Well,seeing that I've never heard of anything like this,I figured that I would see if anyone else had.
My nephew just bought a 1984 Ford Ranger 4X4 with a 4" Lift Kit and he wants to get every last horsepower out of the truck so that he can improve his 'off-roading'.He confronted me with the idea of a 302ci in the Ranger and asked if I could do it.I don't mind tackling a project like this,seeing that I've put 2 350's into Datsun Z car's.My Z car was next but it's now sold ,(I'm actually glad it's gone ).
Anyway,if anyone has ever heard of this,let me know and also where I can get reference to it.I am almost positive that it's been tackled before,seeing that it would be a nice workhorse around the house.I asked some local parts houses about it and they said that they would have just bought an F-150 with one already installed,which I agree.But,like I said,it would be nice to say that you have a V8 in such a little truck .
Please let me know if anyone has any ideas.He's wanting it ready by this fall so he can drive it to High School.KIDS :p .

Thanks For Your Help!
Izzy

Definately possible. You'll need to cut the frame a little, rearrange stuff, and a bunch of small things. My brother has an 84 Bronco II and hes thinking of the same thing. <a href="http://www.jamesduff.com/broncoII/v8conversion.html" target="_blank">http://www.jamesduff.com/broncoII/v8conversion.html</a>

put a 351w in a 89 bronce II last year for my sister. it is a pain in the a** but fun as He** to drive. Tell him if he is going to do it beef everything to the max. After I finished the truck for her she tore out the front end because she forgot it was in 4 wheel drive and wanted to race some kid she worked with.
other then that just tell him to take his time and it will come out great.

I have driven a 2 wheel drive '88 ranger with a 302 in it......that was fun. I imagine it is like the S-10/15 350 swap. The 4 wheel drive will complicate it a little, but always makes under car access easier

Good Luck, that'll be a fun little truck.

Izzy;

Before you invest in the 5.0, do some research on this. I am a Ford man all the way, but a small block Chevy is the easier transplant here. Buddy has done both, and swears the Chevy is the easier fit, and cheaper( no mod. required to oil system).

*gasp* A chevy in a ford?! <img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" />

I found a site last night that talked about doing the conversion and it seemed to me that it's easier than I thought.They did recommend that you get a body lift kit and install it to overcome banging the firewall and the under side of the pickup.

I haven't been able to look under the truck to see if it was a full frame or a subframe.Does anyone know?I don't want to put the 302 in a subframed pickup.I think that it's a full frame though because they make body lift kits for the truck??It's already got a 4" suspension kit on it and then another 3" for the body lift,some 33" tires and the 302,it'll take you anywhere that you need to go.I've already started looking for his engine block.I found one on E-Bay for $250 plus shipping.It's got a .030 punch and the cam bearings and the freeze plugs are already installed.He said that it's ready to build as far as that goes.

What would be the best cam to use in this little pickup?I want it to have the best torque that he can get seeing that he goes hunting every weekend in waste-deep mud and climbs some pretty da**ed steep hills.

I don't want to put a 350 in a Ford.Now,an older 32 Ford Coupe maybe I can see.But,a Ford Ranger 4X4..I don't like that idea.I've always been a fan of Ford engines seeing that they've been good to me.Chevy's never did do me a bit of good as far as their trucks go.I think that a 302 is better though because it's a bit lighter than the 350 only making the weight of the truck a total of 100 pounds above what the 4 cylinder in the truck weighed.Which it has a V6 in it now,but that site made reference to the 4 cylinder.

If I do this conversion,I am going to take pictures and write a conversion manual on it.Hey,it's a thought !Anyway,I will get some pictures and then also write down some notes.It's just an excellent idea I think.I never did think about the 302 in a Ranger until he said something.Kids do actually sit around and think of ways to spend money <img src="graemlins/spank.gif" border="0" alt="[spank]" /> .Oh well,You gotta Love 'Em!

Thanks For All Of The Help!
Izzy Middleton

its a full frame.

