V8 Swap in South Georgia

[txrangr1988]

I posted this in the mini truck under construction section. But the other day I was glancing around craigslist bored on this deployment I am on looking for a parts truck for my 1987 4x4 Ranger Super cab. Well I was basically looking for a good donor for a bed and a fender or two. I found a short bed regular cab that this guy just wanted to get rid of for $600. The kicker is it had no motor or transmission which was fine cause I was just going to church up the 2.9L in the 87. But the guy informs me it is set up for a SBF transplant so that got me thinking screw it build the 87 as a off road rig and this one as a street/strip truck. I am going to post some ideas that I have already for this build and then some pics. I would like you guys and gals to maybe help me with parts that will be needed and stuff like that. To help me when I get back stateside to start the build.

The motor and transmission is out of a 1987 Thunderbird picked up from a local race team back where I am stationed. But I think I want to just do a carb set up on this truck. I am looking for maybe 400rwhp.

With the 8.8 rearend and c5 trans what are my options for driveshaft?
What floor shifter options do I have? all I can find is the B&M unimatic and Lokar

• 302 and C5 combo
• 1996 explorer tubular exhaust found on ebay ($105)
• wheels and tires (probably 17's or 18's)
• lower the truck with the DJM 4/5 kit. (what coils do I need for front?)
• explorer 8.8 rear end (haven't decided disc or drum brake)
• power adder down the road (N20, or turbo)

 

[JoshT]

Welcome from Middle GA. The 86 I'm building came from about halfway between here and Valdosta. Fount it near Cordele, it isn't in as good of shape though.

Not too sure about those motor mounts, look like they may place the motor too high. Appear to be Mustang mounts and I've never dealt with them so I may be completely off base there.

The motor and transmission is out of a 1987 Thunderbird picked up from a local race team back where I am stationed. But I think I want to just do a carb set up on this truck. I am looking for maybe 400rwhp.

With the 8.8 rearend and c5 trans what are my options for driveshaft?
What floor shifter options do I have? all I can find is the B&M unimatic and Lokar

Carb ain't bad to install from what I hear, but if you decide you want EFI look into the Mustang 5.0L EFI system. It's about the easiest EFI system to swap in, without spending big bucks on aftermarket stuff.

Driveshaft, you can probably find one from an Explorer and have it shortened. When looking for one make sure that you have the correct ends for your transmission and axle. Can't tell you exactly which vehicles to look for though. I will be using the B&M Quicksilver in my truck but not sure if it works for the C5, I'm using it on a 4R70W. I think that the C5 has been around long enough that most companies would have at least one, probably more, shifter compatible with it.

• 302 and C5 combo
  Don't know about T-bird 302 or C5 but 302 is almost always better than what's there
• 1996 explorer tubular exhaust found on ebay ($105)
  Skip those, and find some Mustang Tri-Y headers, they are better and don't cost that much more. Only reason to go with Explorer manifolds is if using a P head Explorer engine. If you are going to get Explorer manifolds get the later cast ones, they are actually less restrictive than the earlier tubular one.
• wheels and tires (probably 17's or 18's)
  Personally if they aren't needed to clear larger brakes I'd stick to a 15 or 16. Tires are cheaper, looks more sleeper (you may not care), and I just like more tire on a truck. That said it's your truck and the right wheels look good regardless of the size (within reason). If you are looking for a factory takeoff option look to the Mustangs, up to 2004 will work IIRC, though you may need spacers to make the fit right. For more on this I'd recommend checking out the wheel and tire forum.
• lower the truck with the DJM 4/5 kit. (what coils do I need for front?)
  Tricky one. DJM doesn't make a 4/5 kit for these trucks, though you can achieve it on your own. On paper to get a 3" drop you need drop beams, and either coils from a Ranger Splash or trim you existing coils to drop the extra inch. I'd recommend starting at the 3" drop beams and see where it ends up. Once you put a motor in there the front end will come down a lot. As for the rear if you install an Explorer axle and leave it in the Explorer spring under axle configuration it will drop the rear about 5 inches. For more information and help seek out the mini truck suspension forum.
• explorer 8.8 rear end (haven't decided disc or drum brake)
  That's a choice only you can make, but I recommend finding one with limited slip since it was pretty common in the Explorers. IMO I would go with disk brake, because that's where you will find the newest lowest mileage axles.
• power adder down the road (N20, or turbo)
  Really cant help with this one, but someday I want it as well.