Want go fast!!

What is the best thing to do to make a 1986 ford ranger with a four banger go fast. Anything goes, exceapt the truck.

put a 5.0 mustang engine in it.

What is the best thing to do to make a 1986 ford ranger with a four banger go fast. Anything goes, exceapt the truck.

I would recommend geting a donor vehicle w/ 2.3T. S/Ced 4.0L would be another option to consider. 5.0L H.O. would be pretty quick, but it's been done by everyone and their brother.

The designers didn't have speed in mind when they designed that, think barn door in the wind. I have a 2.9L 88' Ranger that's pretty quick. I spent about $3000 on the 2.9L (even have a super charger I've been meaning to install), it smashes my 85' Grand Prix w/ 262ci sbc V8 from Monza Spider 4bbl., mild cam, Turbo 350. Going to take it down the strip once I get the S/C on finally, not sure what it's getting in the 1/4 mile, but I do know it gets high 6 sec. on 0-60.

Pete

yeah i was thinking about going with like a 4.0 v6.
I hear that you can get ok mpg. Plus if the equations i found are right i can easily get the 220 hp to get 13 sec quater mile.
But i must ask.
how expensive would it be,
would it sound cool, or like a lame tuner
would it be acceptible to the hotroder comunit to have a cowl inducted hood

yeah i was thinking about going with like a 4.0 v6.
I hear that you can get ok mpg. Plus if the equations i found are right i can easily get the 220 hp to get 13 sec quater mile.
But i must ask.
how expensive would it be,
would it sound cool, or like a lame tuner
would it be acceptible to the hotroder comunit to have a cowl inducted hood

4.0Ls are nice motors. Were you looking at going with the easier OBD-I OHV or the more complicated OBD-II SOHC? The SOHC is far superior, but not as much torque. I got smoked in my OHV 262 V8 Chevy by a 4.6L SOHC 4.6L last night. I beat this same 4.6L T-Bird car in my built up 88' 2.9L OHV Ranger. :) The 4.0L OHV is in the same 'Colonge' family (made in Germany). 220h.p. would be difficult with the OHV motor.

Price and speed are difficult to determine. Tire size, rear end, transmission, etc all have factors. Manuals tend to do better since autos are power hogs. You would want better gearing if you're going to be doing quarter or eighth miles. You must determine this before getting a cam shaft ground, as they'll ask every single aspect to help you determine a grind that's going to be happy. What do you see your self spending? 13 sec. quarter mile is a good time for 4.0L Ranger, I don't know if it could be achieved with that motor in that truck without forced induction. There's a s/ced 3.8L around here that runs 12/13s with hotter cams and other mods. There's other forums with great information regarding high performance 4.0L modifications (all contain 'ranger'). They'll be able to help you out a lot.

I've never been the one to give a shit about what people thought, if you like the Cowl hood, I say go for it.

Pete

I've never been the one to give a shit about what people thought, if you like the Cowl hood, I say go for it.

Pete

Thanks for that pete. As far as gearing I have a cheep auto tranny lined up and sence like always price is a major detriming factor I think I will have to go with that. Along with the tranny I have a 370 rear end lined up for this truck. So I think i should be able to get somthing to the ground, maybe not 13s but close, and agian thanks.

Thanks for that pete. As far as gearing I have a cheep auto tranny lined up and sence like always price is a major detriming factor I think I will have to go with that. Along with the tranny I have a 370 rear end lined up for this truck. So I think i should be able to get somthing to the ground, maybe not 13s but close, and agian thanks.

You probably already have a 3.73:1 7.5" in that model. 3.73, I consider, would make a good "street" truck for this V6. Some 4cyls. came w/ 4.10:1, but it's more common in the newer Spash Rangers. My friend's 3.55:1 7.5" holds up just fine to a high output 5.0L. Autos are fine, just make sure that you use a 4.0L A4LD. The 2.9L A4LD will not hold. The 2.6L, 2.8L, 2.9L, and the 4.0L OHV share the same bellhousing, but that's about the only thing they have in common. You're not limited to this, there are other transmission you can use:

3 Speed C5 will work from 83-84 Ranger w/ the 2.8L.
The C5 bellhousing can be adapted to use the 3 speed C4 transmission found behind V8s.
A W/C 87?-94 T5 is also possible using a W/C T4 bellhousing from an early 2.8L Mustang. The difficult part is that Rangers are hydrolic clutch and the T5 is not. Some fabrication will be required.

I think you would be impressed with high 14s, low 15s, you would still be beating some V8s with a V6. It really pisses people off. I actually have a 10,000 RPM aluminum flywheel for my 2.9L for the W/C T5 conversion. But I wasn't planning on installing it until I get my blower installed. I am running a stock valve train with a high lift cam, it's not right, my valves are walking and bottoms out too soon, my power band starts at around 2,800 RPM. It's just not strong enough right now for forced induction.

Good Luck,
Pete

I have just been given a realization, when i said that i would go with the 4.0 swap my friend made fun of me and called me lazy. I said that it was the best way for me to go. He pointed out the possibility of tranfering the componets from a ranchero into the little ranger.
Just woundering would this work, it sounds like it could they are close to the same size.

I have just been given a realization, when i said that i would go with the 4.0 swap my friend made fun of me and called me lazy. I said that it was the best way for me to go. He pointed out the possibility of tranfering the componets from a ranchero into the little ranger.
Just woundering would this work, it sounds like it could they are close to the same size.

It's not going to be a direct bolt in, the came w/ 260 V6, 302, 351 and the 427 (V8s). 302 and 351 will fit with lots of modification, not sure about the 427, might have to really cut that thing up. $$$ Anything is possible, how much money do you have and how skilled are you with the sawzal? :)

Pete