V8 Swap...Drive Shaft??

[2002RedRanger]

i am planning to put a 302 Mustang with a C4 trans in my 02 Ranger (has the V6 SOHC). i want to keep my stock transfer case for now (mainly to save some money) but i have a question dealing with the drive shaft. with the C4 trans and the Advan Adapt conversion kit to hook it up to my transfer case, will i a. have to move trans crossmember and b. shorten or lengthen my drive shaft?? i have the heads, oil filter, elect fan, basically everything else figured out. im just tryin to figure out the trans and back part now. any help would be awesome!

 

[stranger]

big mistake mixing old and new on a 98+ swap.your way will require you to make all custom pieces.no one will be able to tell you what size cause your motor and drivetrain are unique to your swap.your going to need to fit and measure

 

[v-8power]

This all depends on how and where you locate your engine. Most people try to put as far back and low as posible. Good Luck with it.

 

[baddad457]

i am planning to put a 302 Mustang with a C4 trans in my 02 Ranger!

That thing gonna fit in the bed ? (sorry, couldn't resist)

 

[2002RedRanger]

great...well i was thinking of getting rid of my drive shaft altogether and getting one from a full size truck around the same year as the engine i get and just having it short'd down. that way it should be easier to find adapters or parts for it plus itll be bigger and stronger than the one i got now..sound like a better idea or a waste of time.

 

[2002RedRanger]

ok well if it would cause a problem if i decided to keep my drive shaft what would be the best 5.0 V8 to put into the truck?

 

[baddad457]

In an 02, you'd want a 98-2001 Explorer 5.0.

 

[2002RedRanger]

ok cool thanks...but just a stupid question...why the 98-2001 Explorer 5.0 and not a 86-95 Mustang 5.0 would the difference be that big or is it just the Explorer would easier to swap since its newer??

 

[v-8power]

why the 98-2001 Explorer 5.0 and not a 86-95 Mustang

The electronics would probably be easier.

 

[bobbywalter]

depending on where you live and the trucks planned use/ intentions....you will want to retitle the truck or run an 02 or newer powertrain.


a regular ho stock condition 5.0 will be a dissapointment power wise, but have a shit ton more potential.

personally i would do an aod/stang with a stroker if you want big tires or better in a large tire 35 or bigger) a 351. 208/or 205 t case. or again, better a 203/205 doubler.


with custom gauges and shit the setup is cake.


but honestly, if i had a cammer 4.0 2002 to work with, it would get a chevy 6.0 4x4 setup before a stang setup. unless i found a real cheap chevy 4.8, that would probably out perform the 4.0 economy wise in the same conditions and definatly out perform it power wise.

its one hell of a tough situation to be in.


drive shafts are whatever they need to be. more likely then not you can make the stock one work. with the gm powertrain it will need to be shortened, and while your at it have them put a gm yoke on it, or just get a cross joint from the ford to gm. like 33 bux for the joint and 80 bux to shorten the shaft. the front is more of a pia, but not rocket science.

 

[2002RedRanger]

Really! damn well i guess its back to the drawing board, haha. so an 02 or newer would keep me from having to re title it and the gm setup would give me more power..im setting it up for mud mostly (cause thats just what i have in AL) but its also my daily driver to get me from NC (where im stationed) all the back to AL so fuel econo is definitely a concern. but ill look into the gm setup to before i decide anything..thanks yall for the advice!