V8 in a Ranger?

[crain_christoph]

Have any of yall ever put a V8 in a ranger??? We replaced the clutch last weekend and the clutch grabs better but its still not shifting right so with that little problem and the fact that i have a 4 banger and get like 10 or 12 miles to the gallon I have decided that I need a 302 in my little piece of s***. Is anybody brave enough or dumb enough to help me tackle this??? Not anytime to soon but I would like to start collecting the parts and maybe do it by the end of summer. Hell while we are at it might as well do a SAS. *** Any ideas or do yall just think im a crazy newbie?

[robertf03]

Find a wrecked five-oh explorer and move all the parts over.

10-12 mpg on a 4 cyl sounds like something is wrong

[RCcola55]

if you wait till the summer ill be putting a 393 in one

[BroncoJo]

Not hard to do. I'm in the process of puting a big block ford in a bronco II... kinda.

There are all sort of kits and write ups for putting a small block in a ranger.

[Seth]

Is it your daily driver?

[crain_christoph]

yuh its my dd. Did you buy a kit for your bronco2? How much was it? 5.0 explorer would that be a more direct fit???

[BroncoJo]

You could say my BII is more of a custom job.

A 5.0 out of a 4x4 explorer would work but you will also need a transmission. "Fitting" a small block is not the problem its every thing else that goes along with it.

I'm guessing you have the masda R1 5 speed and to run a small block you need a masda R2 to run a 5.0. You could look for a V-6 and throw a supercharger on it, which would be an easier swap.

What year is your ranger?

[Gearhead61]

www.therangerstation.com

It's been done MANY times! The 302 into a Ranger is a pretty common swap.

[uglyota]

sounds like you need a tuneup. Ever change plugs, wires...air filter?
If your tranny is like "other" japanese trannys, maybe it has that shifter seat bushing that wears out and falls apart. If so that will make your gearfinding more positive and is a cheap repair

[crain_christoph]

the truck is a 95 i had wires and plugs put on when i bought it which now that i think about it was over a year ago. Im running a K&N. Shifter seat bushing??? How can you tell if thats the problem?? Can you look at my truck?

[uglyota]

Can you look at my truck?

Sure, point 'er NW and start driving now, and you should be here about the time I come stumbling out of the Satellite Bar
The way most people describe a worn shifter seat bushing is that the shifter is "sloppy." This bushing is a little plastic donut that the shifter sits and slides on as you shift gears. When it wears out/breaks the shifter kind of flops around loosely, and your fulcrum is no longer stationery and therefore makes it tougher to find a gear. This is on a Toyota though, I know next to nothing about Fords. Like Flem said, not even aggressive driving should cause 10mpg on a 4banger. Clean TB, look for vacuum leaks, clogged cat? You've got something major robbing power.

[robertf03]

Sure, point 'er NW and start driving now, and you should be here about the time I come stumbling out of the Satellite Bar

I assume that patrons orbit uranus?

[uglyota]

hey wait a second...'95 ranger 4x4 with 4-cyl and 5speed? is it an extended cab flareside? Tell you what, drive it up here and I'll give you $500 for it. I'll even pay for your gas and buy you a plane ticket back. Keep your eye out for an '88 SHO and Total Chaos suspension kit on your way up here

[BroncoJo]

the truck is a 95 i had wires and plugs put on when i bought it which now that i think about it was over a year ago. Im running a K&N. Shifter seat bushing??? How can you tell if thats the problem?? Can you look at my truck?

If you need someone to see whats wrong with your truck I'll be working on my sh!t today and you can stop by.

From my experience with 4 cylinder rangers is that you drive like hell and still get 18mgp.

[Seth]

that thing should have 8 spark plugs in it. is your check engine light on?