v8 on my spring break

[drwb4000]

im lookin to put a explorer 5.0 v8 into my b4000 this spring break. i know what year to get my engine from and have found one but im tryin to figure out what to do with my tranny and transfercase. i want to keep the part time 2 wheel drive, i hate the awd, and keep my stock transefer case(dont have enough to get a new one) which is possible if i use the tranny from the explorer and a adapter but i absolutely love my stick shift and dont have the heart to switch to an auto. so im wanna know what manual tranny i could use that would bolt up to the 5.0 that would also bolt up to my origional transfer case? i dont mind having to get some adapters but i was just wondering if anyone else has put a stick behind the v8 and kept the origional transfer case and if so what tranny to use or if anyone happens to know what one to use it would be much appreciated. thanks

 

[Beanmachine7000]

There is no manual tranny that will bolt up to a V8 and your t-case... If I were you I'd go to a M50D-R2 and a full size t-case, or an NP205... I don't know if you can get an adapter to put a RBV t-case behind a full size tranny...

 

[drwb4000]

but how much money is changing t-cases gonna run me...plus wont i have to change my drive shafts then too. and most all of my money is being sunk into the engine so im tryin to work on a budget

 

[Beanmachine7000]

You could probably get a trans and t-case together for $500 maybe... Yes, you would have to swap your b-shafts... I'd find an F-150 with a 5-speed, maybe one that was wrecked, and swap that stuff in, that way you have everything you need in one package...

 

[drwb4000]

can u get a f150 with the 5.0 5speed and tcase or just the 5speed and tcase? how much do drive shafts run on average?

 

[Mac]

That's good advice and about the only alternative if you want a manual. Nobody said these swaps were cheap. Don't forget then the added expense of all the clutch parts, flywheel and hydraulics. At least with the later ones using the Explorer motor it's easier.
Dave

 

[Beanmachine7000]

They made F-150's in 5.0-M50D-R2-BW1356... I almost bought one... I don't know, never had a driveshaft modded... Honestly, this swap is going to cost you about 2x as much as you think, and take twice as long...

 

[drwb4000]

im not tryin to be cheap on it just the engine i found ate most of my budget but if i found a wrecked f150 and could pick it all up in one package i think it would balance out. im not planning on doin it alone obviously im no expert but a neighbor of mine is a ford motor god and said he would help me so im just tryin to figure out everything i need

 

[Mac]

I'd sure stay away from the BW-1356 and go for the 205/208. Them BW-1356 are huge and so large, usually require frame notching. I know of one guy who did the complete Explorer auto trans and AWD into his Ranger over a four day week-end but it still took him another ten days to get all the little wiring issues worked out.
Good luck, it'll work out. Time and money = smiles!
Dave

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Yeah, I'd reccomend the 205 also... Much better t-case too...

 

[drwb4000]

thanks much to both of you. i found someone on rangerpowersports that did the exact swap you recommended with the 5.0-M50D-R2-BW1356 and it was just a little out of my budget but he said it woulda been cheaper if he picked it all up in one package so all i gotta do now is search like crazy through the junkyard and hope i can get it all. my spring break is 10 days total so hopefully i can get it done but if not i got a motorcycle so ill be alright. thanks again

 

[Ozwynn]

Advanced adapters used to make an adapter for the RBV T-case to a C4 but they advised against using the RBV T-case with a V8. the V8 explorer T-case is not an RBV T-case. as already mentioned the 13-56 is too big to fit the ranger frame rails. 205 is your best bet....... and your RBV Transmission will not stand up to a V8....... you need a V8 transmission and T-case. just use the auto and T-case from the explorer for now and do your 5spd swap later