Dangerous Rangerous

[Fastest Caskets]

All right, here's the deal. I've recently inherited a 5.0 HO from a 91 mustang gt. I have the entire harness, the computer, the MAF, the engine cradle, clutch, flywheel, everything but a trans and the mustang itself.
So after a little research, i learned that a few guys have succesfull mated a 5spd trans from a 97ish 5spd F-150 to their mountaineer engines. I just happen to have a few of these hanging around, so now I got this stang motor with a RWD 5spd mounted to it. Awsome, love it. Now I need a whip. I have my choice of a 95 Ranger extra cab, long bed styleside. OR a 98 shortcab shortbed flare side. Both are RWD, both are 5spd. I'm really digging the 98 flare side, I dont like that it's OBD II. I know I can make either one RUN, and as of next year I can register the 98 without the fear of emissions (here in mass anything 15yrs or older is emissions exempt), but that doesn't mean I want to drive a christmas tree (Check engine and everything on the dash). So how possible is it to take this obd II truck and do a nice CLEAN swap. Yeah I can fire it up and beat the bag out of it, and I like the style better than the 95, but I think the 95 is more realistic.
Thanks for reading, any advice is GREATLY appreciated, I will continue my research and try to post pics of my driveline and truck body options shortly
Ideally my truck is going to be rwd (no 4x4) and lowered, kinda the opposite of my explorer.
Should I use the mustang dash along with the engine and harness and run obd I everything? Should I cut the ranger harness and force this thing to work? Maybe get an OBD II compliant 5.0 F150 harness in the interest of keeping the ranger OBII with a 1990 mustang engine....
~Fastest Caskets

 

[Fastest Caskets]

once my body selection is made, i plan on getting to a point where I can run and drive, and then will pull the engine back out for upgrades. I have a set of GT40 P heads collecting dust along with the upper and lower intakes. I also plan on upgrading to 24lb injectors and airflow meter complements of the lincoln mark 8's i love so dearly. throttle body is a must... but I'm getting ahead of myself. First things first...

~fastest caskets

 

[Fastest Caskets]

wow! just read scott b's entire build thread from start to finish, what a journey! cant wait to start notching the a/c box to cram 10lbs of engine into a 5lb bay!

 

[Fastest Caskets]

Got some vids of the two rangers i'm debating over, and a short shot of the power plant. Still in "Research and Development" stage, but anxious to get this thing off the ground. Let me know what you think

the engine and trans: http://youtu.be/Lk1lWIQmSXI (Thanks BroncoIIguy!)

the trucks: http://youtu.be/PZs5UbtgFqY

 

[Rick]

Good points on both. The extra room is handy in the extended cab and the flareside bed looks cool.... How about making a frankentruck and put the flareside bed on the extra cab?

 

[Fastest Caskets]

Good points on both. The extra room is handy in the extended cab and the flareside bed looks cool.... How about making a frankentruck and put the flareside bed on the extra cab?

I was (and still am) seriously considering just that! I do like the steering rack in the orange one over the steering box in the red one though...

 

[Fastest Caskets]

I may have to postpone project "Dangerous Rangerous"(aka.StRanger) due to title issues... I should just move to newhampshire, Live free or die. Oh well. In a week or two I'm sure I'll end up with another ranger (with a title) that has a bad engine

 

[Fastest Caskets]

Haven't been on in a few days, but here's whats up...
Cant locate a title for either ranger I was contemplating, and honestley, the red one was showing its age as far as rust... I got an 84 regular cab.. not to excited about that one and a mint green 94 ex-cab-long bed. That one is automatic.... I could take the pedals, column, and nessecary clutch plumbing from the red 95, but I would rather start with something that already is manual trans...
I know I'll find my truck eventually. This will give me time to gather parts. Today I got a disk brake rear end from a 96 mountaineer. 3:73 locker with some realy cool forward facing controll arms, so I know how I'm gonna put the power to the ground now...
Will update when I have new info:roll:

 

[Fastest Caskets]

Sorry for the total lack of activity. I've been very busy working on everyonelses everything, and have found little time to be online. Dangerous Rangerous, aka Stranger, Aka TruckStang or wtf may not be entirely dead. I'll spare the technicalities of titling and registration and just say that it looks pheasable. I've been picking here and there an hour at a time on my lunch breaks when it's not raining too much or I don't have to work on someone elses stuff, heres the few clips I've managed to gather between then and now:

The Death Sentence for the 95 extra cab: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMBecGborDQ

The 98 flare side after removal of the 4 cyl engine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICgc3Wj88iA

The 98 after removal of the 5spd trans, and the Mustang 5.0 out of the cradle being prepped for the inital test fit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI3Ju-TQ_Is


Extra crap I've saved that may or may not make it to the ranger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31LIgdqW8Y8

Untill next time,
Fastest Caskets

 

[Fastest Caskets]

Ran into a hitch admitadly much earlier than now. The 98 ranger 4cyl fuel delivery system does not allow for a return line, where the 91 mustang requires one. Basically, the ranger has 1 fuel line and the mustang motor needs 2. So I've been saving different fuel pumps and tanks, saving complete fuel line setups from rangers and expeditions with the idea of changing the entire sending unit and adding a fuel line, possible the entire tank if need be.
After removing the bed on my hour break today and some consultation with experienced peers, the solution became evident.... and although I broke 2 of 6 bolts holding the bed to the frame, I'm very happy I conducted this exploratory surgery.
Videos to follow

 

[Fastest Caskets]

i pods charging, gonna have to wait for videos. Today I installed the v8 transmission, which was difficult due to the fact that the crossmember was uncooperative . Got it in about where it should be, gonna have to get an off center mount to push the trans back about 2 inches. I'm sure theres something with the mount I need, but untill I get the trans squared off, I cant set the engine or fab up motor mounts. Probably gonna see what Jegs and summit have to offer to correct this. Might even swing by the ranger station site and see what those guys are doing.

