1990 F-150 302 in a 2000 Ranger

[JamesP]

Hi all. New guy here.

So i have a 2000 Ranger with a locked up 3.0 automatic. I have a 302 engine out of a 1990 F-150 in the garage im looking to swap into the ranger. I would like to do a cam swap on the 302 to give it a better sound and bump the HP a little bit. Any good advice on cam selection and what will be needed to get the F150 302 in the ranger with EFI? I was thinking i need a ECM out of a mustang along with the engine harness. Also will be changing the intake from the tall intake to a mustang intake and possibly changing the oil pan out for a mustang or explorer oil pan as well. Guessing ill need the accesories from either a explorer or mustang also. Im sure the explorer 5.0 is the better swap option but i already have this engine and it only has 45k miles so i am going to try to use it. I am going to use the manual trans out of the v6 f150.
Thanks!

 

[franklin2]

Be careful with the camshaft. Your valvetrain is not adjustable, so you might have problems with the valve lash, which cannot be changed without modifications and machine work. Crane used to make a conversion kit crane 52655-16 but I do not think they sell it anymore.

 

[RonD]

Yes, you need the 302 Short Nose pulley set up and brackets
Yes, and lower intake profile

Also need a transmission, and need to decide manual or automatic to get the correct PCM(engine computer)
If automatic then the PCM also must be able to "run" that model automatic

There were 2 Ford 302 OBD1 computers that people liked
1989-1993 A9P for automatics
1989-1993 A9L for manuals
1989 to 1993 used MAF sensors, which is what you need if upgrading the 302 engine
Mustang forums would be the place to look at what OBD1 computers are best for 302's

And you need the wiring harness for the PCM you decide on, and the relay pack

Lots of upgrades for these 302/5.0l OHVs
I am sure a few here will have suggestion
But since Rangers never got 302s Mustang forums would probably be best place to look for "been there done that" upgrades

People would use the 1996-2001 Explorer V8s because you get the engine/trans, computer(PCM), wiring harness, exhaust and cooling system all in one place, lol

 

[JamesP]

Yes, you need the 302 Short Nose pulley set up and brackets
Yes, and lower intake profile

Also need a transmission, and need to decide manual or automatic to get the correct PCM(engine computer)
If automatic then the PCM also must be able to "run" that model automatic

There were 2 Ford 302 OBD1 computers that people liked
1989-1993 A9P for automatics
1989-1993 A9L for manuals
1989 to 1993 used MAF sensors, which is what you need if upgrading the 302 engine
Mustang forums would be the place to look at what OBD1 computers are best for 302's

And you need the wiring harness for the PCM you decide on, and the relay pack

Lots of upgrades for these 302/5.0l OHVs
I am sure a few here will have suggestion
But since Rangers never got 302s Mustang forums would probably be best place to look for "been there done that" upgrades

People would use the 1996-2001 Explorer V8s because you get the engine/trans, computer(PCM), wiring harness, exhaust and cooling system all in one place, lol

Will be using the manual trans out of the v6 f150. Believe it was the M5ODR2. I will troll through some mustang forums also. Thanks for the info!

 

[JoshT]

I understand you want to use the engine you have, was just in the same position, but I still recommend getting the Explorer

By the time you scrounge up all the bits and pieces to do the swap on a 2000 and make it right, you will likely be money ahead to buy the explorer for parts. The front dress is all there. The power steering and AC stuff will connect right into your truck. The cooling system bolts right in. It's already got the shorter car style intake you'd have to buy. The electrical is almost a direct swap even if you need to get tuned for auto transmission.

Even if you decide to use your long block with the Explorer dress, I think you'll be ahead. Then you can sell the parts you don't need to recoup some money. Or save the spare engine to build after you have the swap up and running.

My situation was slightly different. I already had a 98 Explorer 2WD drivetrain acquired years ago for a different project. Have decided to do the swap on my 99 4x4 Ranger. Needed the wire harness, some fuel system parts, AWD transmission, and a bunch of odd parts that I didn't save from the Explorer. It was cheaper and easier to pick up a compete 2000 Explorer AWD donor for around 1k, than it was to scrounge all the parts (and I'd already started scrounging). I'll use the 1998 engine I had with the parts from the 2000. Engines had similar mileage, but I know the history of the 98 and maintenance seems to have been better. Will save the 2000 engine to build and part what I don't need.

 

[19Walt93]

Do some research before you start buying stuff. NH was forced to begine emissions testing so we wouldn't lose our federal highway money. The Gordon Darby OBD II system will compare the VIN on the registration to the VIN in the PCM and they have to match. It's hard for me to worry about the emissions from a good running 302 when self important hypocrites like Al Gore, John Kerry, Elon Musk, and Pete Buteigeig fly around in private jets and there are over 50,000 airliners flying everyday during holidays.

