03 ranger v8 swap passenger mount

Big Puddin · May 19, 2017

Hi folks, been scouring internet and this forum and read all the conversion stuff and jumped in on a dead 2003 2wheel drive ranger supercab. Stock, it had a 3.0 and auto. I've inserted 83 econoline 351 Windsor and C-6 auto. Bought some thick plates off ebay for V-8 conversion, driver side fits great on stock 3.0 mount. Pass side not sitting down on the 2 threaded bolts.
Am I supposed to change passenger side frame/motor mount, is there one that has the 2 threaded bolts poking straight up that are an inch or so higher?
Or, do most folks weld up the slotted holes and make new ones closer in toward the block where this would sit down?
Been lucky so far, with HVAC removed and rubber inner fenderwells, have not had to remove or fold over any seams on firewall. C-6 clearing fine. Swapped econoline C-6 yoke to stock Ranger driveshaft, length great. Transmission mount even falling into place. Even stock column shift cable looks like I can weld a tab on backside of frame on driver side and bolt that to also.
My only hang up, FOR NOW, is trying to figure out why motor won't sit down on passenger side motor mount. Driver side perfect. Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts? Big Puddin

ford_ranger12 · May 19, 2017

If it's a coil spring ranger I believe you have to use 4.0 mounts with the plates, if it's an Edge model 5.0 explorer mounts will work

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Big Puddin · May 19, 2017

I'd read that in the tech archives but it pertains to models before mine. It's 2003 with power rack and pinion. My motor mounts are both same part number for left and right. Driver side perfect, couldn't ask for any better. No amount of leverage or lifting up and down with cherry picker removing the 1" of distance I need removed.....

ford_ranger12 · May 19, 2017

Well mines an 03 edge model and I used the 5.0 mounts and plates from the explorer I took the motor out of. They fit exactly the same but the edge model frame is exactly the same up front as the explorer. If you have a coil sprung regular 03 ranger they're gonna sit a little different. If you check the OBX headers post, my motor mounts are pictured on there.

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win · May 20, 2017

Any chance you forgot to remove the spacer under the left engine mount?

Very much a PITA since the coil spring on that side must come out to get the spacer out and the mount bolted to the frame rather than the spacer.

Also, the alignment pin on the mount is in a different spot than on the spacer so a new hole in the frame must be drilled.

2Krngr · May 20, 2017

Big Puddin said:
I'd read that in the tech archives but it pertains to models before mine. It's 2003 with power rack and pinion. My motor mounts are both same part number for left and right. Driver side perfect, couldn't ask for any better. No amount of leverage or lifting up and down with cherry picker removing the 1" of distance I need removed.....

From 98-11 all the information pertaining to the frame applies to all models and years within that full range. Either it is a Coilspring frame or a Torsion bar frame, and some 2wd versions got the Torsion frame, but no 4wd ever got the Coilspring frame. All versions in the range have rack and pinion. Only the 97 and below i-beam suspension trucks had gearbox/linkage steering.

The motor mounts are the same left-to-right and are interchangeable, but the v8 swap plates are left-to-right specific as there is a step in one of them to align it correctly, which also must be installed in the proper orientation.

Big Puddin said:
I'd read that in the tech archives but it pertains to models before mine. It's 2003 with power rack and pinion. My motor mounts are both same part number for left and right. Driver side perfect, couldn't ask for any better. No amount of leverage or lifting up and down with cherry picker removing the 1" of distance I need removed.....

The v8 swap plates are made to be used with 4.0L motor mounts. The 3.0l mounts are not the same as the 4.0l.

A 2003 coilspring frame should have no mounting issues with the v8 conversion plates used w/ 4.0 mounts. If it is a torsion bar frame you just use the explorer's 5.0 mounts directly as stated above.

The seller RicksRangerz on ebay that is making the v8 swap plates for sale says in his listing "You can use 3.0 mounts with a little mod. Contact me if you'd like to know how." So there is obviously a trick to it, I am not sure, but you may want to contact him see if he can help. I assume his plates are the ones you are using??

Big Puddin · May 21, 2017

I missed removing the driver side motor mount spacer block. Part of what threw me was the truck was dead with no info as to what had been done. Someone had swapped in a 4.0 and mounts. So, wound up being dead semi-transplanted 4.0.
Anyhow, y'all got me on the path just waiting to see what rain is gonna do. I'm no longer duck hunting with a rake on this...
I could easily leave the spacer in place and drill the plate, and I'd have plenty of room for stock econoline fuel pump and oil filter and C6. But I can't help but think with the added weight of 351 I should get weight as low and far back as practical for handling.
Is it true my 03 would have 8.8" rear stock? My code says 3.73 open but I figured it was 7.5" but read differently?
Appreciate you folks I'm making progress.....

2Krngr · May 21, 2017

Big Puddin said:
Is it true my 03 would have 8.8" rear stock? My code says 3.73 open but I figured it was 7.5" but read differently?
Appreciate you folks I'm making progress.....

You truck could have came with a 8.8" or a 7.5", depended on which motor and/or cab type as to what it got.

What motor does your truck have and is it a supercab?

A 2wd 4-cyl would have a 7.5" open 3.73

A 4wd 4.0 would have a 8.8" open 3.73 (lsd optional)

A supercab 4.0 would have 8.8" open 3.2x or 3.55 (lsd optional)

The rear axles are very easy to identify if it is 7.5 or 8.8 by just looking under the back of the truck at the pumpkin.

Big Puddin · May 21, 2017

2 wheel drive 2003 supercab stock was 3.0 and overdrive auto. I know it's 3.73 according to the axle code on tag and its open differential but no idea if 8.8 or not.
Worked hard but got it sitting down on motor mounts, that was kinda rough.

03 ranger v8 swap passenger mount

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