NEED HELP! 83 ranger to 460 / c6 set up

I need help with figuring out putting in a 460 with c6 into a 1983 ranger and making it into a mud drag truck. I need help setting up the truck as far as motor mounts, roll cage, and suspension. I need some ideas.

as far as mounts front plate, mid plate

It's simple as pie move trans crossmember to the front set of holes on frame (will need to grind off factory rivets) and use your choice of tubing 3 inchs long with a 1/4" plate drilled with the motor mount bolt pattern and weld them to the frame a 1 inch body lift makes everything fit like it was factory. A foxbody swap pan works perfect.

use a F-150 frame and mount the ranger body on it.........

Need some class rules. I would definately do a front plate, and if you can, put it on a fullsize frame. As far as suspension, the best way is to use a 4 link in the rear, and at least ladder bar the front, or use the 70's front axle and arms. Roll cage is something you will need to make according to the rules, and at least use DOM tubing. There are some companies that make kits for the Rangers, like Art Carr, etc. If you have access to a bender, they aren't that hard to bend your own. If the rules don't specify something like 4 points to frame, or 6 points to frame, at least do 4 as a minimum, and a set of down bars to the back of the frame to triangulate the cage so it doesn't buckle if you land on your lid would be the best way to go.

What do you guys mean use the front plate for motor mounts? Is there anyway I can have pictures to see what you guys are talking about?

A front motor plate bolts to the front of the engine, I believe between the timing chain cover and the water pump. Then you can also use a mid-plate that goes between the engine and transmission heres a link to a front engine plate at Jegs. http://www.jegs.com/i/Competition+Engineering/247/4002/10002/-1

I just built a 84 ranger for 300 Ft sand drags. Its on a custom built box tubing frame, with homemade solid motor mounts, and a heavily modified firewall so I could move the engine back. It weighs 2950 with driver with 47% Front/53% rear weight distribution

dfree383 wrote:use a F-150 frame and mount the ranger body on it.........

You must have seen that somewhere


Like Dave said, find a full size frame and drop the body on. I have a regular cab long bed ranger body sitting on a 79 F150 shortbed frame. The wheelbase is just about perfect. I set mine up with motor/mid plates to keep everything strong. For the cage, look at S&W racecars as they have a pretty decent kit that you final fit and weld yourself. If you need help, find a local chassis shop. They have several options of tubing from EWS all the way to chromoly.

Suspension will depend on your class rules. If it's a stock style suspension, the front coil spring/radius arm setup found on 70's era F-150/Bronco's are the best you can get. Much better than a leaf spring setup as it is basically a factory 3 link. For the rear, it again depends on the rules you run. I have options for anything from full 4 link/coilover to all stock no coilovers out here, so to give advice on that, we need more info.

Here is a pic of my front plate


I used the factory crossmember to hold the trans and T/C. Either way will work, the crossmember or a mid plate.

Use the mid plate to help stiffen the motor location, and keep the tranny crossmember to stabilize the tranny and t-case like normal.

schmitty wrote:Here is a pic of my front plate


I used the factory crossmember to hold the trans and T/C. Either way will work, the crossmember or a mid plate.

Where did you get your motor plates?

I got that one from rmcomprandy here on the forum. He built that engine for me. It is steel and strong as an ox, and fit like a glove. It is made for a BBF in a fox body, but it works extremely well in my F150 chassis. Very reasonable price too.