Comp cams makes extreme energy 4x4 cams for torque. Stock cams make pretty decent torque also. Are you doing a carbed 302 or FI (5.0) The FI 5.0s make more torque.

I'm going to build him a carbureted 302 for easy maintenence if needbe.I think that a Holley 650cfm 'Double Pumper' is what I'm going to use.I've always heard that they were good carbs so that's what I think that I'm going to use.

I know that the fuel injection will produce more torque but that costs more than what his dad wants to put into the engine lol.But oh well,he's 17 and he doesn't need alot of power lol.He does want it for torque seeing that he'd kill himself at 100 if he even tried to go that fast.

Thanks!
Izzy

Gotta love Ford loyalty.

Izzy, just remember, the newer 5.0s come w/factory roller cam.

i have an 89 2-wd shortbed under construction, you have to trim the heater housing for valve cover clearance, hedman makes headers for the swap, used a remote filter adapter, motor mounts were adapted with 1/4" flat plate with holes drilled, truck had a c-3 in it ,c-4 bolted in behind the 302, it's almost ready to roll, got sidetracked on my 406 in s-10 project. Forgot to add you need the double hump oil pan for crossmember clearance.

[ January 25, 2003: Message edited by: BOBCRMAN@aol.com ]</p>

Yeah I've been reading up on everything that I will need to do his conversion.His dad gave me $2000 to do the conversion and it's going to probably be hard doing it right for that amount of money.I found a short block 302 on E-Bay for $400 plus Shipping.Of course,it's got the crank,pistons,rods,cam,timing chain,and freeze plugs.Does that sound like a bad price?I can get some good heads for $200 a piece.I forgot the specs on them.

I want to get that engine,strip it down,and take it to the local machine shop and get him a good .030 punch.Then,get him some 10:1 Badger Flattops,mild 4X4 cam,Sealed Power rings,and an HEI distributor.Hey,can you guys help me with something?Do you guys recommend a timing chain or a gear drive?The gears are more expensive but I've heard that they work better.Is this true?

I plan on getting one of those Jeg's Gear Reduction Starters from them to get this 302 started.Is there any problem getting one of those to fit between the frame rail and the engine and are they good starters?

He wants a manual transmission so I plan on installing a T5 from a 1986-1995 Mustang and hook it all up to the transfer case and then the driveshaft.Maybe that will work out as I have planned.

I can get the Dana 35 front axle from the local pick n' pull I believe and then the 8.8" rear end.I don't know exactly what that will cost,but it will be better than buying a new one I'm sure and then turn around and get a 30 Day Money Back Guarntee from the junk yard.

The Ranger already has a nicely-installed 4" suspension lift.I plan on installing a 3" body lift to limit how much I have to beat the truck up with a hammer.

On that oil filter relocator kit,where did you guys that have done this conversion bolt up the filter mate under the hood?Also,is it possible to use one of those 'Shorty' Fram filters and screw it in the stock location on the block?I was thinking that you could but I don't know for sure.

Is there anywhere else besides from James Duff to buy those motor mounts for the conversion that are good quality?I was thinking that was a bit expensive at $120 a pair.

How does this setup sound to you guys?Do you think that everything will work?

Let Me Know!

Thanks!
Izzy

the new explorers come with a 5.0 and AWD so i would think that it wouldn't be too difficult.

Im guessing the 302 hasn't ever been rebuilt because you said you were going to bore it 30 over. So you're going to buy a used 302 for $400, then spend more money rebuilding it and adding 10 to 1 pistons? Then spend 400 more on some good heads? Thats already like 1000 dollars, are you sure you can do all the swap stuff for 1000? Look around in your local newspaper classifieds, usually some good deals in there.

Can you get an HEI distributor for a Ford???? I thought it was chevy stuff

Get a double roller timing chain, gears will transfer the crankshaft harmonics through the valve train and wear it out faster.

A stock starter should work with your 302. Those gear reduction starters are more for high compression motors and would be an unneccesary investment. That way you know it'll fit between the frame rails.

Everything else sounds good!