V8 swap

[remington115]

so im sick of my 2.5l now time to step up to a v8. so i have 96 ford ranger 2wd . what would be the easyed swap. i want efi i here that the mid 90s explorer would be good i want to do a small build maybe a cam but i want something that will be reliable. also i want to do a 9'' rearend with disc brakes but i dont know what year the explorers have them. so any info will help thanks.

 

[bobbywalter]

thats pretty much it.


get a fox pan, remote oil cooler and a decent sploder doner. if you want to keep ac it may be best to mod a remote van setup to blow cold air. mod the core support rails and use a 19x 25 two row summit rad and a taurus fan.


easy is eec4 maf electronics but best is to keep the sploder stuff and tune it...run the 1/4 horse or tweecer rt to make it what you want.

you can shitcan the pats and turn off the rear o2's ect..lots of diy options these days

 

[Teddyzee]

so im sick of my 2.5l now time to step up to a v8. so i have 96 ford ranger 2wd . what would be the easyed swap. i want efi i here that the mid 90s explorer would be good i want to do a small build maybe a cam but i want something that will be reliable. also i want to do a 9'' rearend with disc brakes but i dont know what year the explorers have them. so any info will help thanks.

The Ex is a fairly easy fit. You want to use Mustang motor maounts, any year, '87 to '95. Many prefer the '94/'95 or fox vert mounts (same). Not sure if the Ex oil pan actually fits an Ibeam Ranger. I believe some are cast, some are stamped, so you may get lucky there. Otherwise a Ford "dual sump" is the pan you want.

With the Explorer front accessories, you casn keep AC and not touch the rad or move the condensor. No need to mod your heater box,either. I would try the stock rad if it's a mild build. I'm using a stock 4.0 rad, it runs very cold.

You can easily swap those basic parts to run with a Mutang harness and ECU if you want more tuning options.

The Explorers, '96 to '01(?) came with 31 spline 8.8 rearends, some with Traction Lock, but they did have disc brakes.

 

[remington115]

so to run the mustang harness end ecu just swap all then sensors over to the exploder engine? also what year mustang and model? i dont know i think ill stick to the stock harness and ecu for that motor because thats what went wrong with my last swap. a 96 2.3l to a 2000 2.5 with the 96 wiring harness and ecu. anyway i think my stock rad. will not work i think its only a 1 core. also any tips or things to look out for.

 

[remington115]

so more qustions will i have to make a trany mount or will the stock 2.5l trany mounts bolt up. also what about the gauges tack, speedo, ect... im i going to run into a wiring night mare. drive shaft, i swaped an aluminum one out of a newer ranger will this still work.

 

[remington115]

anyone

 

[coryg]

dont know about your application but i had to make a custom mount for my aod into my 87....

 

[remington115]

will i have to make a trany mount or will the stock 2.5l trany mounts bolt up. also what about the gauges tack, speedo, ect... im i going to run into a wiring night mare. drive shaft, i swaped an aluminum one out of a newer ranger will this still work.

 

[remington115]

. also what about the gauges tack, speedo, ect... im i going to run into a wiring night mare. drive shaft, i swaped an aluminum one out of a newer ranger will this still work.

 

[Teddyzee]

Read this forum and you will find all these answers.

And/or you can look here:
http://www.harwoodperformance.bizland.com/