Quote:
Originally Posted by enkeivette
Why not just build an Explorer 5.0 and stroke it to a 347? Should be a lot easier getting that motor to live between your fenders.
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Couple points.
Its easier to get travel out of the back end of a Ranger. More room for shock mounting without interfering with the interior, can chop the frame behind the cab to get as much up travel as you want, and more room for larger tires through its travel once you 'modify' or get rid of the bed.
Easier and much cheaper to get more travel out of the TIB ranger suspension than it is out of the explorer A-arm's. Of course you could go equal length TIB on the explorer too. You can see setups capable of 20+ inches of travel with a TIB (limited to around 19") compared to maybe 16" limited to 14-15" with a much more expensive A-arm kit.
Ranger's are lighter.
As far as motor's go, You could swap a 5.0 relatively easily into a ranger as well. I see several problems. I doubt anyone will question the gen4/5 SBC's are several steps ahead of the SBF's in terms of technology (*shiver* did i just say that?).
An LSx will get better gas mileage than a built SBF. When talking about an offroad truck, fuel economy seems like a funny thing to nit pick about but when your running 33-35" tires, 4.11-4.88+ ring and pinion, your alignment is half ass backwards because of the TIB geometry + constant offroad hits, and the cab is jacked into the air it'll add up. A SBF built sufficiently to compete with a stock to mild LSx (call it ~400-450hp) will get maybe 6-10mpg in a CAR.
LS's have more potential and afaik weigh less (~450lbs for a fully dressed LS1 vs. ~500+ for a 302?).
Typically you'll get your LSx attached to a T-56 (unless you got the sissy 4L60 route :P). A double overdrive transmission will really help out of the aforementioned gas mileage issue.
As far as getting it to fit, its a matter of cropping a piece of your front crossmember (or fabbing a new one) to clear the oil pan and welding up motor/tranny mounts. Which shouldn't be a problem if you've got the tools/know-how to back half a truck, setup 4-link geometry, fab the roll cage, engine cage, and box the frame.
Biggest problem is getting ford and GM electronics to jive. Most guys just run a Chevy cluster or wire it up and correct with a Dakota Digital box.
Best part of all, it really pisses the ford guys off when they find out your ranger is bow tie powered.
