custom ranger swap

pease · Sep 23, 2014

custom explorer/ranger swap

So im looking at taking a 1st or 2nd gen Ford Ranger and swapping in a diesel. I also wanted to put a bed from a similar year model ranger on it, along with the back sheetmetal and window form the ranger.

here's my 10 mintues in photo shop:

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Heres one someone's already done.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=78121&stc=1&d=1397008705

Im considering a 2.3 Kubota as Ive seen them swapped into Rangers and they seem to be good choices to mate to the M5odr1 transmission.

To me it's a home grown hilux. Id get 4 doors, full passenger capacity with a truck bed to boot. I want to get at least 30 MPG and be able to use biodiesel/veggie oil. And the choice of ford and kubota is availability of parts. Rangers are plentiful, and kubota has dealerships in most towns.

Looking for input. THanks for reading

eastsideauto · Sep 23, 2014

Sounds like a good plan. Subscribing to see how this pans out.

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pease · Sep 23, 2014

full disclosure: it may be a year+ till the ball really gets rolling ..heh. right now Im purely in the planning stages looking for people's thoughts. With the numbers I see from intercooled/turbo'd v2203 looks like it'd be enough power, Im just not sure so I wanted other input.

edit: also, can anyone explain to me the differences in performance regarding the rear springs on explorers? Since they're mounted under frame instead of on the side like rangers?

snicklas · Sep 23, 2014

What about finding an Explorer SportTrac and just do the diesel conversion? The SportTrac is already an Explorer Pickup.......

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pease · Sep 23, 2014

the frame is longer Also, its newer aka more expensive. Im also worried about the pains of retitling or getting that inspected. The older the car I think the more forgiving that type of stuff is? ANyone care to clear t hat ambiguity up?

edit: ok nvm theyre the same weight, just not so sure about legality of diesel swap into newer vehicles.

Dieselcrawler · Sep 23, 2014

only issue with your rendering is the rear seats of the explorer go back farther then where the door ends.

eastsideauto · Sep 23, 2014

Dieselcrawler said:
only issue with your rendering is the rear seats of the explorer go back farther then where the door ends.

That is correct. The headrest of the rear explorer seats is over a quarter of the way into the rear side glass.

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pease · Sep 23, 2014

hmm. Maybe I could tap some holes to move the seats a little bit forward? Id really rather have a true extended cab ranger so I'm not against putting in a regular bench like something from a full size pickup. Maybe a different seat would fit better?

mohavewolfpup · Sep 24, 2014

you could also look into 3.9 cummins. Seen some rangers around youtube with cummins conversions. Debating one myself in a ranger. My knees though hardly clear the column in 90's rangers if I wanted a stick

The Warden · Sep 24, 2014

mohavewolfpup said:
you could also look into 3.9 cummins. Seen some rangers around youtube with cummins conversions. Debating one myself in a ranger. My knees though hardly clear the column in 90's rangers if I wanted a stick

For that matter, there's a guy on here who's prepping a 3.9L 4BT to go into a Ranger ;Sweet

http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?69405-Project-Red-Cent

mohavewolfpup · Sep 24, 2014

The Warden said:
For that matter, there's a guy on here who's prepping a 3.9L 4BT to go into a Ranger

http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?69405-Project-Red-Cent

Interesting. it's too bad the 3.9 market is full of greedy resellers

pease · Sep 24, 2014

mohavewolfpup said:
Interesting. it's too bad the 3.9 market is full of greedy resellers

this is my main reason for not going with a cummins. They're too damned expensive. For me the kubota would be the perfect engine to swap in to my current DD, a 94 supercab ranger. The only thing is. the damned thing doesn't have a propper rear bench seat.

or, if anyone can chime in to the whole legality of swapping these engines in newer vehicles

I'd probably just do a 2001 to 2004 4 door tacoma swap.

The only thing Id have todo then is find out which tranny to swap in. I think the kubota would still work, to push the weight of it right? Theres a guy that says he gets 270 ft-lbs and the stock tacoma only does 160..

this is essentially what i want, on a budget- but it needs to be mechanically injected:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/nissan-frontier-cummins-diesel-prototype-drive-review

I think maybe 4door tacoma with 2.3 kubota and new trans is close....oh man Im derailing my whole thread . any thoughts though?

ncidi · Sep 24, 2014

Another good option is just pick up one of these like I did. 1986 Isuzu trooper 2, 5 speed factory turbo diesel with a naturally aspirated motor out of a Isuzu pup swapped in for the better internals...gets around 30 mpgs around town and low 20's bashing it off road.

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pease · Sep 24, 2014

a nice looking truck for sure. Im trying to stay away from older and rarer vehicles because of parts availability...

stealth13777 · Sep 25, 2014

A ford explorer sport trac would be easily cheaper than that Tacoma. Those four door tacomas really don't come cheap. Sport trac came out around the same time.

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custom ranger swap

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