I've asked people about doing the V8 and I get different options some have said don't do it cause it wouldn't be good for a daily driver and other said that have had no problems with their. So what is the truth.

 

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Welcome to FTE!

What year Ranger are you dealing with, and what is your goal. I have an 83 2wd with a 351W. Its a lot of fun to drive. Be prepared to sink a lot fo money into an engine swap, and check your local emissions laws, since it might not be road legal.

 

my's a 90 model and as for a plan just to have fun with it like cruising and alittle burning rubber not planning to kill any camaros. how much was your build up? I want to all the info I can to make a choice to do a V8 or get like a 4.0 which I know there not much parts for it.

 

A v8 will be as good a D/D as you build it up to be.

Since you're new, you ought to get immersed in the forum. We tos out LOADS of v8 swap links for Rangers, so start searching.

 

I have 2 V8 rangers, now one of them doesn't count because it is a race only vehicle, but the other one is a daily driver albiet done alittle different than most but it is a ranger body mounted on a older bronco frame (I believe it is a 75 running gear) that has been lengthened to match the ranger wheel base this has the added benifit of a SAS front end with the D44 disk brake front, and a 9" rear with a c4 tranny, and a D20transfer case, and it works very well thankyou.
the other one is getting a big block for next year so hang one this is gonna be fun.

 

The 83 is up to about $9K.

Of course, its got a fibreglass body, 350 horse 351, 9" rear, Fox Body IFS, and a well built C4, Vintage A/C.

You can do a swap for as little as $1K, but if you are planning on rebuilding the engine or getting a lot of performance out of it, its going to cost you a lot more.

 

Will the 302 ffit in a 90 ranger without doing away with the evaporator housing. Need to keep the AC to keep wife happy.

 

In 96 I bought a new Ranger Super Cab Step Side (white) with a 2.3 & 5spd manual with the intent of installing a EFI 5.0.

I had the engine & 5spd manual from a friends 87 Mustang GT w/ 30k miles as he was installing a new DOHC Cobra Engine in his.

I installed a set of Ported Twisted Wedge Heads & a different roller cam & dropped it in the Ranger. Rear wheel HP with setup was 252hp, was not happy with power so installed a PowerDyne Super Charger with optional Pulley.

That increased the rwhp to 392 and torque to 420. I did have to add a posi to the stock 3:73. Setup looked completely factory.

With stock 4cyl tires and wheels truck ran a 12.79 @ 112 with major wheel spin through 3rd gear. (100deg F outside temp)

On trip I would get 25mpg+ pushing hard running 70+mph.

I also towed a 22' Cobalt boat & you oughta seen the eyes bulge when pulling a mountain pass @ 65+mph passing cars without trailers. Not a good idea to pull the large boat as when I got to Roosevelt Lake (Arizona) I was going forward down long boat ramp to turn around to put boat in water & as I just turned getting veh/boat straight with foot on brake all four wheels started to skid and drag me down to water. Did not jacknife and managed to not swamp the truck but after making it safely home ordered a new PSD (sept 98) to pull boat.

Is there a place to post pics? Newbie to forum.

 

yes you can start a gallery, and post pics in it go to your user control panel.
yea a ranger pulling a big boat isn't a good idea but buying the psd was. but sure sounds like a fun little truck.