Full Build: Mazda B2500 Brings the Thunder Becoming A Ford Lightning - Part 1

Time to wedge a Ford dual overhead cam 4.6L V-8 into a 2001 'Ranger' based truck to build a smaller version of a Ford Lightning. Since "Mini Lightning" doesn't sound that tough, we're calling this Project - Rolling Thunder!
Watch Part 2: • Full Build: Mazda B250...

[@CosmicBowner]

I remember watching these shows on spike tv. I’m glad they have them available here to watch.

[@anthony5227]

Man I just saw “trucks” on the back wall and it brought back so many Saturday morning memories as a kid. Wild.

[@cornuttz]

@@anthony5227 Lots of good memories

[@harryfp1494]

Best weekend show for Gearhead kids

[@antoniomontesdeocaflores5935]

9o9

[@antoniomontesdeocaflores5935]

99

[@curtisangeletti8198]

I remember this build back in the day Only problem was I didn't always have a weekend off to watch it on TV but now with the help of KZbin you can watch it at your leisure

[@Ang3lUki]

That Suspension Analyzer software brings me back to the days when software for computers was sold in stores, catalogs, and didn't need to update every day and would break itself and change constantly

[@chadwick1084]

Bro Saturday and Sunday mornings back in the day I was pumped for all the hot rod shows

[@thedaredevil1907]

This was my favorite build when I was like 12 years old I couldn't WAIT for the next episode with rolling thunder....mini truck day where fun

[@coffeefish]

They absolutely held back nothing. It's probably the greatest Ranger in the world.

[@antonmursid3505]

Antonmursid🇮🇩🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@VoidedEyelids]

@@coffeefish ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@VoidedEyelids]

@@coffeefish ooooo

[@VoidedEyelids]

@@coffeefish oo

[@ChrisGorman87]

I have dreamed about doing this same ford ranger build for years! So happy to see somebody do it! Good luck!

[@jaybeezi]

I've been looking for this for YEARS.

[@dustinspenguinscistones8323]

Should definitely make a go-kart with that 5speed 4banger that would be rad!!!

[@DansEVRvids]

iator

[@moisesmunoz5549]

I remember waiting every sunday morning to watch these guys do their magic

[@nikefan522]

This series was probably my favorite of the Trucks show

[@norezenable]

Can't believe I've never stumbled on this channel before. This is great content.

[@bldlightpainting]

I loved this high performance motor in my 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII which was built like a luxury tank.

[@johnboy2814]

I actually did this exact same build prior to these guys, except I used a 4.6 DOHC from a Lincoln Mark VIII. Took me over a year to get it done. Kind of wish I kept it as I put a ton of time into it.

[@upnorthviking823]

There was 5.0 swapped rangers in the 90s nothing unique there! Still very cool.

[@randomprojectsusa5196]

@@upnorthviking823they explained in this very video why it is, in fact, quite unique

[@jasonheatherg7654]

What motor mounts did you use? I was thinking some from a 4.6 Ford Explorer??

[@goblinphreak2132]

My 1993 honda del sol headlights went foggy as hell. Light output was really bad. Instead of buying new lens' I simply sanded them down. 400 then 800 then 1000 then 1200 then 1500 then wet sanded at 3000 (if I remember correctly). At the end I simply used a UV resistant + high temp clear paint. They never faded ever again. IN FACT, my buddy who happened to go to the same junkyard I ended up junking the car in, said the headlights were STILL perfect 20 years later.... being under the sun all day every day. Which is just a wild fact. Ended up doing the same treatment to my 2005 sti headlights, and they to this day are still perfect as well.

[@nativewear23]

those where the days! watching spike TV on Saturday morning's! Was like cartoons for me!

[@edwardnigma2216]

I remember swapping a 350 chevy smallblock into my 1986 Mazda B2000... That thing was stupidly light and insanely fast.

[@FrankGlencairn]

Love those full build videos - please keep em coming.

[@btolley100]

Only reason I subscribe to this channel.

[@awesomusmaximus3766]

4.6 is a very underrated engine a fine powerplant indeed

[@Stonka1]

39:35 "harder than a frozen hot dog" 🤣🤣

[@joewarnock19]

Love the full build stuff but every time I do anything budget,I just end up shopping at a pull apart like it's walmart

[@nissanv6TT]

guys this build is WELL over a decade old. I watched this in high school.

