i got a ford ranger im makein into my mudd buggin truck and my friend gots a 429 that he dont want anymore i want to take out the old 4 banger. i wanted to know if my lil ranger frame would be able to handle it or if i need to geta new one. and what size of tranny i should put behind it and how hard it would be to put a solid front axle on the front and wire it all up to work right

 

I researched this a little for a friend who wanted a 302 in his ranger. I am looking for the site that detailed exactly what needed to be done, but basically, a 460 wouldn't be a bolt on by a long shot. The stock chassis can't really handle the torque, and as thus, you will need to make it more rigid. A body lift, knocking in the firewall a few inches, beefing up the front suspension a lot, replacing rear axle, removing the heater box, and modding the master cylinder and steering rod was required. I can't find the site that listed everything with pics, but that is what I remember. It is a very indepth job indeed. A 302/351 swap is much more reasonable, but as we all know, reasonable is never good enough .

I will keep looking for the site.

 

that is alot of help i figure it would be a hard job but i want to get it done as soon as i can so i tryin to figure everything out for i dont mess it up im problly gonna redo the whole front part of the frame and the whole firewall and i aint gonna have no heater box are nothing like that . how would i go about the steering rod thanks for the help

 

Those two do not go hand-in-hand.... You are looking at a good amount of mock up and fab work to get it right, especially if you are talking about a front end drive swap. You will need to start with setting the motor in and then the front end, then connecting all the goodies in between.

--Mike

 

You basically won't ever be able to drive that ranger on the streets. The 429/460 weigh far too much for that little frame, miniscule brakes, and poor steering to handle.

You'll need to totally upgrade all of that stuff, a very strong C6 tranny, and a built 8.8" or 9" rear end.

 

yea i know there is alot of work to be done to it and i aint got noproblem with upgradein the whole front end im fixin to starts fittin the motor in it this week end then from there on im goin to up grade as i think is needed so and makein $15 dollars an hour at my job should help me afford it alil more. i been wantin to build this truck up ever since i wrecked it its totaled out so it dont have no title but thanks for the help ill try to keep ya up to date on it as i get more done

 

I have a engineless 2wd ranger and a 460. I've looked at it and it just isn't worth the time /money and work to do it.

By the time I would have been done I wouldn't have a ranger chassis left.
I might just put a ranger body on a 80's fullsize Bronco chassis, then the 460 would be easy.

 

Look in my gallery I put a ranger body on a 77 F150 frame and moved the rear axle forward this has some serious advantages one stronger frame, and axles (although you could do it to a F250, and have even stronger setup) and if you do any mud racing with it you will then have the wide track of the fullsized trucks, so won't be fitting ruts, plus with that 77 frame I have the np 205 transfer case, adn it's basically just buying a set of swap motor mounts to set the engine in. Only thing is if you don't put the radiator in the bed well even if you do you will need to go with electrick fans cause that engine is too long to fit in the engine bay and have clearence for hte fan.

 

i aint worried about all the work it would take i can do most of it by my self i think it can be done for a good price and it would be worth it at the end i wanted to put a different frame on it but i dont know anyone who has one and i really dont want to wait around to find one that is good enough for what i want it to do this truck is only gonna be used for mudd buggin and nothing else problly wont ever touch the paved road for the rest of its life i been plannin for a while tryin to find all the parts for it i got a new front end for it a solid axle off a f-150 not sure what kind a storng c-6 tranny that come off a 429 corba jet so it should work for what i want to use it for and i got a ford 9in rear end for it im just messin the frame for it but other then that i got all the tools i could need i got the money and i got time so i want to get it done before i get out of high school so i got 2 years to get it done but im tryin to get it done befor my summer is over i got a crew of about 5 people that will be helpin me all the time and all the do is build custom offroad truck so i got alot of help to get this job done well thanks for all yall's help i might be back later might need some help with the 77 ford gonna beat the **** out of it this weekend at out mudd buggs gotta a chevy friend that i have to show up i got a 351 vs. his 350