small blck engine swap
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
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small blck engine swap
ok guys so i got a 302 from a 72 f100, i am going to do a mild build on it and put it in my 89 ranger 2wd that has a 2.9 and 5spd, questions are, where do i get the engine mounts and headers to fit? its also gonna be carburated so im gonna pull out all the wiring and throw in a painless racing wire harness, my other question is wut is the wms to wms on the rear end i have and can i throw throw in a 9" rear end? and will the stock tranny hook up to the small blck or will i have to get a different tranny? thx guys!
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Huntsville, AL
Do a search on google and you will find mounts and headers. The transmission will not work unless you find a v8 bellhousing for it. You might as well just replace it though as they are not very strong. Your truck should have a 7.5 rear end, it will hold up as long as you dont try and do a bunch of burnouts. You will probably want some kind of lsd though so you dont just spin one tire. I'd recommend an 8.8 with 4.10 gears and lsd out of a ranger or explorer. The 9 inch is overkill and likely too much trouble than its worth.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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Well, you maybe able to since you are swaping to the small block and you have the bell housing. I don't know if you need the bell housing from a mustang with a T-5 or any small block bell housing will except the T-5. James Duff could tell you for sure.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: McKenzie River
Consider scrapping the manual trans route. Built a friends 83 302 ranger 2wd, used a C6 auto, it has been flawlessly reliable for over 10 years. Another guy I know built a 85 ranger w/302 wT5 5spd, he has had nothing but trouble, u joints ,rear axle, clutch, motor mounts, the manual just seems to be harder on the trucks drivetrain, and this guy does not drive it hard. The 302 automatic ranger started life as a 4cyl. manual, and it was easy to get rid of the clutch pedal and mount a floor shifter from a auto trans ranger.
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2001
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The T5 bolt question depends on which bell housing he has. They still used some of the old square bolt pattern trannies in that time frame and they used some of the Wide patterned ones. The T5 will be the wide pattern some of the bell housings will have both patterns drilled and tapped some will have provisions for both patterns but only one will be drilled and tapped. These are usually cast iron. The aluminium ones are usually made for only one style transmission. And yes the automatic is easier on the drive train.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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If I was going to all the trouble to put a small block in a ranger, I would want a tire shredding, gear chirpping manual. I see no reason that the drivetrain wouldn't hold up as well in a ranger as it does in a mustang if done properly. The T-5 is a sturdy tranny. Back that up with a good 8.8 or 9", it should be fine. A well bulit C-6 can be exciting and chirp gears as well, I just perfer manual trannies myself. To me, automatics are boring, where as a manual gives you full control over the engine and there just plain fun. Also it isn't easy to find a C-6 with a small block bolt pattern, there were a few, but there not real common.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: McKenzie River
If I was going to all the trouble to put a small block in a ranger, I would want a tire shredding, gear chirpping manual. I see no reason that the drivetrain wouldn't hold up as well in a ranger as it does in a mustang if done properly. The T-5 is a sturdy tranny. Back that up with a good 8.8 or 9", it should be fine. A well bulit C-6 can be exciting and chirp gears as well, I just perfer manual trannies myself. To me, automatics are boring, where as a manual gives you full control over the engine and there just plain fun. Also it isn't easy to find a C-6 with a small block bolt pattern, there were a few, but there not real common.