My V8 Ranger Swap Is Finally Taking Shape — But the 351W Still Won’t Run

We’re back on the 351W V8 swap in my ’97 Ranger! The truck finally looks whole again — new wheels, a refreshed front end, and all the cosmetic upgrades are done. But there’s one big problem… the engine still refuses to start. In this video, we recap the build so far, show the cosmetic upgrades, and dive into the diagnostics I’ve done so far to figure out why the 351 Windsor won’t fire. From checking the firing order to pulling valve covers and inspecting the harmonic balancer, we go step by step — and I share my theory about what might be holding the engine back. 💬 I want to hear from you! What’s wrong with the engine? How would you troubleshoot this? And what should I name this build? Drop your thoughts in the comments! If you haven’t yet, subscribe to follow along on the build — next time, we go deeper with headers, carb, distributor, and the first start attempt. Will it fire… or will I fix it with a sledge hammer? Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction 0:36 – Cosmetic upgrades 3:14 – Recap on the Ranger & the 351W swap 4:30 – Engine diagnostics discussion 9:13 – Outro