[@CaptainRudy4021]

51:16 yeah it says right here 2010

[@chrisschriver6964]

That was my favorite build they have made on this show the 2nd full blown build where they built a badass fast street truck. For them days

[@LOZO-wr4bx]

So I just saw project rolling thunder a couple weeks ago on a cruise up to Mt nebo state park in Dardanelle, Arkansas. Kinda cool to see this coming across my feed.

[@tavianhorton281]

Good to know the truck is still around

[@LOZO-wr4bx]

@@tavianhorton281 I would've got a couple pictures of my svt focus beside it, but I didn't realize what it was until we were rolling out. Lol

[@texasboy2005]

This was one of my favorite builds! Thank you so much for posting!

[@jordanturcotte4366]

Jojoba b. 😊 b

[@Wordensautodetailing517]

Hey guys glad to see you are cranking out content. It was awesome meeting you at MTE. Hope all is well. Take care and keep up the awesome work. - Chris

[@MayheM_72]

I had 2 buddies who did compact truck V8 swaps, but theybwere both earlier square body styles. My Ford fanatic friend put a 5.0 mustang drivetrain in a Ranger, but the other dropped a Chevy 400 in an S10. Both were NASTY!

[@cacsoccer101]

You guys seem awesome! Thanks for the video!

[@HammerRocks]

While this is badge engineered Ford truck, it's good to see other brands being worked on. Do a Toyota or Nissan next. Love the full build videos too.

[@josephcarter9143]

1996 Ford bronco

[@evel2879]

These videos and build series are from 2007 or 2009. So...

[@desvousges4230]

Trucks and power block was so good!

[@SeilerRdAuto]

You really wanna get em going just use some good ol’ IDEAL wing nuts 😂 we had a buddy who LS swapped an old Malibu, and half of the wiring was done that way. Ran just fine and amazingly didn’t melt down 😂

[@akaz678]

The Thunder was the never produced Expedition with a Lightning power train but sweet build on this one!!

[@ewanbaxter9199]

Very interesting build, the details of how you did it were great. Don't wholly agree with the 'Speed holes' in the chassis though, as soon as they collect dirt and then water - which will be difficult to remove, rust will set in.

[@frosty_silver_fox4292]

A truck like this doesn't see dirt or dirty roads man. It only gets washed 😂

[@patrickj5731]

I have to admit the Gallardo body kit really looks good. Rolling much better than the earlier photos.👍👍👍

[@coffeefish]

Holly cow boys. Excellent build.

[@shawnwalsh5430]

I built a 82 Ford Courier that busted 5.0 Mustangs at Orlando Speed World back in 84. It was only a 2.3 ,normally aspirated engine. No Adders. No turbocharged. And through a T5.

[@bmstylee]

My favorite Trucks build. Doing it as a prerunner would have been cool as well.

[@ryanhawkins1235]

On the headlights you sanded off the top UV coat which is what gets foggy but didn't put on a new UV coat so they won't still clear very long.

[@Brandon-ms2bf]

He should have cleared them instead of buffing them they'd stay clear forever

[@bazd]

Informative boys well produced!

[@neverstopexploreon]

Just found you guys, this video is incredible!

[@christianvann4222]

Love the vfr! Great adventures!

[@Onewheelordeal]

Ah the days when the Tremec T56 Magnum was a new product we hadn't heard of

[@yanhasmut4005]

Tree huggers!!! Omg guys! I love this show.

[@robertchaffee5662]

What a shame they didn't apply some spray on bed liner to the frame while they had it stripped down!

[@caseycook6558]

"It's harder than a frozen hot dog!" That's hilarious!

[@jesseyoung4295]

Someone else stated learn design and cad fundamentals. I studied mechanical engineering, and fine arts, I've designed engines, been an architect, made animations, used agonist every program out there. For some honing in on a single career makes sense. To those of you that aren't sure, or have multiple interests, you can try it all. Just go for it.

[@JWsGarage]

Project rolling thunder. Now that’s original.

[@MoparMasters]

This has helped me to do the 392 SRT engine, Tremec 6 speed & 8.8 LSD differential swap into my '98 Ranger. But why did Ryan always talk so freakin loud? 😂

[@Brandon-ms2bf]

I seriously doubt that

[@Sage93166]

You can also use bug spray with deet in it for the headlights

[@repnatl]

You should have used blue loctite on the spark plugs. Fords don't have enough threads in the heads and are known to blow them out. I've heard some heads don't need them not sure if these heads are good without them.