BTW: NEVER WORK ALONE!!!!! My hoist got stuck pulling up while I was under the truck on my back trying to line up the trans mount! I scrambled out as quick as I could but by the time I could reach the hoist and turn it off the wheels of the truck were 3 ft off the ground! Sliced my hand open pretty good in my panic. Glad I had the chain hooked up real good, or the thing would have fallen and crushed me, my body probably wouldn't have been discovered untill Tuesday!
Videos to follow
Fastest Caskets

 

[Fastest Caskets]

Finally addind the video of the truck after the removal of the bed to determine plausability of adding a fuel line return to make the Mustang engine work. This video is to supplement the second to last post.

Ranger after bed removal: http://youtu.be/kWrpO_uExvc


(yes thats a beer in my hand, but it's after work hours)

 

[Fastest Caskets]

I spent my lunch break today making a new transmission crossmember. I couldn't take any video because the I Pod was at home, but I plan on getting a shot tommorow. Basically, the trans needs to be moved back about 2" and slightly downward to allow for smooth operation of the shifter. The existing crossmember has already been rigged in, with a sloppy nut and bolt setup that require three sets of hands to work on. The new member I made from a Crown Vic cross member that was going to waste, and I have to say, I think it came out great. This "should" allow for ease of intaliation of the entire driveline assembly. Once my new crossmember is installed, I can (Hopefully) begin test fitting the engine in the bay.
Got a lot of work on my plate right now, NOT related to the ranger, but I'm hoping I can continue to take advantage of my short hour lunch breaks to tinker with her.

Fastest Caskets

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Subscribin'!

 

[Rick]

Glad I had the chain hooked up real good, or the thing would have fallen and crushed me, my body probably wouldn't have been discovered untill Tuesday!

You don't want your username to come true

 

[Fastest Caskets]

Nothing new today. Gotta work on a customers car during my free time after work, but I can't complain about making extra money although it is making it hard to get much else done.

I did re-bend the hook in my engine chain today, the weight of the truck kinda straightened it out...

 

[Fastest Caskets]

Heres the crossmember I made out of an old crown victoria cross member, you'll see how the shifter is hitting the floor and is way too close to the dash.
I think from here on in, I'm goin to remove the trans and re-bolt it to the engine, and start fitting the motor and trans in one piece. I dont want to get the tranny where I feel it will work only to find out theres no room for a radiator up front

New Crossmember: http://youtu.be/_qZOzK_MqYg

 

[Fastest Caskets]

Been busy lately, just finished a Maxima for a customer, and got a few other projects lined up, but found a few minutes to play with the ranger this week.
I decided the best way to fit this thing would be with the engine and trans together, so I pulled the trans back out. I gave the pressure plate and flywheel a quicky resurface with a really cool little tool that just goes onto a drill. Probably no good for warpage, but it really gives it a nice smooth glassy finish.
Re-assembled the clutch/flywheel, and then realised that I never had any bell housing bolts. I bought the engine without a trans, and had the trans hanging around going to waste. Found an old box truck with a ford drive line and scored those bolts, heres what I got... Not much, but something new

http://youtu.be/_QgpZs5JRfw

You may notice the electric fork lift the engine is suspended from. Thats the one that tried to kill me before. Working much better now

Got the fan and accesory brackets removed now, gotta neaten up under the hood of the truck, and most importantly budget some time between my fulltime job, my side work, and my family without cheating anyone...

 

[Fastest Caskets]

Got alot done today. Decided to spend my lunch break fitting the engine. Well, an hour wasn't enough and all I got done was jamming the engine in and getting it stuck. Stayed late and picked up where I left off at lunch

I ended up having to strip the water pump and harmonic balancer off the engine. That gave me the clearence on the radiator support but I still couldn't quite get past the exhaust manifolds which were getting stuck on the upper controll ar brackets:

Manifolds need to go: http://youtu.be/Yfeep7oyGoU

Of course this is when everyone wants to see what I'm up too, and tell me how there's not enough room, and of course they all appear right.
once the manifolds were off, (and I was alone) it began to look more uplifting

No more manifolds: http://youtu.be/4sg6PtdwX2M


So after much pushing, prying, swearing and sweating, it finally sat down nicely. It only needs to be moved back an inch or two and I'll be able to start measuring for the engine mounts. As of now, it looks like the oil filter fits fine, and with the explorer intake, I may not have to notch the a/c box. Nice to see it in there:

it fits: http://youtu.be/74_SIH5fXaA

Still got a LONG way to go, but I'm glad to get this far finally. Now I gotta consider headers with concern to placement of the steering shaft