Why a v8

[Dishtowel]

Its called gears, rings and pinions. Upgrade your truck with them. I'll take a 4.0L Distirbutorless engine any day over a distributor v8. i run 4.88s and a 4.0L on 36's and i get asked all the time at large events what kind a v8 i have in my truck. Everybody assumes v8 cause i usually make the guys running moderate v8s with 35's look like asshats with their 3.73 gears. I'll just do the v8 swap instead of a gear swap which is what is really needed.

I have always said if i ever put a V8 in any of my RBV's, it'll only be one motor to ever grace my truck and that'll be a Explorer 5.0L cause it distributorless.

What do you have against distributors? What is better about the distributor-less ignition that I dont know about? Sounds like I have some stuff to learn! Distributors is all I know/understand.

 

[bobbywalter]

So I am curious, how are you guys adapting the emission systems when you do this v-8 conversion, as I remember it is ILLEGAL to disable emission components such as catalytic converters, egr's and the such.

As responsible off roaders, I assume we are being responsible to the enviroment?....and that is more than just "tread lightly"

oh...theres alot of ways to deal with that. from street rod/custom x/salvage title to just using the emmision componants. they dont hurt anything on a driver...on an off road rig be it 4x4/circle track/strip ect who fawkin cares. its already running better then any of the leaded fuel shit in china...and only burns fuel a few times a year anyway...what so irresponsible about that????...



i use plactic garbage bags and throw away shit tons of plastic every year too. whats so responsible about that?


its alkways best to use converters on stuff that actually gets used, not gonna get alot of arguements there.




it dont take a whole lot for the gm swap. it is involved but the aftermarket crate program support for gm stuff is alive and well. a decent 6.0 powertrain will be easier to find and definatly more emmission friendly then a 4bbl 302 of the same power rating. effort put into that swap will be better in the end. its that or the mod/triton motors. out side of being big.....its big bux for parts and your definatly limited in the power department. if i had one i would need fender wells due to the plug design...no thanks.



as for distributors.....they suck for wet conditions...and just suck all around but are cost effective..

 

[Totalled]

After DDing a 4.0 rig for a year now, I think I agree with the general argument. Replacing a good 4.0 with a 5.0 is not really an upgrade. I've had thoughts of pulling the small block out of the bronco and putting the 4.0 in it's place if my explorer ever got hit and totalled. The better fuel economy and not having issues with heat are a major advantage.

While the 4.0 does make impressive grunt at low RPMs.. it sure as **** doesn't make near the torque of my 302 nor does it have the top end power like my 302. The 4.0 just doesn't really like to rev as easy.

 

[Totalled]

Some numbers for you. My 302, and 4.0. Put small tube headers on both, and a 256 duration comp cam. While according to the software, the 4.0 makes some damn impressive torque, the 302 makes more overall torque, and while it's peak torque is at a higher rpm than the 4.0, it makes more torque at the same RPM as the 4.0's peak.

I still agree with the overall argument that replacing a 4.0 with a 5.0 is, in general, a waste of time.

 

[Dishtowel]

Ok, I know this thread is old and all, but I finally have my 5.0L running the way it should, and OMG. It kicks ass. I had a tired 2.9 before and wow-za. I am veryvery pleased with how my STOCK (freashly rebuilt) 5.0L performs. I foresee breakage in my future.

 

[superrocker10]

ive been gathering parts and supplies to dump the 3.0 and drop in a fresh 5.0

 

[broken2wd]

If i were to do a swap, its would be to a newer V6. I would like to have the new 3.7 out of the MKS and CX-9 but its a front drive motor.

 

[Dishtowel]

If i were to do a swap, its would be to a newer V6. I would like to have the new 3.7 out of the MKS and CX-9 but its a front drive motor.

Sounds complicated. I pulled enough hair getting my EFI straight.

 

[ZMan]

I still agree with the overall argument that replacing a 4.0 with a 5.0 is, in general, a waste of time.

I've been saying this for years, people always ask me why I don't have a V8 in my ranger...it all stems back to the one time I saw a v8 Ranger run a 15.8 at the dragstrip, hell I can do that with bolt-ons on my 4.0, and still pass my counties emissions tests with no problems.

Then again emissions has become a moot point for me recently. My cousins friend has a '92 S-10 that he put a 350 in (originally was a 4.3). Has an airpump and a catalytic converter and passed the sniffer test just fine, keeps the paper in his glovebox to prove it. BUT, if you were to modify the engine to get it out of that "not worth it" stage, it probably would have a harder time passing emissions.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I've been saying this for years, people always ask me why I don't have a V8 in my ranger...it all stems back to the one time I saw a v8 Ranger run a 15.8 at the dragstrip, hell I can do that with bolt-ons on my 4.0, and still pass my counties emissions tests with no problems.

Judging an engine on a single pathetic race is kind of unfair, I am sure there are many 4.0's out there that are much slower. My parents '94 Explorer wouldn't show my deaths-doorstep 2.8 a whole lot, just because I have 3.73's and it has 3.27's.

What gears did that truck have? How many miles on the engine? What year of engine and what is it out of? (that is a biggie with a 5.0) Is it constantly thrashed? There are many variables out there that have to do with it other than it just being a 5.0 and slow.

 

[mhughes165]

ive had very mild 302's in rangers that would pass mid 13's all day long and still pass the sniffer, its all about how u ahve the truck setup, AND if ur able to get traction, which is a BIG thing in the kind of a pass a small block ranger will lay down