So i got this Ranger for $100.  Had i not purchased it, the owner was planning to call the scrap yard.  

It ran really bad.  Fortunately, i know how to pour BG 44k in it.  It went from running on 2-3 cylinders, to all 4.

The steering was terrifying.  I found drag link so loose, the ball joint came apart in pieces while i was unbolting it.  The good news is, they're only $35.

 

It has a 2.3 lima and a 5sp.  The temptation is to put some old turbocoupe or XR4Ti parts on it.  That's been done before.

Instead, i have resolved to put an SHO engine in it.

so i bought this little beauty for $300.  It's a five-speed.  I figure i can sell the transmission and crush the shell and get most, if not all, of my money back.  

 

Since the SHO is based on the ford vulcan engine, i can hypothetically use a transmission from a 3.0 Ranger and it'll all bolt up.

I can also source the 8.8 trac-lock axle from any one of the millions of explorers that cash-for-clunkers put in the salvage yards.

My goal is to complete this project with a total outlay under $500.

I'm going to be seriously amazed if you complete this swap for the cost of a new set of tires, good luck.

 i promise to be honest about it all.  the biggest challenge, i think, is going to be finding a suitably cheap M50D-R1 and associated flywheel/clutch.

Seriously cool. Looking forward to seeing how this pans out.

If/once you pull this off, cutting out that rust for some fiberglass prerunner style overfenders would sure look nice

those wheels are going to be the extent of my visual presentation.

WAIT, that's not true. i would like the roof and hood to continue to support their own ecosystem.

made a deal on the mazda M50D-R1 i needed. came with a flywheel and clutch as well, $200