Always like seeing unusual swaps like this. 1985-1987 did offer a mitsubishi 2.3TD as a factory option (4D55-T). Sometimes you can still find them rusting away in someone's yard or even the back corner of a wrecker so they make for great donors. I did a 100% bolt on swap into a 1988 dual tank ranger years ago. Nice little rig other than rust slowly taking its toll.
Still drivin my 88 Bronco II wanting to go diesel if the 2.9 ever quits but it runs like it did 10 years ago @ 200640 miles with regular maint. no complaints here. replaced the pick up Module twice, Heater core, brakes and tie rod ends, Throttle pos sensor. spark plugs cap wires. valve cover gaskets twice. Tires when needed. Paid $2000 for it 13 years ago. Gotta love the Blue Oval.
The 2.9 In my ranger just gave up on life so looking for inspiration want to go diesel but need something that plays nice with 5.38 gears Big tires and speed.
Very Nice I have a 1986 Ranger Turbo Diesel 4x4 owned it for 25 years now Doing a Restore on it later this year thinking about dropping an Intercooler in it ;) and doing the 2' lift like you did as well.
love it bro! been looking for a project like this for a while now. i had a 1986 singe cab that i sold for hopes of saving up for a 1986 extended cab ranger, sorry i let it go. i plan on getting one next weekend though; great video too.
Awesome job !! Have rangers since 89 new full circle have fulls size tray just and now 2 rangers in my driveway 1983 4X4 5spd and a 2005 extra cab 2wd with a 4.0 that still smoke the tires
I normally don't leave comments bit great build i figured you would go for a 4 cylinder catt similar to the one offered by ford to eliminate the adapter plate bit the one you put in sounded great
There's a v6 4x4 square body ranger that's been up for sale right on my roast. Been up for about a year. Think I'll but it, fix it up, and use it to tow mine and some friends dirt bikes
What did you use for gauges? Stock ones or did you get aftermarket ones? And was it a pain to take the body off? Or did you save money painting it by doing that?
kyleskeeters Only gauge I had was speedo but I’m going to put aftermarket in eventually. And it was a 200$ rattle can paint job body needed to come of to rebuild frame and cab mounts.
Jonathan Elkins I put two hockey pucks into a vice together and ground them down with a disk grinder with a flapper wheel until they fit into some pipe from a basketball net then I glued them together and drilled a hole threw them and used threaded rod for the new cab bolts and the bumper gap is what it is In the pics I never changed them
I have the same truck 1988 xlt 4x4 and was thinking about doing the same thing and was wondering if you could tell me more about the engine like what year and if I need to make new mounting brackets for the motor
