v8 swap in a 1984 bronco II

[88ranger2.3]

I used an inverted fuel pump for a van that I got at Autozone.

What motor mounts are those? Just curious.

 

[BLOODBANE]

Looks like your making progress on your swap, but a few things to think about. Mainly with using your stock radiator. You are probably going to run into overheating issues, remember the stock unit was not designed to cool a V-8. It may work for you, but don't be surprised if it doesn't. I have a James Duff that tucks up into the stock supports and have a few inces of clearance from the fan(i run a mechanical fan, no srp, with a short neck water pump. May not be possible with your set-up though). I think you said you had a Be-Cool, try it for fit.
Headers. if you have the Headmans, see if they will fit. Im using (Im sure they are the 89500's) on a 4x4 84 Ranger, with no issues( Im using a C-6 for a transmission also). The passenger side is tight, but not tight enough to cause clearance issues (I did grind the lip off of the crossmsmber to be safe). If you want some pics I can get some for you.
I had problems with the Edelbrock series of carbs (even their so called "Off-Road" version) when wheeling. They have a common fuel trough on the back of the carb feeding both bowls, and when off camber it would starve one side and flood the other. I was told to put a piece of fuel tubing in there to combat the problem, but I never had any luck. I run an old Q-Jet now (looking for a good stand alone FI set up for it).
I understand the budget constraints, I did mine the first time the same way, but a few extra steps now may save you some hair pulling, blood, and keep your blood pressure down later.
Keep us updated on your progress.:icon_thumby::icon_welder:

 

[88ranger2.3]

Looks like your making progress on your swap, but a few things to think about. Mainly with using your stock radiator. You are probably going to run into overheating issues, remember the stock unit was not designed to cool a V-8. It may work for you, but don't be surprised if it doesn't. I have a James Duff that tucks up into the stock supports and have a few inces of clearance from the fan(i run a mechanical fan, no srp, with a short neck water pump. May not be possible with your set-up though). I think you said you had a Be-Cool, try it for fit.
Headers. if you have the Headmans, see if they will fit. Im using (Im sure they are the 89500's) on a 4x4 84 Ranger, with no issues( Im using a C-6 for a transmission also). The passenger side is tight, but not tight enough to cause clearance issues (I did grind the lip off of the crossmsmber to be safe). If you want some pics I can get some for you.
I had problems with the Edelbrock series of carbs (even their so called "Off-Road" version) when wheeling. They have a common fuel trough on the back of the carb feeding both bowls, and when off camber it would starve one side and flood the other. I was told to put a piece of fuel tubing in there to combat the problem, but I never had any luck. I run an old Q-Jet now (looking for a good stand alone FI set up for it).
I understand the budget constraints, I did mine the first time the same way, but a few extra steps now may save you some hair pulling, blood, and keep your blood pressure down later.
Keep us updated on your progress.:icon_thumby::icon_welder:

Would love pictures of the 89500's on a 4x4 and how the exhaust hooks up to them if possible. I am planning on a FSD44 ttb swap next spring/summer (have the trussed beams and brackets already), and not sure how headers would be effected by that right now as it appeared the one side pretty well dumped directly into one of the axle beams.



The stock radiator is a brass unit with quite a lot of cooling area. I understand it wasn't designed for a v8, but it isn't much different in size then compared to the 60's mustangs. I do already have a "Be Cool" brand swap radiator and it is currently sitting in the radiator area on the bronco even in some of the pictures. I just am thinking right now coming into winter, I don't have a stand alone tranny cooler and it is pretty expensive to get one of those and with funds low I was going to get by with the original if I can till next spring. It is just a money issue at the moment.

The carb that is on the motor is what came with the mustang. I am not sold on keeping it, but until it gives me issues I am sticking with it. I do have a gas mixer and most of the parts for a conversion to propane, or may sell them and pick up a different carb, but that is still awhile out.

 

[BLOODBANE]

Heres a couple of pics
Passenger side

It is pretty much a straight run back to the muffler(short pack) both sides exit on the pass. side in front of the axle. You can kind of see it here

Dont really have any pics of the driver side. The header lets out pointing more towards the back of the engine (at an angle). My exhaust drops down and crosses over to the pass. side and then back. The passenger side dumps straight down then 90's and then back.

 

[PetesPonies]

The engine mounts on my engine are Mustang mounts.

As for my engine install . well I wanted v-belts for the vintage look. Did not want serpentine. It is much easier with serpentine IMO. The v-belt and AC with PS and the inverted fuel pump is a bear to work out. Lots of hours scratching my head and finally got it to work, at least as far as the bolt on goes.

 

[88ranger2.3]

motor mount plates.

Here are the motor mounts, well templates I made from them. I got a chance to make copies of the mounts before I installed them. Then I made a couple sets so I could do this again in the future.. Even have in .pdf format that should print up properly sized I think. Does anyone know where to upload a .pdf so I can share it on here?

