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  #1  
Old 08-21-2012, 06:45 PM
hotrod hotrod is offline
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Exclamation 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

i want to put a 289 or 302 in my 87 ranger, i dont wanna piece stuff together, i was wondering if someone sold a kit that had everything, i want to keep it a manual tranny and it is 2wd. If no kit sells everything, could someone advise me to the best things to buy for the price, thanks mike
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  #2  
Old 08-22-2012, 08:47 AM
Psychopete Psychopete is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

Search google if you want a kit, but most come with Hedman 89500 headers - the problem with these is the passenger side points down at the i-beam. There's a possibility for interference with a beam hitting the exhaust if you don't get the bend tight enough.

Best is to search around for what others have done to get an idea and go from there. The big things are oil pan (dual sump works and is common), headers, motor mounts, and radiator. There's really not that much to piece together to get going. Then just fill in the voids as you go. In a lot of cases, piecing together can be cheaper if you spend enough time looking.
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Old 08-22-2012, 11:24 PM
knightmare1015 knightmare1015 is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

^this. This question gets asked quite a bit. The only ones that I know is Jegs and James Duff Enterprises. And both go from 87 to the 97 model years. This is alot of work and it will take time. You also have to look at the cost vs. vehicle value. That and the fact that I'm now disable is the only reason my truck doesn't have a V8 and automatic tranny (physically not able to drive a manual tranny anymore).
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  #4  
Old 08-23-2012, 04:29 AM
hotrod hotrod is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

thanks for info, personally its not about value to me cuz im not gonna resell, but i just needed to know everything i would need to get started if the kit doesn't come with everything, i didn't know if it intalled more than a few parts, ive seen some that say you need a hundred things and others that say you just need a couple, but thanks for all the info it will help
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Old 08-23-2012, 09:57 AM
Psychopete Psychopete is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

Those 4 things will get you started at least, but what you'll need really depends on the build. Like if you using a T-5, you're going to have to add an external slave cylinder to the transmission since it's cable operated in a Mustang. Really need to pay attention to the oil filter relocation fit, the filter on the engine where it is factory hits the steering box. You need a relocation kit with 90 degree outlets off the engine. And it needs to be installed before you drop it in. Good to use good fittings and braided line here and not barbs, cheap oil hose, and hose clamps like what comes in a lot of kits. Might need a different throttle cable, but depends on your engine management. I could go on all day, the best is to get the engine in there and start hooking stuff up.
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Old 08-28-2012, 08:11 AM
knightmare1015 knightmare1015 is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

Quote:
Originally Posted by hotrod View Post
thanks for info, personally its not about value to me cuz im not gonna resell, but i just needed to know everything i would need to get started if the kit doesn't come with everything, i didn't know if it intalled more than a few parts, ive seen some that say you need a hundred things and others that say you just need a couple, but thanks for all the info it will help
I can give you a couple of links that has alot of info and parts list. This one has a complete parts list and detailed info along with some pictures and a video of it running so turn up the speakers on the video. You won't be disappointed:

http://www.v8ranger.com/

This one here is alot older and is not quite as correct as the first link I gave you but it should be a huge help. The only problem I have with this link is that it's not been updated for quite some time:

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...nversions.html


Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychopete View Post
Those 4 things will get you started at least, but what you'll need really depends on the build. Like if you using a T-5, you're going to have to add an external slave cylinder to the transmission since it's cable operated in a Mustang. Really need to pay attention to the oil filter relocation fit, the filter on the engine where it is factory hits the steering box. You need a relocation kit with 90 degree outlets off the engine. And it needs to be installed before you drop it in. Good to use good fittings and braided line here and not barbs, cheap oil hose, and hose clamps like what comes in a lot of kits. Might need a different throttle cable, but depends on your engine management. I could go on all day, the best is to get the engine in there and start hooking stuff up.
Yep. We could go on all day about this. Plus we also don't know which V8 he's using either. Did it come out of an Econoline van, truck or mustang? The configuration is different on all 3 of those vehicles which can create alot of clearance issues. I find that the best one to use for his model year would be the Econoline van because it's already configured for tight spaces. He might get lucky with a fox body Mustang since it also has been somewhat configured for tight spaces.
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Last edited by knightmare1015; 08-28-2012 at 08:14 AM.
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  #7  
Old 08-29-2012, 05:30 AM
Airtruksrus Airtruksrus is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

If you need any further info on this, got plenty from gutting out an 86 Mustang gt with the T5 on my Cardomain pages. Used a Willwood pull type slave cylinder attached to the belhousing to the clutch pedal, works great.
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  #8  
Old 08-29-2012, 02:57 PM
hotrod hotrod is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

yea, mine has that old fuel injection, i want to get rid of all that and have just a carb, how do i go about wiring it up, and how many wires can i by-pass and eliminate is my next question, thanks.
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Old 08-30-2012, 06:40 AM
Psychopete Psychopete is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

the best thing to do is to get an electrical vacuum trouble shooting manual for your truck by Helm inc, it makes the wiring easy. I've swapped into an '88 truck and working on an '87 now. Basically the whole engine main harness can go (but keep it handy, you'll probably reuse some of the alternator harness). The harness that runs on the driver's side to the head lights; your cab power runs through there. When you take out the mainharness, you're likely going to take out part of the neutral safety switch. That's where the evtm comes in handy for where that wiring runs in the cab plugs on the driver's side.

