How hard to add factory cruise control?

[Frank S]

I'm transplanting a 2003 2.3L Duratec and five speed auto from a wrecked Ranger into a little 61 Rambler American convertible. The truck was a basic model -- no cruise. How hard is it to add cruise? Assume to a basic model Ranger. I know the controls are on the steering wheel, I can change that if necessary. Are all the Rangers wired for cruise? Would I have to change the ECU, or is the cruise a separate ECU? If it's built into all ECUs will it have to be re-flashed/activated by a dealer or will the components just plug into the wiring harness and work? Are all the harnesses set up to take all options (I know a lot of manufacturers do that)? Or is there a separate cruise controller? I can get parts from a somewhat local pick-n-pull, about an hour away from me so don't want to go look at trucks and try to guess.

 

[Frank S]

Found the answer here in the tech section! Refers to a 1996 model, but most of the info should be applicable.
https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/adding-cruise-control-to-your-ford-ranger/

 

[bobbywalter]

those were the beginning of the crossover years.

i have an o9 unit for testing purposes that is a pia with the hp tuners. and those setups are a pia to refit. i dont think the 03 is like that. i wish i would have pulled the steering column from that donor...

i would simply go to the junkyard and find an o3 and rob all of that stuff off of it. or just run a gm style setup.

 

[bobbywalter]

its wierd because i was looking at a 62 comet at the junkyard today and thinking that ranger powerplant would be perfect for it...

 

[bobbywalter]

i was in there looking for cruise control to add to a f150 i was gifted yesterday.

same process. pretty sure its the same system on those 92 to 2004ish

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

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i was in there looking for cruise control to add to a f150 i was gifted yesterday.

same process. pretty sure its the same system on those 92 to 2004ish

There was a transition from vacuum servo to electronic at some point in there.

I just remember that pillaging parts for my '85, it seems some of the later OBS trucks didn't have the big vacuum servo.

 

[RobbieD]

View attachment 117948View attachment 117949View attachment 117950






i was in there looking for cruise control to add to a f150 i was gifted yesterday.

same process. pretty sure its the same system on those 92 to 2004ish

Except for the seat needing a little duct tape, that Falcon Comet looks to be in perfect condition!

edit- whoops! pays to take a second look

 

[bobbywalter]

There was a transition from vacuum servo to electronic at some point in there.

I just remember that pillaging parts for my '85, it seems some of the later OBS trucks didn't have the big vacuum servo.

92 i think for the 1fiddies then that e style was pretty much on most critters till drive by wire.

 

[Frank S]

I'll have to see if the 2003 is wired first. If not I might just use an aftermarket cruise. It's a pretty basic truck, so may not be.

The little Rambler American I'm transplanting in was a contemporary of that Comet. The Comet would have had a 144 or 170 six 90 or 101 hp, 260 didn't come out until 63 models, 200 inch/125 hp in 65. The Rambler had a 195.6 -- in flat-head or OHV form, 90 or 125-135 hp - 1V or 2V. The Comet's shipping weight was around 2500 pounds, my convertible around 2700. In comparison the Ranger is around 3,000 pounds and the 2.3L 143 hp. 90 hp prior to 1972 equates to around 60 hp using the 72+ rating system (the 125 hp = ~90 hp!). So that makes the little Duratec 2.3L about 40% more powerful. The torque rating is vastly different though! The old Rambler 196 peaks at 180 ft/lbs@1600 rpm, the Duratec 154 ft/lbs@3750. More HP, but the old 196 kills the 2.3L in torque! It will drive very different! I'm using the five speed auto from the Ranger, and will have to gear the Rambler close to the Ranger. Planning on a 3.78 rear axle since I don't have to carry the load a Ranger would be expected to -- Ranger came stock with a 4.10 gear. If I can't find a Rambler 3.78 axle (it was fairly common, Ramblers aren't any more!) I may have to use the Ranger axle.