engine swap

silverclaw328 · Feb 29, 2008

hey everyone, i was just wandering, what is a good v-8 engine swap for my 1994 ford ranger XLT. i currently have a 4.0L V6. also, where is a good place to look for one to purchase? thanks

dude772 · Feb 29, 2008

5.0L is the most common, a 5.8 would be similar but a little harder to do. And best place to get one would be to buy a whole parts car that runs, and swap everything over. For the 5.0L all the conversion stuff is availible aftermarket, but it could also be fabricated if you want to do it cheaply.

wade · Mar 1, 2008

Probably, the easiest swap would be a year model-for-year model, V8 Explorer to Ranger. Find yourself a '94 (or newer) 'sploder with a 5.0L that some insurance company is considering as totalled (or someone is ready to part with), with an intact engine/tranny and do a direct swap. Repair/Overhaul as needed. Take the computer, wiring harness, fuel system, the whole 9-yards. Might even take some of the exhaust, although, it won't be as conducive to HorsePower as headers and a custom exhaust. Don't part with the donor until you are sure you've stripped everything from it you might need or want.
I would suggest that you forget "conversion kits". Kits will sucker you with 1 or 2 item(s) that you really need and others that won't work for you, and you will have wasted your money. Search the forum(s) and do your homework. Buy individual parts as you need them. With a little ingenuity, some stuff can be fabbed by a crafty backyard engineer (i.e. engine mounts). I always ask myself, "Will it look like it belongs?," and "Is it safe?"

baddad457 · Mar 1, 2008

Explorer's didn't have V8's until 1996.

baddad457 · Mar 1, 2008

Swap candidate donors : 1996-2001 Explorer/Mountaineer, 94-95 Mustang GT, 88-93 T-Bird/Cougar. All these have the short front accessory drive that's a plus in a Ranger swap. The cars will have the oilpan you'll need (1980-95 Ford/Lincoln/Merc cars with the 5.0 all had this pan, the so-called "dual-sump" pan) Not sure the Explorer pan fits a 94 Ranger's suspension.

V8RangerBoy · Mar 1, 2008

Yes, it fits the suspension. Mine's '94 with the '97 Exploder motor. The bad thing about '94 is it's pre-OBD2. The Explorer IS OBD2, so there's alot of extra wiring to deal with for emissions stuff. If driving around all the time with a check engine light on doesn't bother you, then it won't be too bad. I wanted it to work for when there was a problem though.

Hjcraver · Mar 5, 2008

V8RangerBoy, I read somewhere your truck has a 3" body lift. I am not sure exactly what that means. Is that the reason the Explorer pan worked? Not sure but baddad 457 may have you on this one(just kidding). Anyway, Silverclaw, Think about finding a V8 Donor and get rid of the Electronics and go carburator. It may be a lot less costly and simpler.Be careful about the motor mounts you buy.Some of them (James Duff, etc.)will position the motor 2-3" above the Crossmember, which is not desirable.

mudnsnow · Mar 5, 2008

Go carb if you want the easy way, but the best is EFI. If you have the skill to put it EFI, put it EFI!!!!! If you buy a Full size truck as a donor the oil pan won't fit. You can read on the tech library that a real sump pan fit but these truck(81 and up i think) are not real "rear sump pan" they are bigger and don't fit.

Bruce · Mar 5, 2008

The oil pan on the 89 lincoln 302 we used was double sump andi think the earlier LTD's had double sump pans.

baddad457 · Mar 6, 2008

The so called "dual sump, Fox body" oil pan was used in all Ford/Lincoln/Merc cars starting in 1980. With the exception of the 1980 Granada/Monarch, which were the last front sump pan cars.

V8RangerBoy · Mar 9, 2008

Hjcraver said:
V8RangerBoy, I read somewhere your truck has a 3" body lift. I am not sure exactly what that means. Is that the reason the Explorer pan worked? Not sure but baddad 457 may have you on this one(just kidding). Anyway, Silverclaw, Think about finding a V8 Donor and get rid of the Electronics and go carburator. It may be a lot less costly and simpler.Be careful about the motor mounts you buy.Some of them (James Duff, etc.)will position the motor 2-3" above the Crossmember, which is not desirable.

It means there's a 3" bigger gap between the body and frame. It's cheap lift, and ultimately made things easier with the turbo. It's not necessary for a swap. I just wanted it since it's easy extra lift, and would be easy to incorporate while we had the truck in a million pieces. More than anything it was to make sure I wouldn't ever have problems with tires rubbing, and I don't like how stock Rangers with 4" lifts and 33's look, so I went with 7".

The Explorer pan works because the Explorer frame and Ranger frame are nearly identical. The crossmember location is like a mirror image, and it fits like a glove. The double sump pan works; the Explorer pan fits better. But, gotta deal with the wiring for the EFI. It's completely worth it in the long haul, especially if you live in a pretty varied climate like what we have in Idaho. I would hate to deal with a carb with 0* winters and 110* summers.

RangerFabWorks · Nov 16, 2009

if your gonna dig up an old thread. might as well be one with some usefull info in it.

let the war begin :stirthepot:

doorgunner · Nov 16, 2009

WAR???

You want WAR?????

O. K. !!!!!!

Go to your shed & take some PICTURES!!!!!!!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahaha...Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahhaha

dangerranger83 · Nov 16, 2009

Take pictures of what........a so called "V-8" going in your truck? That WILL start a war.

BTW I'm just grinding your gears. Hope to see it in your truck soon.

RangerFabWorks · Nov 17, 2009

dangerranger83 said:
Take pictures of what........a so called "V-8" going in your truck? That WILL start a war.

BTW I'm just grinding your gears. Hope to see it in your truck soon.

i know, its all good. see the tailgate for the reason the ranger is stalled.

engine swap

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