Planning a 2011 Ranger engine swap v8 whats my best choice?

[2011ranger]

Hey guys, im new here, i have a 2011 ranger 4.0, 5 speed, currently a m90 blower on it and im not impressed with the power its making, yesterday doing a burnout and horsing around i took out a cyl, so it gives me a reason to change. im wondering my best option. im looking around and it seems that most ppl swap the older ones, and many go with a 302 and a carb for ease. i want something more modern and EFI. and if that's a total waste ill end up boring and stroking this engine. i was thinking 4.6, 4 cam? they are all over and im assuming i can buy a harness and standalone set up.

ive built many hot rods, so im not new too it, i put bing engines where they don't fit, but i don't want to make this a huge deal, i don't want to change the front end ect, i want to fins something that fits between the frame rails, and honestly ill probably go auto at the same time. another concern i have is gauges, and wiring, im new to swapping late model efi stuff where it doesn't belong, normally i go supercharged and carbed lol

 

[Ranger850]

the 4.6 swap has been done, but nobody really has a thread on it. i have thought about it too, because they are literally every where, but you really have to Frankenstein parts together. it sounds like you have better resources for tools and work space than i do, so maybe that's not a problem for you. The Expo/Mounty 5.0swap, seems to be the easiest, and a lot of people do that.

 

[adsm08]

The 4.6 is wide. The 4.6 DOHC is wider.

This can probably be done, but it won't be easy.

 

[win]

The 4.6 DOHC swap is easy, as long as you don't want heat/ac, brakes, steering, exhaust manifolds or upper control arms and brackets.

Keeping any of those luxuries means bringing in tons of challenges.

Custom headers might clear the Ranger frame and front suspension, re-route steering shaft and maybe re-position rack/pinion may give direction control. Linkage to a hydroboost might get working brakes and I'm sure a custom a/c and heater could be squeezed into front fender and still leave room for a tire/wheel.

Shoot, might be easier to start with a V8 Lincoln Aviator, grafting the Lincoln's frame, firewall and dash into/under the Ranger

As noted, it can be done, just not without a LOT of out of the box thinking, tons of creativity and a bunch of effort and money

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I mean, can I say it??

 

[Nez'sRanger]

I mean, can I say it??

If you don't, I may be tempted to! Haha!

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

*Ahem*

 

[Snoranger]

*Ahem*

View attachment 29473

Really? A 2.9L?

Then it goes here:

 

[2011ranger]

Hey guys, thanks for any useful help. I understand they are wide but with my tape measure and eyeball im going to try it! mind you guys, this will be my hot rod, mostly asking here bc of wiring and knowledge, but I am currently putting a boss 429 with a blower on it in my 1940 ford coupe with power steering and ac, so im not new to challenges, the 40 fords smaller and engines bigger haha. im not sure how tight the breaks and heater box will be, but i can move the brake booster if needed or come up with something.

My plan I believe
radiator and steering off a 2003 ish explorer and wiring harness and ecu
I think engine out of a Lincoln Aviator, 4.6 4 cam and has the same style heads as a 03-04 cobra so an intake will be easier
blower, intake, intercooler and injectors and rails off a 03-04 cobra, I already have water to air cooler in my truck now so that parts easy!
thinking f150 5 speed trans, hydro clutch already and ford u joints and fits a 4.6
i figured engine and tranny have to come out, i might as well try to improve when im there, if it doesn't work or i have to loose frame rails then no one would of done it before! does anyone see anything im missing? did i make this sounds too easy? lol

 

[Ramcharger90]

6.2 it....

 

[Ranger850]

i would love to follow this if you do a decent "build thread", with lots of pics and explaining what you do. there are a few out there, but nobody has done a clean thread on in it, so its not really documented well.

 

[19Walt93]

Do some research first if your state has OBD II emissions inspection. The Gordon Darby system that NH and many other states use compares the VIN of the vehicle to the one in the PCM. Anything 96 and later has to pass emissions inspection. It would really suck to spend a lot of money and do all the work for a swap and then not be able to drive it.That's why I bought a 93 for a V8 swap.

 

[19Walt93]

If you transplant a later engine and all the emissions equipment it still won't pass because the VIN doesn't match.

 

[2011ranger]

ok guys, I kinda fell off the earth here with this, I ended up buying a 70 fastback mustang with a 4.6 4 cam termi engine in it, now with already having a 4.6, im going to go with a coyote. 2015+ f150, and an f150 5 speed 4x4 trans. newer and a better engine.