V8 swap advice

[msimpson619]

Been looking for info on a v8 swap into my 2009 ranger. Not too much info on a truck this new for a swap. Already pulled engine/trans, wiring and computer and most of the dash. Gonna be a desert truck, so not too concerned with daily driver ability (gas mileage and air conditioning and the like), basically I was wondering opinions on different engines. Not too concerned with difficulty, mostly just cost. I'm a heavy diesel mechanic by trade, so I can rebuild an engine with my eyes closed, and have plenty of buddies that can fab parts, but I'm just down to engine/trans selection. I have a SBC 305 sitting in my garage I could rebuild and drop in, I have a friend that'll sell me a 351M for really cheap, and I've thrown around the idea of a 4.6 modular or maybe a 460 would be cool (in theory). Then there's always the 302 or 5.0, but I thought it would be cool to do something different. Anyone have any idea about the pros/cons of these engines going in a ranger? The truck has a body lift and is 2wd and was a manual. Don't know much about transmissions, either, so any info on what trannys would bolt up to what engines would be great too. Don't know if there's a thread like this one already, sorry if there is, but couldn't find much on it. Thanks in advance.

 

[willy]

What motor you swap to depends on a few things. First is is it going to be street driven and if so what emissions regulations do you have to deal with. Second is time and money the easyest swap would be a 5.0 from a 96/97 explorer add a return fuel line and your pretty much good to go. If you have a fat wallet and lots of time i would go with a 5.0 coyote or 3.5 ecoboost .
If your looking to swap for more power the explorer 5.0 dosent make much more power than the 4.0s that came in thoes trucks.

 

[msimpson619]

Thanks for the input. I'm in the military, so no fat wallet, or really time, for that matter, but the truck is registered non-op so I dont need it to be up and running soon. More than likely not street driven after this point. Strictly desert. It is registered in CA, however, until I go back to CA with the truck, I don't need to get it smogged because they don't accept any other states emissions tests. I basically have a bunch of ideas floating around in my head and just looking for input on the pros and con's of different engines\trannys and the like.

 

[willy]

Yea doin a motor swap at the hobby shop on base would suck spent 5 years in the navy i know how you feel

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

*Explorer does have slightly more power than a SOHC 4.0 and has a nearly unlimited aftermarket unlike a 4.0.

I hate crossbreed swaps but the GM LS engines make good power in a not-very-huge package unlike the Ford mod-motors.

 

[Elutheros]

Somebody has to be first to do something--you should do the Lincoln LS-TT 3.9 Liter V-8 conversion and teach the rest of us.

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