 

[JoshT]

Do some research before you start buying stuff. NH was forced to begine emissions testing so we wouldn't lose our federal highway money. The Gordon Darby OBD II system will compare the VIN on the registration to the VIN in the PCM and they have to match. It's hard for me to worry about the emissions from a good running 302 when self important hypocrites like Al Gore, John Kerry, Elon Musk, and Pete Buteigeig fly around in private jets and there are over 50,000 airliners flying everyday during holidays.

Ok, so if I needed a replacement ECU for my bone stock 4.0L Ranger and happened to find one with the right code that worked (lets ignore PATS) in the local Pick-N-Pull, my truck would fail inspection because the VIN was different? Not saying that you are wrong, or calling you a liar, just saying... That's fu#$%^ up!

Even in the most back asswards states (except maybe cali) there is some provision for engine swaps as long as the emissions meets certain criteria. If I lived in the smog part of my state, a V8 swap on a Ranger would still be legal as long as the engine was same or newer year and retained all emissions controls that it came with.

 

[bobbywalter]

Ok, so if I needed a replacement ECU for my bone stock 4.0L Ranger and happened to find one with the right code that worked (lets ignore PATS) in the local Pick-N-Pull, my truck would fail inspection because the VIN was different? Not saying that you are wrong, or calling you a liar, just saying... That's fu#$%^ up!

Even in the most back asswards states (except maybe cali) there is some provision for engine swaps as long as the emissions meets certain criteria. If I lived in the smog part of my state, a V8 swap on a Ranger would still be legal as long as the engine was same or newer year and retained all emissions controls that it came with.

thats a calibration fix. 8 holes never came in a ranger chassis....and the g/d system in that case needs a title fix to correlate to a vin for the emissions match..

getting insurance for such a vehicle is a whole different headache.

 

[bobbywalter]

Hi all. New guy here.

So i have a 2000 Ranger with a locked up 3.0 automatic. I have a 302 engine out of a 1990 F-150 in the garage im looking to swap into the ranger. I would like to do a cam swap on the 302 to give it a better sound and bump the HP a little bit. Any good advice on cam selection and what will be needed to get the F150 302 in the ranger with EFI? I was thinking i need a ECM out of a mustang along with the engine harness. Also will be changing the intake from the tall intake to a mustang intake and possibly changing the oil pan out for a mustang or explorer oil pan as well. Guessing ill need the accesories from either a explorer or mustang also. Im sure the explorer 5.0 is the better swap option but i already have this engine and it only has 45k miles so i am going to try to use it. I am going to use the manual trans out of the v6 f150.
Thanks!

2 wd or 4x4?

do you have all of the 150 wiring?

if you have the ecm and wiring from the 150 i would be tempted to just run it like it is with a cowl hood and decent truck cam...if you can live with stock efi....you will need to move the radiator a bit....but its workable.


from there with it being a 2000, for sure a complete explorer setup....it can bolt into the chassis....the obd2 is easier to tune.....




then it gets to costing... maybe run the terminator x. it is pricey....but you can tune it decently.



outside of that running a later sefi maf setup from a 94-96 f150 or e150 will also allow more tunability with the distributor based engine......

 

[19Walt93]

Ok, so if I needed a replacement ECU for my bone stock 4.0L Ranger and happened to find one with the right code that worked (lets ignore PATS) in the local Pick-N-Pull, my truck would fail inspection because the VIN was different? Not saying that you are wrong, or calling you a liar, just saying... That's fu#$%^ up!

Even in the most back asswards states (except maybe cali) there is some provision for engine swaps as long as the emissions meets certain criteria. If I lived in the smog part of my state, a V8 swap on a Ranger would still be legal as long as the engine was same or newer year and retained all emissions controls that it came with.

There you go, trying to apply common sense to federal regs. OBD II appeared in 96 and I don't remember us ever replacing a PCM, if we had it would have been a new one and we would have programmed it.

 

[JoshT]

There you go, trying to apply common sense to federal regs. OBD II appeared in 96 and I don't remember us ever replacing a PCM, if we had it would have been a new one and we would have programmed it.

Being a federal employee, I should know better.

I would think a professional shop could get the PCM programmed to match the vehicle vin without too much issue. I think that's what would happen if you were to buy a replacement through a retailer. I was more referring to the DIYer who got one used and wouldn't have access to that equipment.

For example, if my 99 needed a replacement PCM I might be able to find one in a local junkyard that matches what I have. I think that the only major hurdle to bolting it into my truck and going is the PATS. I can fix PATS at home using ForSCAN, and would know that it needs to be done. As a DIY home mechanic I wouldn't know that VIN matching is something I needed to consider or fix, or if it could even be done with with the same program.