not a lot of aftermarket support for those....and i don't remember any turbo metros...do ya know of any trannys that'll bolt up...

 

they do exist...friend of mine had a red one, they called it a metro GT a whopping 150 hp

 

Difference vs Functionality?

This comes down like the built D44 vs 1-ton suspension. You should use the 1-ton suspension, but some just want to be different and spend 2x the money to make the "different" thing work.

Since 302 is out...I'd say the 3.0 or a 4.0 out of a Ranger mated to the 5-speed they had. It's the M5R1 (F150's had M5R2...pretty much same thing). Anybody know the weight difference between the T18/NP435's and the M5OD family? I know the M5OD's are different case material..don't know how much that adds up to though.

A thought: What about the SHO motor that was dropped into the Taurus SHO's for a while? It was a 3.0 (I think) V6 made by Yamaha that put out over 200 horsepower and similar torque and had an upgraded 5-speed transmission in some applications (others had the AXOD failure). Not sure how you'd manage the 4-wheel drive though. Yeah...nevermind lol. That sure WOULD be different though. Those things were FAST.

 

1 ton running gear isn't always needed...weight and power are what make it nessecary...but if you don't have either...ya might not need dana 60's..

 

anyone know where i can find dimensions for engines and trannies....i'm drawing up plans for the project in cad and i need to know how big the motor and tranny is....thanks guys..

 

take a trip and a measuring tape to your local junk yard

 

here's a engine for ya! The S7, however, seems to harken back more to the GT40 than to America's most popular ponycar. Indeed, the S7 stands exactly 41" tall, precisely one inch higher than Ford's classic track terror. If this isn't one-upping the comp, I don't know what is. Motorvation for the S7 comes from a midship-mounted, 7.0-liter, OHV pushrod V8 with big block Ford inspired architecture. Make no mistake, though, this is no low-end stump puller. Saleen's powerhouse makes big power up top, and peaks a scant 600 revs from redline—the kind of power band you expect from a 200-mph supercar, which the S7 just happens to be. the cam-in-block ripper rates 550-bhp at 5,500 RPMs and 525 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 RPMs. That's stallion-power sufficient to rate sub-four zed-to-60 marks as well as that aforementioned 200-mph plus top end. A quad-plate six-speed race transaxle snarfs up that torque and hurls it barking at the drive wheels.

Although the cam-in-block design and engine displacement—an even 427 cubes, same as the last of the late, great Ford FE powerhouses, execution and materials tech are clearly 21st century. The engine's parts list reads like the crib sheet for senior level metallurgy exam. Titanium, beryllium, and magnesium, as well as more mundane metals such as stainless steel and aluminum, fill the Saleen-milled motor, which, thanks to the homespun FEAD (Front Engine Accessory Drive) system, is eight inches shorter than the 'ol Ford big block, leaving extra space for, you guessed it, a matching luggage set.

 

NOW thats a motor, i wonder if i could squeeze one into my flareeside, now that would be cool.

It might be worth it to find out if the sho 6 banger has the same bolt pattern and the 3.0L in the rangers, then that motor could be used, light weight, plenty of power, and small size.

 

In defense of the 3.8, as far as the problem with cylinder heads, I was under the impression that they were fine untill you got them hot, then it was about a shure thing that they would be warped!! There was also a supercharged 3.8 option in the T-bird in the late 80's-early 90's ( guy I work with has TWO of them!!) Also back when I used to subscribe to Super Ford mag, I seem to remember that the 3.0 v6 (reg. and SHO) could fit onto an Aerostar tranny for rear drive applications. I f that is true, it means there are a lot of cheap engines out there as the Taurus had a bad history with transmissions and can be found pretty cheaply with bad ones. I connected a 3.8 to a C4 in an early Bronco once and that makes me wonder if the 3.0 (Taurus) might also fit the standard small block pattern as both the 3.8 and 3.0 were used in the Taurus. Just some options if anybody cares!! Also on the weight issue (overall)- the early Bronco dana 44 uses thinner wall tubes than a fullsize 44 and the frame is pretty light too- might save you some time to just use early Bronco chasis and cage it up. Thats what I'm doing currently.

 

i've always wandered that myself??? immagine a 5.0 in a taurus??

 

Now that i think about it, the 3.8 V-6 came in the 80-82 Ford 1/2 trucks (ususally with that 4 od manaul pos tranny), and a 302 with the proper motor mounts was a direct bolt in swap.

The problem the 3.8L had was a faulty head gasket, once this was fixed the 3.8's were a decent motor, if you can find the carb ones in the early 80's ford trucks would be the best ones to get as there is no efi to complicate such a swap, then i would find a turbo to boost the power (from a t-bird) up to resonable levels, and you would have a very heathly powerplant for your rig.

 

The throttle body injection 3.8 will take the motorcraft 2V carb but you must also get the carb type distributor- I got mine from the local parts store for $75, if I remember right.

 

Have you looked into an engine setup similar to those in those rhino-tough rock crawler deals? They use the 4 banger engines like you want, and the trannies from a honda i believe. Those trannies already have outputs on opposite sides for both front tires.. so you would just turn it the other way and bam youve got one output for the front, and one for the back. The only catch is that you have to mount the engine pretty much in the middle of the vehicle. Heres the pic of the deal i am talking about... just my $.02

edit: by the way.. those things are running 37s...

 

What's the weight/size difference between the the T18/NP435 granny low 4-speed's and the M5OD? Might be good to have the granny gear if he uses such a small engine. I'm sure a 3-cyl Geo Metro motor could peel out in granny low. =)

 

The T18 and NP435 weigh in at about 150 lbs. Dunno about the M5OD though.

Also, as for the weight of the 300 vs. the 302, yes, the 300 weighs ALOT more than the 302. So much more infact that if you're building a custom rig you'd be further ahead to go straight to a 460. In full dress the 300 only weighs about 100 lbs less than a stock 460. throw on an aluminum intake and a set of tube headers and you're weighing in almost the same as a 300.

BUT, still, I'll agree with the consensus and say look for a V6, you'll be happier in the end. what about the driveline from a 4.0 ranger? maybe dig one up from a junkyard and go from there.

Justin