jim caf

About 3-4 months ago decided to shop for a new truck my base model 2000 Ranger has served me well for the last 18 years(not bad for $9200 dollars)well seeing what even 20000k brings these days I decided buying a $1200 dollar truck and putting a $12000 dollar engine package made more sense to me,heres some photos of my build,first the paint body and interior scores a set of leather audi seats too

jim caf

here is some of the engine conversion , the gas tank takes up the whole drivers side so I had to settle for a single 4 inch exhaust 2 1/2 into 4 ,,anyway so for so good ,I installed 410s with a rebuilt mustang posi being the truck was equipped with an 8.8 .. much more power and much better MPGs so far

Michael Yount

iTrader: (1)

Looks nice! You said LS3 in my thread - did you paint the block?

Michael Yount

iTrader: (1)

Ah - mock up, then the real deal erod?

G Atsma

That's a Gen III iron block with cathedral heads. Mock up is my guess...

claybob

Very nice! Any videos available, like to hear the exhaust?

jim caf

I found a core block 4.8 locally and used it for fitup I did an LS1 conversion some years ago used motor turned out it had a cracked block ,should have held on to the block for mockups but wasn't thinking ahead and tossed it but still have the heads and internals so i used all that for fitup.

I have the exhaust right now exiting out in front of the real wheel but is to load yet for my liking .I put a set of BBK cats on it from a 5.0 to quiet it but didn't help much so I ordered 4 inch mandrels going to try exiting it out the back, I havent video it yet but will post it when I do.

I did get the erod 4 cat system and it was a real pain to fit them, I did get it done but there so close to to much that Im going to just run them for the visual at the referee station and emission testing but I still have a year and a half

jim caf

Wanted to add that iv done quit a few conversions and this GM harness is horrible mess compared to PSI or Speartech,really my only complaint with the package.. The engine and trans is so smooth that really dose make it feel like a new truck

Michael Yount

iTrader: (1)

Someone make a kit for mounts and such or did you self-fabricate?

After 20 years of trying, I gave up on any aftermarket alternatives being quiet enough for me. I used a pair of OEM Mustang 5.0L Coyote mufflers. Nice and quiet without much flow restriction, at least in the 400-450 HP range.

Michael Yount

iTrader: (1)

Yeah - I consistently read horror stories about the GM ecu/harness packages -- so I went PSI for ecu, harness, O2's, maf and gas pedal. Started and ran flawlessly on the first turn of the key.

jim caf

I pretty much made the mounts from scratch.. Funny I saw your video and it was almost an exact copy of what happen here, for what ever reason the existing wire that excits the starter solenoid wasn't working so I got my wife to go in the truck and man the key while I manually jumped the starter and like yours it fired on probably a half a revolution and I don't know why but I felt like doing backflips down the driveway,probably the harness but was expecting some thing to go wrong,
Bummer with this system I have a code for a crank sensor relearn ,they supply a coupon to go to a gm dealer to have it set so I guess that to be expected with this new style ECU

jim caf

just posted a video at idle

4EyedTurd1

iTrader: (1)

That’s a nice ranger, good luck finding center caps. I had to hunt for some last year, but I like those wheels so it was worth it.

mOtOrHeAd MiKe

iTrader: (8)

This is awesome!

claybob

Very clean Jim, sounds great.
Clay

Lsxford

iTrader: (6)

That looks and sounds great! I do love LS swapped rangers, those mounts look similar to the ebay weld in mounts i used on mine. Nice job

jim caf

Funny thing a couple of years ago buddy of mine bought an old ranchero and these wheels were on it I knew they looked familiar but couldn't place it.Anyway after he got done restoring it he decided he didn't like them and dropped the 5 of them off one day thought maybe i could use them on my trailer.came to me after I bought the ranger they were original 4 wheel drive wheels,sure beats the looks of the original 14s that were on it...

Where did you find the center caps for your?

jim caf

Thanks LSXFORD,, they probably are i did get them on Ebay ,I only used the mounts or plates that bolted to the engine and the big bolts ,they did distort them in assembly were mine had to be hogged out to get the bolts started.but they were cheap$.
I done a few of these conversions in the past I used engine plates from speedway that adapted to older stock GM mounts ,if I were to do it over and I probably will swap to those at some point for ride quality..all though for racing and your power level Id bet them to be pretty ideal

4EyedTurd1

iTrader: (1)

Craigslist and it was a good 3hr drive but I got a full size spare and a few other parts.

ijimmy

Are you using ac , stock compressor ?