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Some of you may remember this little truck from previous threads and the poll I ran a few weeks back to determine my next move with it.
Well - my new goal is to make it to BSEast with this thing, if I can pull it together in time. There's also a club drag event mid September that would be great to get to - but I think that's pushing it allot.
The truck has a 351c4v with unknown Hyd flat tappet cam, torker intake, 750 speedemon, msd dist, and home made headers that are a real mess
C6 that's slipping bad, but will still move the truck in low
welded 7.5 axle with 3.45 gears
stock driveshaft
The plan:
AOD with appropriate converter - the 432801 tci streetfighter perhaps? (it's on hand)
'89 mustang aod / 8.8 driveshaft - needs to be made the right length - new ujoints, and balanced
8.8 Ranger axle with 4.10 gears, traction lock diff (have the parts, need to get it built and installed)
M/T ET street G60 - 15 rear (cause I have them)
M/T front runners, 24x5x15 front (cause I have them)
Weld draglites from the '69 in my avatar (cause I have them)
Hooker headers for a '71-'73 clevo mustang with auto trans (supposed to fit ranger with minimal hammer work)
BBR's home made caltracs - if I have time and can find a supplier for threaded tube and rod ends.
Drive train match?:
2.84 1st gear, G60-15, 4.10 axle ratio - should launch pretty good with a ~3000 stall converter --- right?
shift 1>2 at about 35mph (~6000rpm)
shift 2>3 at about 70mph (~6000rpm)
through the traps at ???? rpm in third
~.7 OD top gear, 225/70-15 (highway wheels/tires) 4.10 axle ratio -- should be around 2400 at 70mph (AOD locks direct in OD) right?
Work required:
All this will require pulling out the engine and trans which will likely require cutting the old headers into several pieces.
The "custom" oil pan will also need work - it's heavily modified to fit in the ranger - and it leaks... bad.
While the engine is out I need to further modify the heater box - it's notched now to make room for the valve cover - but not notched far enough to allow the valve cover to be removed without major hassle.
A front brake line blew the first time I was trying to stage it at Milan - so I replaced all the fronts.... probably a good idea to replace the rears and put in a new rubber line to the axle when the 8.8 goes in.
Then there's the thing about trying to make it all one color - the front fenders are rattle canned over the black oxide prime - they are replacements... the hood has a few different shades of blue on it and the paint on the top is starting to fade pretty bad.... the box is fiberglass factory stepside splash bed --- originally I thought I'd spray the cab to match the bed... but now I'm considering just spraying the whole thing with shopline white or silver.... but this will take quite a bit of time and money - and it won't make it any faster or more reliable.....
I don't plan on messing with the engine internals at this point unless something un-nerving is discovered when the pan comes off for a new gasket. I'll inspect a few bearings and the oil pump, but that's all I hope to do. It runs pretty good, has good oil pressure and does not run hot on the strip.... I've not driven it on the road yet.
any suggestions?
, 2013 LH, 2014 LH
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