2010 2.3 swap 1999 5.0 explorer help

[John&Max]

New to the site. Hope this is the right place. My son and i have a plain Jane 2.3 rollup window 2.3 ranger. Bought a1999 awd explorer as a donor truck. Have the %.0 out but cant find the right motor mounts. I see lot the guys have done this swap but cant find one with 2010 ranger. We bought 1999 explorer mounts with fit right onto ranger frame but not even close to lining up.

Any ideas would be much appreciated John

 

[franklin2]

A older engine swap into a late model like that presents problems down here in the US. Some places have underhood inspections and that older engine would not pass. And then you have all the electronics of the late model truck and how they are tied into the engine management system. You would pretty much have to gut the dash and all the other amenties of the vehicle and go hot rod gauges and none of the other features of the truck would work. I think that is why you are not seeing much on that type of swap.

 

[bobbywalter]

That 2.3 is a great turbo candidate.

The mounts for the 4 whizzer's are much different then the 6 and 8.


You will want the 4.0 mounts with v8 plates.

 

[Dirtman]

I agree with Ralph, the 2019/20 ranger 2.3 ecoboost engines are basically the same as the 2.3 duratec in your 2010, just on crack. Slap a turbo on it, with some tweaks it'll make more power than the explorer 5.0 anyway.

 

[John&Max]

That 2.3 is a great turbo candidate.

The mounts for the 4 whizzer's are much different then the 6 and 8.


You will want the 4.0 mounts with v8 plates.

Thanks for your help. So if i keep the plates from the 1999 5.0 and buy which year ? 4.0 frame mounts it will fit ?

 

[John&Max]

A older engine swap into a late model like that presents problems down here in the US. Some places have underhood inspections and that older engine would not pass. And then you have all the electronics of the late model truck and how they are tied into the engine management system. You would pretty much have to gut the dash and all the other amenties of the vehicle and go hot rod gauges and none of the other features of the truck would work. I think that is why you are not seeing much on that type of swap.

Thanks for your help. As you can see we didnt do enough research before we started this build. but we are committed to it. The truck never had A/C or power windows when we started and wont when we are finished . We are still figuring out whether we want to go back to the old efi or change to a carb. we did but an T5 transmission form a foxbody. Long way to go I am sure we will have lots more question again thanks for your comments.

 

[bobbywalter]

Because of wide chassis variation mounts are tricky. So good question.

As I remember...and I have done this several times, the actual explorer mounts work on the sla ranger.... I could not differentiate them non hydro ... The ttb chassis is different though....and 2wd to 4wd had differences as well both styles....save for b2 and explorer and 2wd edge....

So as I read this, your going 4wd to 2 wd.....so confusion is easy to fall into.

I have not converted eec6 trucks with a sbf...so 2wd post 04ish I can't say for sure ...

But I assume, 2wd 4.0 mounts should give you the footprint to make the plates work with minimal modification.

The last units I worked on or assisted with were gm based ... Maybe a hemi coming up....from a jeep..... But custom mounts are also more common for myself with sbf because of desired actual placement.

 

[RonD]

Using a carb/distributor would save alot of wiring headaches, but EFI/distributorless is much better and more reliable

You will need to swap out the instrument cluster regardless, in your 2010 Ranger its "married" to the 2.3l engine computer, one won't work without the other, they need to "see" each other, "Handshake" when powered up or neither will work

If you go to carb then you also need AOD automatic(not AODE) or an M5R2 manual, or T5 manual
The T5 shifters are too far back for use in Ranger, but you can make custom shifter
The 1997-2003 M5R2 from an F-150 with 4.2l V6 matches 5.0l V8 bolt pattern and shifter will be same location as 2010 Ranger shifter

 

[bobbywalter]

Carb or not a 4r70 would be my first choice. But the 6r80 is a beast.

The t5 works ok....but there is better stuff.

 

[RonD]

The AOD was the last V8 automatic that didn't "need" computer control

 

[bobbywalter]

But you still have to rob a 4r70 to make it worth using. You can piggy back it with jy parts for pennies or spend 500 for a tunable system to run it. Way worth it. Cheaper then building an aod.

Mind you, I like the aod and built many. But finding them is not as easy either.