[@blackrogue86]

cant wait for part 2

[@badhabitssierra5409]

Have seen an heard this thing in person... It's awesome it now resides in Arkansas

[@LOZO-wr4bx]

I saw it on Mt nebo a couple weeks back. Cool little truck

[@Sethr1996]

Just picked up a sohc 4.6 out of an 04 crown Vic. My 03 ranger 2.3 5 speed is getting tired with 320k. I'm hoping to be able to do this swap on a budget and be able to do freeway speeds with a trailer again

[@KillerDudeT19]

Doing the same swap on my 02 explorer

[@monogramadikt5971]

im ten minutes from the end of the video and my ocd is kicking in hard at not seeing the chassis getting a lick of fresh paint lol

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Great vid!!!!!! 👍👍👍

[@glassblastcollision]

If you use a pipe cutter and put the piece you cut out inside as an alignment sleave after slicing it down the side till it fits inside and clock it right you can keep it true and not need to take it anywhere.

[@thatguyinthatoneshow]

If you have all of the equipment to shorten a shaft yourself, your time may be more valuable than the amount you'd pay someone to cut up that shaft. I paid $100, maybe a little more but less than $150 for sure to get an old shaft from a ranger cut down, I don't have a tig and sweet runout checking setup, but even with that stuff, there's no way I could get it quickly and nicely done enough that $100 wasn't a better idea

[@MIKEK3NT]

The series reminds me of the 2000s era car shows

[@joewbeckham]

Probably because these episodes aired almost 15 years ago

[@MIKEK3NT]

@@joewbeckham yea I realized that quite late hehe thanks man

[@Myrlin187]

The ecoboast v6 in my ranger is the same base engine in the new raptor. I'd like to get ahold of the supercharger they use, but it's already fast and great mpg.

[@Maleficent___]

I laugh when people call refrigerant “Freon” it’s like calling lip balm “chapstick” it’s just a brand name lol

[@Paul_VanGo]

Initially a bit like Project Firebolt from Tom's Turbo Garage, where in that case it was a Toyota Tacoma mated with an LS.

[@danielnelson4881]

A bit like that, yeah... Only... Just... Like, completely different. Mhm. Totally... ...Totally. (Just bustin' your chops brother)

[@Paul_VanGo]

@@danielnelson4881 Hence the opening words 'Initually', 'a bit' and 'like'. ...instead of hollow hip words like 'litterally', 'seriously' and 'for real' Indeed it became so much more after that, especially in Part 2. Mind you: I'm pulling the chain a bit back. 😉

[@danielnelson4881]

@@Paul_VanGo Literally? Like... I can't even believe you *SRSLY* just went there.. Like, for real? ...And I was like, woaaaah, IN A BIG WAY! Hitting the brakes! Too far... Way too far... Please slap the ever loving piss out of me for that one... ... Side note. Your honest to God, REAL last name, isn't the words "Lie" and "Shout" hastily fused together, lookin like something that I personally welded (in other words, whatever the exact opposite of laying/stacking dimes is). The reason that I know that's not your real last name? That's a cool last name... Need I say more? Cool and you? Go together like... Well, two things that I, personally, welded. (In case you haven't gathered, that's not very well, or just not at all)

[@Paul_VanGo]

@@danielnelson4881 🤣😂 It's Dutch and literally pronounced as Lees-out... ...ish...

[@petergreenough630]

Fitting a 4.8L V8, but worried about what the tree huggers will say about the freon gas. Love it

[@danielnelson4881]

