LarrySmith
Banned
OK, I conclude that if a guy was curious about getting started in this realm, there's no single donor car that has everything necessary.
The closest I can figure is the last of the first-generation Rangers with a 4.0L and the narrow 8.8" 28-spline rear, but the 5 speed isn't sporty and the automatics are bad, or a round-body S-10 with the 4.3L and the 4L60E, but the rear axle is the failure-prone 7.625". Moser offers 31-spline shafts for this uncommon 8.8
Would the Ranger's TTB front end be adaptable? I know the S-10 IFS is worlds cheaper than Mustang II stuff at this point, and thanks to the dirt track guys, affordable tubular arms are readily available, plus with Caprice spindles 1LE '91 Camaro 12" rotors are easy and still fit in 12" steel wheels.
Maybe a 2-donor plan? gank the 3.8L V6 and 4R70W or T5 out of a late '90s Mustang, with the Ranger 8.8? Or the Explorer offered the 302W with the 4R70W, but 2WD versions are rare at best. That trans behind a 351W should shred a pair of 33x21.5 Mickey Ts from a stop, and cheaper than a high-stall converter with the 302, with better driveability to boot.
The new Hemis aren't in the You-Pull-It yards yet, or that would bring some flavor. I know a guy who just dished $ 1900 for a long-block first-year 5.7L version with 260K miles and no guarantee or exchange policy. Crazy! No transmission, no induction, no accessories, no wiring, it needs a full rebuild kit, a Mopar/Edelbrock intake, some sort of ignition, maybe oil pan alterations depending on what he wants to swap it into. He has a '76 Duster with a decent-running Magnum 5.2L (318) so probably not that, unless it lost a race?
Anyway, what's in the yards that offers most of the non-drivetrain stuff?
The closest I can figure is the last of the first-generation Rangers with a 4.0L and the narrow 8.8" 28-spline rear, but the 5 speed isn't sporty and the automatics are bad, or a round-body S-10 with the 4.3L and the 4L60E, but the rear axle is the failure-prone 7.625". Moser offers 31-spline shafts for this uncommon 8.8
Would the Ranger's TTB front end be adaptable? I know the S-10 IFS is worlds cheaper than Mustang II stuff at this point, and thanks to the dirt track guys, affordable tubular arms are readily available, plus with Caprice spindles 1LE '91 Camaro 12" rotors are easy and still fit in 12" steel wheels.
Maybe a 2-donor plan? gank the 3.8L V6 and 4R70W or T5 out of a late '90s Mustang, with the Ranger 8.8? Or the Explorer offered the 302W with the 4R70W, but 2WD versions are rare at best. That trans behind a 351W should shred a pair of 33x21.5 Mickey Ts from a stop, and cheaper than a high-stall converter with the 302, with better driveability to boot.
The new Hemis aren't in the You-Pull-It yards yet, or that would bring some flavor. I know a guy who just dished $ 1900 for a long-block first-year 5.7L version with 260K miles and no guarantee or exchange policy. Crazy! No transmission, no induction, no accessories, no wiring, it needs a full rebuild kit, a Mopar/Edelbrock intake, some sort of ignition, maybe oil pan alterations depending on what he wants to swap it into. He has a '76 Duster with a decent-running Magnum 5.2L (318) so probably not that, unless it lost a race?
Anyway, what's in the yards that offers most of the non-drivetrain stuff?