Because my '51 Chevy is stock, to go long distance I want to trailer it.. got a 2.5L Ranger so that's not going to happen with this truck.. stock anyway
Been looking for a good F-150 5.0L/ 5spd 4x4 but keep coming up with junk, or nice 1's that are just too far out of my price range.. checked Comparable Chevy's, which seem a bit cheaper, but nothing that I would be happy with.. Ford had the better truck in the early 90's anyway..

everything keeps coming back to putting a V8 in my Ranger.. to be legal in NY, it has to be OBDII compliant and engine has to be from the same year or newer vehicle.. which is no big deal, just gotta find a 5.0L 2WD exploder from 1998-2001, and everything bolts in.

now the question is, will a Explorer 5.0L in a Ranger, pull a 4,000# car + trailer with helper/ overload springs?, or heavy duty suspension parts from a tow package Ranger?