I made a better full size scan (600 dpi)that I used to make the .pdf from...

Here is the 100 dpi scan.

At least for me these spaced the engine with a decent distance between firewall and then engine, the water pump and stock radiator, and allow using the stock drive shafts. Basically the transmission is in the stock location and the engine is bolted up to it. I also have a 3 inch body lift on mine. My bronco also is a 302, c5 with a stock output shaft and housing, and a 157 tooth bellhousing. Pretty sure that is everything that makes up the total length of the setup that would be important for anyone else to know.

The mounts are as shown made from 1/4 inch steel. I will have to check, but I believe the photo shows the drivers side on the left and the passenger is on the right. Hope these can help someone else as there was quite a bit of head scratching and measuring and trial fitting to get those.



Let me know if you want the pdf and if anyone knows where or can host it for me.

 

[88ranger2.3]

Power Steering Bracket Modifications

I did get a chance to get some better pictures of the power steering bracket while I had it off to install the water pump. I also found out that apparently the depth of the bolt hole is different between the F150's 302 block and my 302 block in at least one spot as I am having to shorten the bolt that goes through the water pump and supports the power steering pump as well about 1 inch.

You can get a pretty good idea of the amount of material that had to be removed if you are trying to do this as well by comparing the photo to your unmodified bracket. But those are the modifications in order to run the fuel pump I am and for the fuel line routing I am going for.

 

[88ranger2.3]

I did also get the water pump installed last night and most of the hoses figured out. I did get a chance to test fit the stock radiator but didn't get a photo of that.

 

[88ranger2.3]

also is this in the right spot or does it need to be moved to a different place?

 

[hoosier1104]

Do you still need headers? I believe I still have the stock Expo ones of my swap. I will have to make a call to find out though.

 

[88ranger2.3]

Do you still need headers? I believe I still have the stock Expo ones of my swap. I will have to make a call to find out though.

I am not sure now. I haven't tried the 89500s I have yet and I do have some exhaust manifolds laying there that can be used. Best answer I have is maybe...

PM me what you are thinking on them...

 

[88ranger2.3]

Update

Well it was pretty soggy all afternoon yesterday. I thought I wasn't going to get much done as the bronco is parked just outside my building due to the total lack of organization on my part to clean the building out more... However, It stopped raining right around dark so I went and pulled out the drop light and got to work.

I had picked up some 5/16" brake line on the way home from work and bent up my fuel line. Really my first attempt at it and it doesn't look terrible I think. I will probably add some rubber hose over the line to protect it in a couple of areas from rubbing, but I think it is good enough to run now.

I haven't trimmed the end yet for hooking up to the carb, but it is pretty close so far. I think it is going to clear the air cleaner just fine as well... If I had to do again I am sure I would have routed it a little different, but it was a first attempt and falls into category of one of my build requirements...

"Perfect is the enemy of good enough"

It clears steering box with almost a 1/4 to 5/16 of an inch to spare and clears all the hoses and power steering set up.

Once the fuel line was in I went ahead and shortened the water pump bolt I had threaded more at work yesterday to be the right length for my engine and got the water pump fully bolted down now. Next up was setting in the power steering pump and power steering / a/c bracket and bolted it down. I was very relieved to see that everything was still clearing with the new fuel line.

While I was at it I pulled the a/c compressor and hoses off the F150 and taped them shut and threw the compressor and belt on to verify I had the right one.

Looks like the belt I found at Napa Online will work just fine for this and is only $18.00... I don't expect it to hold up too long, but it was the right price to get it started and verify the lenth.

The list of "To Do" is getting shorter everyday now.

Install starter
short rubber fuel line from hard line to carb
hook original wiring back up
modify mustang style throttle hook up to accept bronco with cruise control
hook up the ignition and carb choke to a key on 12V source
Install Temp sensor in intake
Install exhaust manifolds/headers
Put hoses back on that I have set up to go
Radiator in
Check Fluids
Do a once over on fasteners
Then I should be pretty well ready for the test fire in the bronco

If we weren't going to visit the wife's parents this weekend I would have it driving. That is ok though, we don't get to visit them very often so I am looking forward to the trip.

 

[88ranger2.3]

Update.
Just a short update for today. I have the air conditioning system back installed and buttoned up. Only minor rigging involved as the parts are a mix of stock F150 and stock Ranger parts. The system is sealed up to protect everything again though which is good. I was pretty happy about not needing any custom hoses.

The Radiator is probably not going to work like I had hoped. My other bronco has an explorer radiator in it I believe I may try it in there to see if it is going to fit better. The stock brass 3 row radiator's lower hose connector only just clears the power steering pump pulley. I may switch to my other bracket and power steering pump to see if it is any better. I want to run it anyway as it will be quite the upgrade anyhow, but I am not sure if it really moves the pulley any.