What engine do you have? You can retain stock EFI fuel pump set up with a return style regulator. A carbed 2.0L tank is strait forward... You can use the return on an EFI tank as the feed to the carb and use an external mounted pump, but there's a check valve in the tank that you have to remove off the return.
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  #10  
Old 08-31-2012, 01:20 AM
knightmare1015 knightmare1015 is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

Quote:
Originally Posted by hotrod View Post
yea, mine has that old fuel injection, i want to get rid of all that and have just a carb, how do i go about wiring it up, and how many wires can i by-pass and eliminate is my next question, thanks.
Painless wiring systems offer a wiring conversion that allows you to use most of what you but not all of it. Plus Painless will need to know the year of the truck, and engine you plan on using. Ron Francis Wiring has better quality, and is alot cheaper than Painless Performace will ever hope to be.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychopete View Post
the best thing to do is to get an electrical vacuum trouble shooting manual for your truck by Helm inc, it makes the wiring easy. I've swapped into an '88 truck and working on an '87 now. Basically the whole engine main harness can go (but keep it handy, you'll probably reuse some of the alternator harness). The harness that runs on the driver's side to the head lights; your cab power runs through there. When you take out the mainharness, you're likely going to take out part of the neutral safety switch. That's where the evtm comes in handy for where that wiring runs in the cab plugs on the driver's side.

What engine do you have? You can retain stock EFI fuel pump set up with a return style regulator. A carbed 2.0L tank is strait forward... You can use the return on an EFI tank as the feed to the carb and use an external mounted pump, but there's a check valve in the tank that you have to remove off the return.
^ Yep. Hey Pete, how many of these V8 swaps have you done on rangers?
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  #11  
Old 08-31-2012, 02:51 AM
Airtruksrus Airtruksrus is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

Quote:
Originally Posted by hotrod View Post
yea, mine has that old fuel injection, i want to get rid of all that and have just a carb, how do i go about wiring it up, and how many wires can i by-pass and eliminate is my next question, thanks.

I ordered an oem wiring book for the 86 to 88 version Ranger which the Ford company stopped selling a while back. Purchased the Haynes for both the Ranger and Mustang for the comparisons. Kept all my notes for the wiring on the schematics to show which wires were important and those to cap off. What made it even simpler, the wiring from the computer on the mustang up to the motor was a direct swap with the Rangers computer harness except i had to get the fuel pump relay and incorporate it into the mustang harness. The distributor and alternator from the Ranger hooked up with no issues.

If taking out the computer harness altogether, Knightmare and Psychopete probably have more experience and alot of info to go off of. I just stuck with the efi since all the equipment was already in place.
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  #12  
Old 08-31-2012, 11:52 AM
knightmare1015 knightmare1015 is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

Quote:
Originally Posted by Airtruksrus View Post
I ordered an oem wiring book for the 86 to 88 version Ranger which the Ford company stopped selling a while back. Purchased the Haynes for both the Ranger and Mustang for the comparisons. Kept all my notes for the wiring on the schematics to show which wires were important and those to cap off. What made it even simpler, the wiring from the computer on the mustang up to the motor was a direct swap with the Rangers computer harness except i had to get the fuel pump relay and incorporate it into the mustang harness. The distributor and alternator from the Ranger hooked up with no issues.

If taking out the computer harness altogether, Knightmare and Psychopete probably have more experience and alot of info to go off of. I just stuck with the efi since all the equipment was already in place.
Kool deal man. Most of what I know came from doing a 350 SBC swap into a 1996 S10. Then after 2 weeks of pure bliss, I screwed up and let a friend (exfriend now) borrow it and he totaled it. I learned alot before, during and after the actual swap. The beauty about the Ford Ranger is that there's a 90% chance you won't have to swap out the rear end like you usually do with the S10.
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  #13  
Old 09-01-2012, 02:02 PM
Psychopete Psychopete is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

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Originally Posted by knightmare1015 View Post
Hey Pete, how many of these V8 swaps have you done on rangers?
Working on my second one, but no stranger to engine swaps. The v8 in my pic is a 327, and it isn't in a Ford.
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  #14  
Old 09-02-2012, 07:18 PM
knightmare1015 knightmare1015 is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

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Working on my second one, but no stranger to engine swaps. The v8 in my pic is a 327, and it isn't in a Ford.
I figured as much. I was sure that you'd done more than one but wasn't sure which vehicle platform. Yes I know the pic is a 327. That's a really good solid engine that you can count on.
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  #15  
Old 09-04-2012, 08:40 PM
adtranengineer adtranengineer is offline
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Default Re: 1987 ranger 4 cyl. to v8

I really think these kinds of mods are cool, but certainly beyond my abilities. My advice is this: Research all the costs involved in putting that V8 into your Ranger. Add some extra for unknowns. Then (flame suit on) go research how much you could buy a Dodge Dakota with 5.2L and manual transmission for (say early 90s - somewhere along there they came out with the 5.2L magnum). Please, no Dodge vs. Ford arguments. I have driven my Ranger for 18 years and I like it. But the Dakota is a decent truck and you should be able to pick one up cheap. And you don't have to re-engineer the drivetrain (flame suit off).

Also, I will tell you this: My 1994 Ranger is a 4.0L, 5 sp. manual and it is very touchy to drive in wet weather. The rear tires break lose very easily in curves, or especially starting when stopped on a hill. I'm not sure I would want a V8 in a Ranger, at least not without bigger tires and wheels for more traction. So add that to your list too.

Don
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