I have built a few 1g awd and a 2g awd Talon and now I want to build a late 80's to early 90's Ford Ranger with a 4g63 swap and the chassis also. I think if I bought a 1g awd car and used ut as the donor for all the major parts. I realize that a lot of fabrication will be needed but I am comfortable doing that stuff myself. My question is about the the Ranger. Is there a better starting truck to start with? Maybe a S10? Any and all help will be appreciated. I understand its a huge job and some are going to ask why. Well its what I want . Thanks again Matt Brooks

I would use the s10. I'm a little biased because I'm a GM guy but the GM platform is a lot easier to modify in my opinion.

A might max or Dodge d50 would be a better start since both use a similar block as a 4g and it's a relatively simple swap.

I read up on the mm but I just don't like the body. The S10 looks nice in those years so that's probably the way i will go. I figure a lightly modded 6 bolt and a stripped down truck will be a fun little ride that should be able to beat up on some more heavily modded cars. I'm guessing I'll have to set the engine up just like in the cars and fabricate a driveshaft long enough to reach the rear end. Thanks for the replies now to find the truck and donor 1g

Sourcing transmissions should be easier as well in an S10, being that there are a few places out there that sell 4g63 to GM trans adapters.

Early ford rangers (86-88 I believe) came equipped with a Mitsu 4d55 turbo diesel and a mitsu fm145/6 5 speed trans, which by the way appears to have the same bell housing pattern as the 4g63. I actually was looking for one of these trucks for the longest time to do a swap like this. These trucks are a pretty rare find though, and I read the transmissions have pretty weak internals and fail.

Are you wanting to use the trans and drivetrain from a dsm? That would be kind of silly. I could just pick up a 4g63 to gm adapter plate from bill hitcher and run a gm transmission. Doing it this way means that you won't have to fabricate anything drivetrain wise and you will have a way stronger drivetrain this way also. The only things that you are going to need to fabricate are the engine mounts and you are going to have to build a rear sump oil pan. You will also have to rebuilt the thermostat housing and relocate the filler cap.

I actually was just sharing some info, but now realize this thread was from January not July.