Alright hears the deal, there's a 95 4x4 ranger xl supercab 3.0 5spd for sale down the road for $800, but they said it needs a new motor because it locked up on them. It only has 83,000 so i dont see why this would have happened but it kinda concerns me since my truck has 82,000 on its 3.0. But anyway back on topic, I have always wanted a bad 4x4 or a fast truck like a Lightning but I cant afford one so i've been thinking about puttin a v8 in my ranger and making a "lightning bolt" or whatever you would call it. But i dont want to do that to my truck since there is nothing wrong with the motor/tranny. So i see this cheap truck that needs a motor and im thinkin, this is my chance, "V8 baby!" and i can still keep mine the way it is. But then i started thinkin why would i try to make a 4x4 into a fast truck, i mean its a 4x4, make it into a off road machine and then one day do the v8 in my truck. But if i gota take the motor out of the 4x4, what should i put back in it? So to recap these are the options im thinking about, put a V8 in the 4x4 and make it a fast 4x2, or get or fix the v6 and off road the 4x4, or put my v6 in the 4x4 and put a V8 in my truck and have both a v8 ranger and a 4x4. I would rather not mess with my truck and leave it the way it is but it would be cool to have both a fast truck and a bad 4x4. Or lastly i was thinkin about buyin it and just fixin the motor and reselling the truck and making some money. WHAT SHOULD I DO?!?!

 

2 in one.
Just put a big V8 in the 4x4. It will be super fast and a sweet off-roadin' truck. Thats what I would do if I had the money. Leave the truck you got now for a daly driver, and make that 4x4 one helluva ride.

 

id go for a 302-2V in the 4x4, keep the 2wd to drive while you get all the parts/work done on the 4x. then you'll have a super-capable 4x4 and still have a fuel-effecient commuter truck for back and forth to work when the roads are free from snow. (of course you may live where snow doesnt, this is merely what i would do, and in central ohio, anything is possible wether-wise from nov-march) happy wrenching!