2002 Ranger Edge 2WD Auto conversion to 5.0EFI

[02RangerNewbie]

Hello everyone, I am in the planning/research stages of my 5.0 EFI swap on my 2002 Ranger. I am looking to have as close to a factory look on the truck as possible. I really want to take my time and not make it look like a hack job. Everything seems to be straight forward when it comes to the swap. I'm hunting for a 2001 Explorer as my donor vehicle but I am in need of some advice/clarity when it comes to the Explorer transmission 4R70W. As we all know the Explorer comes in AWD but my Ranger is a 2WD, so...
How do I get rid of the transfer case and adapt the tail end of the transmission in order to work as a RWD only?
Will a 4R70W from an 2WD F150 bolt right up to the Explorer engine?
Would it be practical to leave the transfer case installed on the 4R70W with only the rear drive shaft connected and the forward yoke spinning with nothing connected to it? (it would probably look goofy)

Any advice on the swap like Do's and Dont's would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ranger850]

I'm doing a similar swap. I have a 2001 Ranger Edge and a 2000 AWD Explorer for a donor. I plan on keeping the awd set up. BUT, my research tells me that they did build some 2wd v8 Expo's, just rare in my part of the USA. You can use a manual transmission from a v6 F-150 (also rare in my parts). If you are going automatic trans, you will probably have to swap out the steering column to one with a Column shifter, depending on which auto trans you go with. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will come along and correct any errors of my info.

 

[02RangerNewbie]

I didn't know that Ford made 2WD V8 Explorers. They must be extremely rare. I am keeping my truck Automatic, I really don't want to go thru the hassle of adding more expenses to the project.

 

[Ranger850]

There is always the "worst case" of just not having the from cv axles in with possibly a cap fabbed for the holes left and possibly have the computer "flashed" or reprogrammed to a RWD set-up.
I wanted AWD from the start, my plan is to build a mild street/work truck for work & play.

 

[fastpakr]

Cue my regular observation that I'm sitting on a 2wd Explorer 5.0 transmission. It's just taking up space in the storage unit if someone wants to come grab it.

 

[02RangerNewbie]

Cue my regular observation that I'm sitting on a 2wd Explorer 5.0 transmission. It's just taking up space in the storage unit if someone wants to come grab it.

What year?

 

[fastpakr]

It's from a '99 Explorer.

 

[tinman_72]

I never thought the 2wd V8s were that rare. I passed up several when shopping for my first Explorer.

 

[Ranger850]

Cue my regular observation that I'm sitting on a 2wd Explorer 5.0 transmission. It's just taking up space in the storage unit if someone wants to come grab it.

I was supposed to come up that way this summer, but a Covid break out in my NC family stopped that from happening. Another member hear, maybe @tinman_72 has mentioned the abundance of 2wd V8 Expos, but like I said, rare ( to me). If @02RangerNewbie can get up there to get it, he should. He is a lot closer to VA than I am.

 

[02RangerNewbie]

I was supposed to come up that way this summer, but a Covid break out in my NC family stopped that from happening. Another member hear, maybe @tinman_72 has mentioned the abundance of 2wd V8 Expos, but like I said, rare ( to me). If @02RangerNewbie can get up there to get it, he should. He is a lot closer to VA than I am.

I am still in the planning stages of the build. I really want to do my homework before I go and spend some money.

 

[Ranger850]

I am still in the planning stages of the build. I really want to do my homework before I go and spend some money.

I understand that part. I don't think @fastpakr is asking much, if anything. Getting a good trans now, may save you a LOT later. Especially if you want rwd only. Most of these guys go the 4wd route and the 2wd stuff is useless to them.