power brakes was an option, I'll be fine.

I could use the exercise!

It won't see much use anyway.

 

[peganit]

IIRC, a 2300 weighs around 320 lbs and an all iron 5.0 weighs around 450 lbs.