Engine Swap Alternatives

[AutoRnD]

That definitely put me in order. I was getting ahead of myself. This site is much more exciting than I could have asked for so it's easy for me to get a bit distracted. I saw seafoam in a video and began to research it a bit. Seems simple enough. This information really is something else. You're all so helpful, thank you.

 

[Blmpkn]

This truck is something special to me for a personal reason.

So.. let's hear the story! We're all suckers for sentiment concerning rangers.

 

[AutoRnD]

So.. let's hear the story! We're all suckers for sentiment concerning rangers.

Maybe in another thread, after a few cold ones!

 

[AutoRnD]

There have been thousands of exhaust threads on the internet since it started. Every one has thier own taste for sound. From hearing and seeing it all for years for the 3.0 I suggest the super 44 or the original 40 these are Flowmaster...super 40 is a bit overrated for a v6 ranger...that's more of a v8 muffler. Straight thru mufflers to me are a not good.

Use a single in single out system . Keep the cat converters and use 2.5" piping to exit in front or rear of the tire..your choice. This is what suggest.

Saw a video of a Foxbody Mustang with a 44 then 40, I was drawn more to the 40. I'm aware that it was a different vehicle and mine won't sound as aggressive but that's what I'm chasing down. Aggressive sound. As for the exit, definitely in front of the rear tire. SVT style.

 

[AutoRnD]

Lots of knowledge in junkyards. I have gone thousands of times in my life, still enjoy going.

The 3.0 is a higher rpm engine, designed that way from ford in the mid 80's. It was a car engine, it also went into the 87 Aerostar vans with a manual transmission. In 91 it went into the ranger. When this engine was put in the ranger, ford did a bad pcm programming with the automatic transmission. The shift points are to low, therefore the engine can't reach its full rpm band for maximum use.

Other suggestions are great for the gearing to 410. Exhaust is great..look into the throttle cable mod. To my thoughts are the best modification for the 3.0 ranger is having a manual transmission with this engine. Automatics don't due this engine any justice.

I have alot of experience with this engine. You need assistance ask away.

I want to start looking for a differential. Is the Explorer LSD a good choice? I still haven't grasped basic knowledge on the ratio's. Do I want a high as possible ratio or is there a sweet spot?

 

[sgtsandman]

I want to start looking for a differential. Is the Explorer LSD a good choice? I still haven't grasped basic knowledge on the ratio's. Do I want a high as possible ratio or is there a sweet spot?

The Explorer axle is not going to be a direct bolt on swap. It's easier than some but if you want to keep the axle setup the same way as your current axle, you are going to need to cut the spring perches off the axle and relocate them and something will need to be done about the shock mount on the driver's side. Either install a new upper mount behind the axle or modify the spring plate so you can use the factory location on the truck.

As far as gear ratios, I wouldn't go any higher than 4.10:1. You will start burning more gas than you need to and might peak out your engine while driving on the highway.

 

[franklin2]

That definitely put me in order. I was getting ahead of myself. This site is much more exciting than I could have asked for so it's easy for me to get a bit distracted. I saw seafoam in a video and began to research it a bit. Seems simple enough. This information really is something else. You're all so helpful, thank you.

I hate to be a party pooper. I see you live in New Jersey. What type of vehicle inspections do you have? Here in Va I would have a hard time getting a v8 swap on a Ranger to pass unless I did use a explorer setup and transferred all the emissions over with the engine. A clean simple carbed v8 of any type with no emissions on it would not pass the visual where I live. I don't have sniffer tests in this part of the state, though around DC I think they do.

On the exhaust; Here we go again. If you are going to have side exit exhaust, see what the rules are in your state. In my state the exhaust has to be past the passenger compartment door a certain distance. This is easily done on a single cab long bed, but it will be close on other body styles.

 

[stmitch]

I want to start looking for a differential. Is the Explorer LSD a good choice? I still haven't grasped basic knowledge on the ratio's. Do I want a high as possible ratio or is there a sweet spot?

Gear ratio depends on how you use your vehicle, and things like tire size. There are trade offs of course. The general idea is that the higher the number, the more aggressively it will transfer torque from the engine to the tires. That means better acceleration from low speeds, but the trade off is that it is less efficient at higher speeds. So better take off with a higher number ratio, but lower top speed and more fuel consumed while cruising.

Vehicles that need a lot of torque transfer at lower speeds (drag cars, rock crawlers, trucks with bigger tires, etc) will tend to run a gear ratio with a higher numerical value. A vehicle that's trying to maximize highway fuel economy, or achieve a higher top speed would want to run a gear ratio with a lower numerical value.

For a street driven truck with normal diameter tires I really like a 3.73 rear gear as a compromise between decent fuel economy and performance.

If you're planning on lowering the truck, the right Explorer 8.8 axle swap could get you 3.73 gears, disc brakes and a limited slip differential while also lowering the rear around 5 inches. You don't need to change the leaf spring mounts to do this on a lowered truck. You do need a plan for the shock mount. You can have a new shock mount welded to the axle housing if you'd like, or you can use the shock mount plates that came on Explorers. You'd need 2 of the driver's side plates, with one rotated 180 degrees.

Explorer 8.8 Rear End Swap – No weld - The Ranger Station

Article by: Rocky T. McKenzie © 2014 This write up is to show how to swap in an Explorer 8.8 rear end into a Ranger without welding. The Explorer rear end swap is pretty common for Ranger enthusiasts, but … Continued

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