Freon is TERRIBLE for the environment and is completely illegal to let loose into the air... Well actually it's illegal period now in the USA. Can't use it in anything new since 2010, but you cannot buy or produce it in the United States since January of 2020, I believe. Either way, this was a TV show dude. They had to do things by the book. Plus, you should care about the environment too... Something as effing simple as just... Not letting the freon out into the atmosphere? You're a lazy asshole if you wouldn't do what they did. Plus, with all of the correct emissions equipment, a high flow cat and EGR. The *4.6* (not 4.8) likely won't be too terribly much worse on emissions, that's completely beside the point though. If we don't do things, such as not releasing freon just to save a relatively low amount of time and effort... Then we WILL eventually have to do things like... Completely kill our hobby, and a huge part of our lives, because internal combustion will have to go bye bye for f**got-a*s electric vehicles and other transportation options that don't include the explosion of dinosaurs... So please... Do the easy sh*t now, before we make it any worse! Edit: Oh and that's not to mention that the engine just emits greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Gasses that would eventually be depleted into the vacuum of space at a certain rate, and would not be an issue if we weren't producing more of the gasses than our ozone can disperse. Freon literally *straight depletes the ozone directly!* You know, the thing that keeps oxygen in? The thing that stops our planet from being a frozen hell like Uranus, or a literal furnace like Venus... Even though that's kind of irrelevant as Venus is a furnace because of greenhouse gasses, not a weak atmosphere lol.. STILL! Not caring about your planet is such a boomer thing to do... Are you a boomer? I don't care what age you are, anyone can be a boomer. Don't be a boomer...

[@petergreenough630]

Jesus, grow a sense of humour, the comment was light hearted

[@danielnelson4881]

@@petergreenough630 Normally I can admit fault, I have no reason not to here under the curtain of anonymity the internet provides. I can't do that here though. I don't think the humor is as implied as you think it was... Especially the rather aggressive nature of calling anyone concerned about freon "tree-huggers." Surely you can fathom that there are no shortage of idiots in these comments that would make this comment completely seriously, yeah? That being said, since being informed that you were indeed being humorous, I will apologize for lecturing you about your responsibility to the Earth lol. Though I might still say you deserved it, for mistakenly calling Ford's mod motor a "4.8L." Like, seriously dude? I've killed for less! (Now I'm the one being funny)

[@petergreenough630]

@@danielnelson4881 Never apologise for lecturing about the planet. I forgot about the idiots that freely roam the internet, On a lighter note I hope the producers got the same ear bashing as I did about the 'tree huggers', because that is where I heard it when they were talking about the freon. Keep well and keep lecturing.

[@danielnelson4881]

@@petergreenough630 *Mother of god...* I'm lecturing the wrong person entirely... I feel like a complete idiot now, and I 100% understand how your humor was implied! *DOH!* I guess I didn't hear when they said tree huggers... My god, I can't believe you let me off that easy. I'm way sorry dude... Oh and about giving the producers and ear full... Don't worry sir, I am ON their case right now in your name!

[@harryfp1494]

Just think almost none of this would be an issue with an ls swap . These Ford modular v8s are so huge

[@matthewmoilanen2413]

If u place both parts in a piece of largo angle it will automatically line up the tubes.

[@frmula1fan51]

You had me at "tree hugger."

[@Riley-Smith80r]

Hey guy's I love watching y'all show I watch it all the time and I love how y'all trucks come out at the end but have y'all ever thought about adding lockers to y'all trucks for the people who live in the rocky area's like Utah.

[@ufobrownsugar7948]

Wonderful guys!

[@JonesingUSAF]

I totally vote building a go kart with a 4 banger!

[@brandonthornborough4433]

I'm pretty sure Trucks already did this build with a terminator motor back in the day. I'm pretty sure the name of that was rolling thunder as well.

[@danareynolds1786]

RE: Headlamp renewal. A normal person would consider the air-powered polisher/buffer the professional item, not the piece of sandpaper and polishing compound. And yes, either method can use the buffer or elbow grease. It should've just been presented as 2 different methods of cleaning the headlamps.

[@michaelmays9292]

The more bends in your exhaust, equals more torque

[@yeanah2571]

I would definitely be more likely to take a Ranger body, and place it over my chopped up Crown Vic frame/engine/errything, and making it a widebody. Considering I actually have a daily Grand Marquis, and a Crown Vic to cut up, this might be my next project.

[@MrTeletubyman123]

How would uou do it? Like an f100 body swap?

[@yeanah2571]

@@MrTeletubyman123 I think so, it would be similar. The suspension would stick out, I think, so some universal fender flares would probably work.

