V8 swapping 83 ford ranger

[JokerLS240]

(update) i got a 1986 Lincoln mark 7 with a 5.0l ho efi with a aod transmission i just need some guidance on transmission mount and if the motor and transmission length are the same as a 2.3l 4 cylinder inline and a c3 transmission of what i would need to do to det a correct length driveshaft for it

As bobbywalter said, you'll have to measure the driveshaft.

I have 2k miles on a 302 & T5 swap in a 1990 Ranger that I finished in December. The driveshaft was my biggest concern until I actually measured it and found that the shaft I had from a 4-cylinder, manual Ranger was only 1/2" short. I'm running with that since there is plenty of yoke still in the transmission.

IF yours is a 2wd Ranger, take the yokes off the driveshaft (you'll probably want to replace the U-joints anyway). Slip the front yoke into the AOD all the way and pull it out 1". Then mount the rear yoke to the axle and measure from center to center of the U-joints. If your driveshaft needs to be shortened, any driveshaft shop will be able to do so cheaper than having a new shaft made. Do a Google search for driveshaft shops in your area. I bet you'll find someone. Make sure you ask them what measurement they need for modification or a new shaft. Some shops want a measurement from different points like U-joint center to center or the end of the output shaft to pinion flange.

As for the transmission mount, the crossmember will most likely need to be relocated and the transmission mount bolt holes drilled out. I bought my Ranger without a transmission and the crossmember and mounts had been removed. RicksRangerz has a raised transmission crossmember that will bolt in anywhere you want on the frame and accepts T5, C4 and AOD mounts. You'll have to drill the frame to bolt up the crossmember, of course.

 

[Brain75]

I just noticed you are in Colorado but don't mention city. I highly recommend Colorado Driveshaft. When I trans swapped my 1948, they were honest and said they could rebuild a junkyard shaft (shorten) for 1/5th the price of build from scratch. So I spent a couple bucks at lkq u-pull-it and got a driveshaft from the junkyard, an extra knuckle (because it was a trans swap from a two totally different styles trans) handed it all to them and it was dirt cheap to have them shorten and balance and make a shaft I am quite happy with. Might sound like a sales pitch but I promise I don't represent them or work there or or - I just have a 1948 that I swapped from a 4 speed rock crusher to a 5 speed OD synchro gear modern trans.

Colorado Drive Shaft

We are the premier drive shaft shop in Denver, Colorado. From Audi's to Chrysler's, Ford to Mercedes. If you need it, we've got it.

coloradodriveshaft.com

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Good JY shafts are hard to find, when they move vehicles with payloaders they usually get crunched.

I had to search and search before I round a truck that had been junked over the transmission... the transmission was all tore apart in the back of the truck along with the driveshaft.

 

[bobbywalter]

car-part for shelf driveshafts.

often i let the stock driveshaft in this scenario dictate powertrain location.

this makes sourcing easier as it is a known. but can cause other custom situations upstream.