I was goofing around on the site and thought I'd see how many threads I started (a whole two ) and realized I had never really posted the results of my 4.6 swap.

My Ranger was a '98 2WD, 2.5, 5 speed, and no options. It now has a 4.6L 32V V8, 4R70W trans, and an 8.8" with 4.10/TL. It also has an Explorer V8 radiator, Mark VIII guages and shifter, Explorer buckets, rear auxiliary fuel tank (no mid-ship), Lakewood traction bars, Explorer front discs, 10x2.5 rear drums, and an aluminum drive shaft.

This is what the truck looks like now. Pretty scary looking isn't it.


To fit the engine into the truck I had to fab motor mount brackets and headers. The steering shaft needed to be moved over a little and the HVAC box needed to be modded (lost the AC). Everything else went back into it's stock location. The intake is a factory prototype of the '96-'98 Cobra intake.


Believe it or not this has been a very inexpensive project. The only aftermarket parts on the truck are the traction bars and a driveshaft loop. I made the headers and motormount brackets. Everything else is either factory Ford or OEM replacement parts (a few may have been slightly modified).

Greg

 

Sounds like it's time to do up the suspension, and get some better rubber on her and she will be a reall runner. Looking good. My opinion it might look better sitting a bit more level, but I am sure you built it for you, not me. LOL.

Looking good though.

 

Cool stuff.

How does it go?

 

So you used the cobra 4.6, thats around 300 hp, so how does it run and how bad is traction? Also can I have it?

 

Now that's a Cobra Ranger for sure!

 

That is one bad @$$ ride! If I came up to your place with my truck and all donor materials motor, tranny, radiator, computer, gauges, etc do you think you could do it again? I could handle the suspension/rear. I know it'd be at a cost if you were willing, but if you've already done it it'll take considerably less time this go-around. I'm not exactly looking to get it done right now, could probly do it myself IF time ever allowed me, but having the available option would be handy!

 

Allow me to retort, Benaghetto, something like that would get you hurt, your use to a 3.slow. That would be like going from a bicycle to a viper hee hee. I wonder if he could do one with a manual tranny, maybe a 6 -speed manual from a cobra, that would be "so wicked". I have to stop now, I'm getting drowl all over my keyboard.

 

That must some awesome ride! I can only imagine what would happen if he were able to get good traction? and it looks totally stock, except for the relocated fuel door. The perfect sleeper!

 

It's kinda funny you made a comparison like that, this was my last project. Sold it when we bought the new house.


The engine in the Ranger is actually out of a Mark VIII. Same as a Cobra except the cast crank and .010" less lift on the exhaust valves. The Mark VIII 4.6 was rated at 280hp. It now has the Cobra intake/throttle body and a much freer flowing exhaust so it should be a little closer to the Cobra's power.

I took it to the strip one day last summer to see what it would do in "stock" form. Stock being no engine mods (except the intake and exhaust), factory Mark VIII tune, no stall converter, no shift kit, and 3.73 gears. It was about 98* and very humid (nobody was running good). I made 18 passes that day and the truck never skipped a beat. The best time of the day was only a 14.32, i was hoping for at least one 13.99 or better. I did beat an '01 Mustang GT (lightly modded) three times in a row. There was an '01 Lightning there with a fresh air intake and his best time for the day was a 14.08 so I didn't feel too bad. A guy at the track put my truck's times and the weather comditions into his laptop and it showed a corrected time of 13.64. That would have been really cool.

Now I'm working on the things it needs to be faster. I've already switched to 4.10 gears. Still needs a fuel pump, injectors, stall converter, shift kit, and a custom tune. I have a small nitrous kit ready to go in just in case it needs a little extra. I'd like this thing to look nearly stock while being able to click off high 12s. We'll see how far I get with it this summer.

Greg

 

That looks and sounds absolutely awesome, but I am suprised at the size of those 4.6s, that thing is almost as wide or maybe even a little wider than my big block, you did a great job on getting that in there.


Ok who is next, I want to see one with a 5.4 supercharged lightening engine installed. lol

 

Anyway you could do a write up or do you have one somewhere?

Looks awesome!

 

Check the links in his signature. He's got kind of a picture storybook of the process. Tho I'm sure everyone would like a little more details of everything and a few more pics. I'd be interested in how the gauges turned out myself!

 

Here's the guages. Only Ranger in town with a 140 mph speedo.

 

I remember seeing those now! lol I thought they were the original w/o looking at it very close. Was there anything you had to do to fit it?

 

Yes, lots.