Small block ranger swap
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Small block ranger swap
I have a pipe dream of swapping my 2.3 ranger, 95 type, into a small block v8, preferably carborated. I want to make her into a toy, I live in the Rockies and want an off-road beast, so I want to put in three quarter ton diffs and need to be able to make them turn. Has anyone done this? And words of encouragement?
More Turbo
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From: Usa
Well thinking about the size of the truck and a V8 swap,,,I think I would try and find a old school 302 motor and trans and shoehorn it in,,,, of course you may have to do some fab work on motor and trans mounts,,, if you can get a older 302 that was not computer ran it would solve a lot of troubles,,, just a simple hot over to the distributor and a carb instead of injectors and you would be in business,,, a old school carb and distributor ran engine would be a big horse power upgrade !!!!
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I agree. I'm not afraid to weld in new mounts or cut into the firewall, I like welding. I definitely don't want a computerized motor, I suppose I'll just have to measure the bay and see what I can shove in there, so long as I can get headers in there, I can cut into the hood for the intake, a beast of a carb should allow it to sit above the hood level. She'll be lifted so if I had to I can cut into the wheel well as well.
More Turbo
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From: Usa
Sounds like a plan,,all it takes is time and money LOL,,, I dont think I would go bigger than a 302 because of weight and handling,,, but your truck go bigger if you want,,, but a old school 302 with a prefromance cam and a good duel feed carb and the little Ranger would scream !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! maybe some headers too !!!! and duel exhaust of coarse
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From: Northeast Ohio USA
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Usa
wow that is a lot of info,,,answers a lot of questions atta boy Whatsachevy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that should help poster out !!!!!!
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From: Northeast Ohio USA
Hope it helps. It is the most comprehensive info that I know of. When My '97 (purchased new in '96) turned 100k, I wanted to do the swap. When it hit 150k, I decided it was time. When my grandson and i did it, we retained the engine's factory exhaust manifolds (port machined to match the machined heads for flow reasons) due to headers causing too much heat under the hood. Way too much plastic in the engine bay of these 1/4 tons. Secondly, we opted for an HEI distributor set-up for simplicity, avoiding all of the DSII wiring issues. My grandson didn't know it at the time but when it was finished, i was giving it to him. He lives in S.C. where there is no emissions testing in his county. (He was spending the summer with us in Ohio). Long story short, he's driving a slick little flareside with a 302, 15x10 chrome reverse rimmed, dual exhaust Ranger with about 225,000 miles on the odometer the last time we talked. (I won't mention the speeding tickets....dern kids !). 
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Northeast Ohio USA
I have a pipe dream of swapping my 2.3 ranger, 95 type, into a small block v8, preferably carborated. I want to make her into a toy, I live in the Rockies and want an off-road beast, so I want to put in three quarter ton diffs and need to be able to make them turn. Has anyone done this? And words of encouragement?
For the differentials, I would look towards the Jeep world. Many Jeep driveline parts will assimilate into B-Series trucks.
3/4 ton differentials ?
You are reaching for a "high $ elevation" conversion (Colorado joke).
Ford and Chrysler share a lot of specifications (that is why AMC used both of the manufacturer's parts for so many years).
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