[@godsmack113]

I wish that they did a full build video of project super Dulley

[@bmstylee]

Absolutely. My absolute favorite build they've done on trucks

[@Raymondruby27]

This is my dream build

[@gwc_garage]

I've wanted to build this for so long

[@FrankVJr]

“We don’t make any tree huggers angry” 😂😂

[@ryansantiago941]

2:00 THANK YOU👏 THANK YOU🙌 THANK YOU 🤝 for not saying VIN NUMBER.

[@Metman2J]

Never noticed until today that Kevin says Z71 Corvette when talking about the transmission.

[@cutlassman1]

If you already have the frame out and clear why are you not going to the next step and cleaning the rust off and using a good rust conversion coating to make the frame nice?

[@iangriffith3940]

It’s mandatory to break the tires loose after a car wash 😂

[@williamblakeley2495]

Just WOW.Awsome.

[@MackHeath-ns7ly]

OK think Short tube Headers would have fit just fine but hey that is just a guess on my part nice job on the Truck loved this video the first time i seen it last year but it was worth rewatching in case i might have missed something

[@ponyboyc]

Would have been cool to see what it could really do with stage 1 more realistic of what people would do

[@95Sn95]

You guys did a great job with stage 1 showing how to do it on a budget, to bad the engine was porked would have been cool to see a performance test of OEM, stage 1 and 2, but we all love stage 2 anything. Now the first product we sourced for the stage 2 build is this air to water credit card cooler, under heavy use you will not see any softening or bubbling or smoking like you would normally see under these brutal conditions. it's a must with builds where budget is less of a concern... 😛

[@Adam-nv9zo]

I'd love to drive this unit

[@HKTjohnnywalker]

Awesome build boys.. A fuel cell with a sliding rail system in the bed would open up some room under the truck and you can adjust the positioning for weight distribution.. Just need a little extra on the fuel lines and your good to go..

[@chadbinette3201]

This is a sweet build, but could of saved some time and just got a Ford ranger frame and start from there. Only thing left from the Ford ranger or Mazda b2500 is the frame and body panels. Love this show, been on for years, rember watching it on Saturday mornings as a teenager, when Stacy was the host.

[@robertt9342]

Well… you still need the body panels and cab….

[@matstang1993]

This is beyond bad azz

[@vcmdpropulsion126]

could have got around most of that with 99 ford explorer 4.6 motor mounts, wouldn't have to mod the firewall, crossmember or frame. conversion points are key to making a easy swap guys.

[@a1fromdisc938]

keep in mind that they wanted a performance truck, not the easiest swap, frame was nessecary regardless for a performance truck

[@young11984]

Wonder if he can supply an ecm without a mass air and with a 3 bar map for low boost turbo applications?

[@seanhaver9559]

Hard to believe this is almost 14 years ago....

[@rbnhd1976]

Sparky the Fozda

[@mikegluth1981]

One of my most favourite builds on the power block. They kinda crapped out on the payoff though. Would have liked to have seen a lot more of this one. Wonder where it is now?🤔

[@bmstylee]

I guess comprehension is not your strongest thing. Note it says PART 1.

[@AndrewDRoyappa]

I saw an article from 2015 that said it was being sold on eBay, some forum posts said the bids close to 20k... supposedly had an 80k reserve? Don't really know for sure, and where it is now is still a mystery

[@austinclaycomb7068]

Trucks! is legendary

[@thatguyinthatoneshow]

I have trouble believing that the shields he put over the cats aren't going to rattle and make a racket down there

[@TheShelltrack]

It's funny how you go from a backyard build to a full-on professional $50k build.

[@TheJmccord]

Imagine being able to get a running pickup for 3500 now

[@christiananderson3397]

FYI.. I believe you can actually go as far back as '96-'98 Mustang Cobra's to get yourself a 305hp 4.6 L DOHC Modular V8 as well.. Cool seeing this truck build guys! ;) (Also, while the answer is probably no, is there anyway to have modified & used that really cool front-end A Arm assembly that was used on those models of Merc. Marauder??.. Don't know if that'll make the budget anyway tho..)

[@danielnelson4881]

You sir, are correct. Nineteen nineh-six (yes I know how I spelled it), they brought camshafts, and thirty two glorious valves to the Mustang Cobra.

[@flashkendall]

Didnt paint the frame and it’s driving me insane

[@brucewrandol]

Would a Vintage Air be a good choice for A/C. Most all of that system fits under the dash.

[@young11984]

Need some Mazda 4600 emblems for it now