A small update... the local junkyard had a 2000 Explorer with a 302 come in so I jumped on it to get parts. I now have the FEAD brackets, system belt, coil pack bracket, cruise control computer with bracket and cable, throttle cable bracket and air box bracket. Also grabbed as many vacuum lines as I could. In some ways most importantly I grabbed bolts. Lots of them. I have many of the pieces I need but from what I initially bought not the bolts that go with them. Now I have most of the bolts that I need. Hopefully I can get back to the junkyard next weekend and get the rest of the bolts that I can grab. I've also learned that I won't be able to get the Y-pipe for the exhaust from the junkyard as they hack it to bits in order to get the catalytic converters out.
I'm still waiting for a unicorn F150 to come in so that I can get my M5R2. To get the configuration you need it can be solved in two different ways. You can get a 1997-2003 M5R2 that is paired with the 4.2L V6 and you'll have good placement for the shifter, but not a tailshaft that will accept a mechanical speedometer. You then have to get the tailshaft from a 1988-1992? M5R2 and swap that out.
Alternatively you can get any M5R2 from a F150 that is paired with a 302 that is from 1988-1992? to have the correct tailshaft but then you need to get a shifter plate from the aforementioned 1997-2003 4.2L M5R2 so you don't have to cut metal to make the shifter fit.
I still haven't decided the path I'm going to take for cooling. I hear folks using the 4.0L radiator without issue but you have to hack into the rad core support to make the clearance you need. That's cheaper but I'd prefer not to cut metal. Other option is to buy a purpose built conversion rad. Fits like a glove but $$$. I'll have to do more research.