Project 5.0 / 2010

philhilljr · #1 07-01-2010, 07:28 PM

Ok , I've posted a couple of help questions and it seems you guys are very serious and very helpful when it comes to these rangers. So I've decided to try and make a thread of my 5.0 build into my 84 Ranger 2.3l. I got this thing for 500 dollars as the previous owner said the carbureator caught fire and he didn't feel like fixing the truck. Good for me as I didn't want the engine anyways . Here are a couple of pics .

ranger101 · #2 07-01-2010, 07:52 PM

So you're dropping a 5.0 in it?

philhilljr · #3 07-01-2010, 07:55 PM

Here are a couple of picks of some dash work I did inside the truck. It's a Dolphin 6 guage set with some black diamond sheetmetal I picked up. The top of the dash came out of a 88 Bronco II from the junkyard that I cleaned up and painted. And 1 pic of the rear of the truck after I installed a DJM flip kit. Like I posted in another thread , the hole in the flip bracket didn't allow the stud in the middle of the leaf spring to come all the way through in which didn't allow the bracket to seat fully onto the leaf spring. I was wondering if I should have drilled the hole out a bit more or if this is the way it's supposed to fit. Please help out if you know.

philhilljr · #4 07-01-2010, 08:00 PM

Yeah , gotta 87 Grand Marquis that i bought a year ago as a daily driver with a 5.0 in it but ended up getting a 00 crown vic due to a couple of electrical problems in the marquis. So my dad and I plan on dropping it in after swapping in some different heads , cam , intake and carb. I'm hoping it turns out pretty good.

philhilljr · #5 07-03-2010, 06:13 AM

After drilling out the holes a bit in the DJM flip brackets to the rear of the truck this is what I came up with.

philhilljr · #6 07-03-2010, 06:14 AM

After drilling out the hole a bit in the DJM flip brackets to the rear of the truck this is what I came up with.

Airtruksrus · #7 07-12-2010, 05:22 AM

Looks like a great start to the project, keep up the good work.

Beater · #8 07-12-2010, 08:40 PM

Kinda looks like a gasser , you should keep it like that. If the 5.0 weighs it down, put a lift on the front. Lovin the longbed and the fly mirrors.

philhilljr · #9 07-13-2010, 05:46 PM

Hey u guys , I've been hearing that Explorer heads will be a good option to put on my 302 for my swap. Any thoughts of that and what type of cam should I be looking for.

More_Cowbell · #10 07-16-2010, 03:02 PM

i believe explorer 5.0 heads are hard to get headers for due to the spark plug angle

Psychopete · #11 07-16-2010, 05:19 PM

The 96-97.5 Explorer heads (GT40) have the normal angles, GT40-Ps are the different ones later on (but they were an improvement). IIRC, the Mustang Cobra GT40s had slightly smaller combustion chambers, but can't remember what year. Best bet would be aftermarket heads. Stock HO cam or close to would be a good one to go with, depends on your goals..

philhilljr · #12 07-20-2010, 11:26 AM

Thanks you guys for the info. I still have a little time to make up mind so I'll take everything in consideration. Psychopete> I want the truck to be street drivable with track potential. ( If that makes sense ) I want to be able to drive it when I want but take it to the track and run some decent numbers , thats why I asked about the cam and heads. But again I'm kinda working on a budget here.

philhilljr · #13 07-20-2010, 11:33 AM

Here are some more pics of my interior work.

philhilljr · #14 07-20-2010, 11:36 AM

After painting the interior

philhilljr · #15 07-20-2010, 11:40 AM

And a couple more