v8 swap questions

[off_road_junkie21]

ok i want to use eather a nicely built 289 are 302. my main question is i want it NOT to be fuel injected!!! and i want to keep it a 4wd. what all do i have to look foward to? i will be doing this next summer.I also want to keep it stick shift if possible. I would be doing it now but i lost my job and cant find a new one.

 

[jonsranger]

well, if you want it to be 4x4 then there is a little more work but not much,
-first off make sure you have a dual sump oil pan, it lets it sit down further to help avoid clearence issues.
-you will either have to modify or remove you heater box if you do not have a 3 inch body lift even if you do, you still might have to nick it a little.
-depending on what year your truck is you will probably have to get an external fuel pump, i am using the summit racing version of the normal holley street pump, i removed my internal fuel pump and installed a hose with a sock clamped on. You will also have to modify the fuel lines in the engine bay, i just cut the flexible one after the hard line and adapted it to a holley.
-you will have to get headers, im using headman ones, there are manifolds that will work but why go searching for them and get less hp.
-you will need an oil flter relocation kit, one that comes out at a 90 degree angle
-you will need brackets for the alternator and powersteering pump, i made my own but there are many out there that work.
-you need to be good with wiring, i took out all of mine then took some of it apart and only reused the ones for non engine related things, and i wired up some new sensors.
-if you want to keep it manual like i did, there arent many options, the best is the m5od-r2 from a 89-91 f150, or im not sure about this but if you can find a jeep t5, you might be able to use the output shaft and tail housing from that on a v8 ford t5, but if you do that you will have to use an external slave cylinder. you will also have to have a custom drive shaft made. you will also have to cut a new hole or extend the hole for the shifter.
-you will have to get a different radiator, the 5.0 and/or 4.0 explorer one will work i think, i used a 4 core aluminum one. you will most likely have to use a pusher electric fan as well, and mount it on the front side of the radiator.
-you can buy engine mounts that are made for this swap, but i have heard many bad things about them, you can use mustange convertible mount and switch them side for side, or what i did was use my 2.9 mounts and make a plate off them, i used 1/4 but 3/8 would be a lot better.
-you might want to think about changing rear ends, and 8.8 is pretty good, but there are always improvements to be made, i have a full width 9in in mine, the tires stick out about 4 inches with my 15x8 but im making fender flare extendions.

there is probably a lot more, but i cant remember, use the search feature it helped a lot for me,

 

[doorgunner]

Off_Road......good thang he was in a keyboard mood....LOL....jon------great reply!!

 

[off_road_junkie21]

yea i think i will be getting my self a HO302 to stick in my truck. i will be gitting gt40p heads that will be going on to the engine before it goes into the ranger. i will be useing eather a aod are m5od-r2 tranny with a f150 tcase. still dont know if i want to use a aod are a m5od-r2

 

[88302Camotruck]

I did a 302 F/I with an AOD in my 88 4x4 recently. If you use the AOD make sure you wont need gears. The AOD has a smaller 2nd gear and smaller OD gear IIRC. AS for the tranny in a 4x4 you will need to get the Advance Adapter and tail shaft kit and have it replaced. In my area Va. most places wont due it due to being "custom" work. I had my tranny rebuilt and tail shaft changed for roughly 1500.00. If you have A/c you will most likely lose it as the radiator has to be pushed forward to the point where it almost touches the grill (that was how it was for my fitment) and I used a James Duff aluminium and brass 4 core. The brass was in there 1st but it ran hot so I went to the aluminium ine for the fix. I was able to get teh fan to pull from inside with about 1/2' clearence from the water pump pulley. The heater box had to be chopped up and clearenced for the V/C. I could go on for hrs..... The wiring wasnt that hard after you look back at it!
Steve