SAGINAW bolt in!!!

I got it out of a 351 V8 econoline van. I think it was about a 1991 but I am not positive. The junkyard didn't have a year listed on it that I could see. It also didn't matter to much to me as it is a pretty sweet set up.

My other alternative I was thinking is trying to find a power steering pulley with a slightly smaller diameter. I only need to gain like a 1/8 inch or so so I was thinking that maybe a pulley with about a 1/4 inch less diameter would get me what I need as well... Not sure what all is available. Also, with this being a non high revving project I don't see it as an issue spinning the pump a little faster.

I did score a few other odds and ends on the junkyard run.

Some tow eyes and a distributor cover...

The tow eyes look like they should be a good addition to the front for when I build a bumper I think I can work them in somehow.

And the distributor cover, if it fits, will conceal the fact that it is a HEI distributor.

I also finished a few things up yesterday evening. I got the starter installed and wired back up.
The bell-housing to engine bolts all re-torqued to verify they were in right.
I finished all the hose routing in the engine bay with the exception of the radiator hoses (vacuum, heater, distributor advance, brakes, etc, ...)
Tidied up a little of the wiring as well.

Does anyone know if there is a ford 302 with the same style valve covers as a F150 1991 with a passenger side front Oil fill that would match my drivers side valve cover?

You can just see the valve cover and fill I am talking about. I thought mustangs did, but the junkyard made me believe they all had aluminum ones that don't match...

 

[PetesPonies]

Mustangs ( 86-95) have a right side oil fill tube because the FI went in that direction compared to the truck FI. Not sure the covers will be the same or not. The later Mustangs had a stamped steel black valve cover with the tube.

 

[88ranger2.3]

Well I have had a rough week or so. I did get to go visit the in-laws weekend before last, but I lost my great uncle that same weekend. He was 92 and was on a slow decline from Alzheimer. I did get to stop by and visit before we left for the weekend. Looking back now I am relieved to have gotten the call and made the decision to take some time to visit before going away for the weekend. I am glad he isn't in pain anymore. It was a very moving service the Military Honor guard gave him and a nice day. I am sure he would have really appreciated it. My wife and I did put together the pictures for the services so we had the opportunity to look back through a lot of the old family albums and it was just good to see all the different memories and events that were in his life.

I do know he is going to be missed. He was perhaps the most mechanically apt person I have ever been around and helped me all the time growing up fixing this or that. I learned something from him every time I watched him work on anything. He was truly someone who could fix anything.

Then, I pulled some muscles in my back working last Wednesday, and have been riding the couch and taking it easy since.

The good news is the back is feeling better the past couple of days, it isn't raining, and my wife has classes tonight so I should be back to work this afternoon and looking forward to getting something done again. Just wanted to put an update up that I wasn't giving up on the bronco.

Just it got sidetracked for a couple of weeks as life took priority.

Pictures and information to follow this evening or tomorrow on progress again.

 

[88ranger2.3]

Just decided to put up a picture of the 2 bronco's the day the brown one came home.

I may sell the brown one yet. I am undecided.

 

[PetesPonies]

So whatever happened here?

 

[88ranger2.3]

The engine swap is done. I haven't driven it much due to getting terribly busy with work. We got a pretty big job and have been working out of town every week and home just a day or two. I took some of my weekends to get the building cleaned up enough to park the the bronco in 'cold storage' in the back corner because I knew it would be at least next spring before I would get back to it. I got the motor to idle decent, but I do have a few small details on the list to do and then the exhaust finished. There are pictures waiting to get posted and some more write up, but I want to wait till I get the exhaust finalized to see what direction it is going to go in the end.

The wife and i picked up a 1996 ford ranger as a temporary stand in till I get more time to finish up the bronco for good.

It is however disappointing to have the project sit in the corner waiting for more time and nice weather, but it is kinda good to have another RBV in the stables.

 

[getoffroad]

How did your motor mounts work out? Also i wondered if you had trouble with the balancer since you went from a 3 bolt which I thought were 28oz to a 4 bolt which for a serpentine I would think it would be a 50oz. I am getting ready to drop in a 302 from a 72 bronco with v belts but would like to use the serp belt set up. Someplace along the way, back when ebay was a good place to get parts with true shipping costs..., I got a 28oz 4 bolt balancer off a 69 mustang. Not sure if I can find it in all my parts. Anyway. I would really like to find out what motor mounts I could use to put a 302 in my 84 bronco II 2.8 hole with a c5 trans-my trans has already been rebuilt and is really just a c4 now. I had started my project to drop in a 2.3 in it and at some time drop in the 2.3 turbo out of a thunderchicken into it...I need something to tow my ATV's so I changed to my mind to a 302.

 

[PetesPonies]

3 to 4 bolt balancer started a lot before they ever went to a serpentine. And serpentine wasn't across all cars when it first came out either. Lots of info here you are missing