Selecting Ranger for v8 swap and selecting donor vehicle

[rusty ol ranger]

If you went the jeep route id seriously stick with the factory 4.0L. Espicially if you got a manual.

As far as long block goes, its still a 302. Its not physically bigger. It just means it comes with heads on it. A short block is just the block with rotating assembly and you bolt your own heads on

 

[SlugStang8997]

Well after doing some research on engines. I found these blueprint engines that are pretty expensive but powerful but you could buy a whole vehicle for the price of just the engine. So they are not cost effective in my opinion. But figure i should mention them. They have some all 50 state legal engines. Here is a reference to CA engine swap rules that are a little confusing in my opinion. Those blueprint engines are race engines in my opinion. Anyway click below and read the rules and As far as mix matching engines its a little vague and confusing.

From what in understand i have to stick to the same model year vehicle for the swap. So for example if i want to do a 2001 ranger i have to have the engine from a 2001 or newer vehicle. I don't think i can go older engine. But you might be able to as long as the engine passes emissions.

So am i correct on that. You can't swap a older engine into a newer vehicle according to the rules in CA.

Or does the age of the engine not matter and it only has to pass emissions for whatever year it is?

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Here is a reference to some super expensive race engines by blueprint but they are all 50 state legal 302s so there not really race engines but at 300-400hp i would say its a race motor. I can't really afford these but there the only crate engines advertised as 50 state legal. Wondering if these are even any good.

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I would most likely just do the Explorer/Mountaineer swap Just considering years still mostly...What year ranger and what year explorer would be best. If we had mad money i guess we could use one of those crate engines. But i can't find reference to what vehicles those are for exactly

 

[pentode]

and @SlugStang8997 if you dont believe us about power...go watch what some of these guys on youtube go over and through with a friggin suzuki samuri riding on 35's with the factory 1.3L 4popper that makes half the power of any V6 ranger.

Granted they are geared to the moon...but still

And if you can, watch the Bolivia Top Gear special. Great real world test of what you need to go off road. Clarkson has a Range Rover V8, Hammond has a Land Cruiser and May has a Samurai. Hilarity and surprises ensue.

"Top Gear" Bolivia Special (TV Episode 2009) ⭐ 9.3 | Adventure, Sport, Talk-Show

1h 16m | TV-PG

m.imdb.com

 

[JoshT]

Your link to rules isn't working, but I wasn't going to read them that closely anyway cause cali rules don't matter that much to me. I think that rules for engines swaps generally specify that the engine must be same year model, or newer that the receiving vehicle, and that the emissions equipment match the engine.

As for your "50 state" engines from Blueprint. Go back and read what the blueprint site says about those engines. They are essentially stock replacement engines built to factory specfications and emissions legal when used in the specified applications with original emissions equipment. Those "50 state" engines aren't high performance engines, they are just built with "tighter machining tolerances, higher quality components, and finer balancing" per their sales literature.

Of note, the Explorer isn't listed as an application on any of those. An Explorer is the only potential 5.0L (SBF 5.0L) swap that could be "50 state" emissions legal on a 98+ Ranger, so technically the Blueprint engines wouldn't be guranteed to be legal anyway. That is not to say that they couldn't pass an emissions test when used with the Explorer emissions equipment, just that they do not carry a carb certification or gurantee for that application.

If you want to do a 5.0L SBF based V8 swap on a 2001 Ranger and ensure 50 state legality, a 2001 Explorer is likely the only acceptable donor. If you are starting from scratch you'd be better off selecting a '98 or '99 Ranger (esentially the same vehicle) and have more options for donor. You are still restricted to Explorers since ity is the ojnly thing that used the 5.0L after 1995, but you would have a larger selection. A '99 could use a 99-01 Explorer as a donor and those years would be most compatible for the swap with the fuel, PATS, and VSS systems matching.


Are you thinking about building your own trail rig now? If not I don't know why we're still discussing this. You've already got a nice truck that Thedrill put together and you've already stated that you are not up to the task of building one yourself. I still stand by my earlier statements regarding your brother and his chioce of rig, as well as the engine selection for a trail truck.

 

[Blmpkn]

And if you can, watch the Bolivia Top Gear special. Great real world test of what you need to go off road. Clarkson has a Range Rover V8, Hammond has a Land Cruiser and May has a Samurai. Hilarity and surprises ensue.

"Top Gear" Bolivia Special (TV Episode 2009) ⭐ 9.3 | Adventure, Sport, Talk-Show

1h 16m | TV-PG

m.imdb.com

Probably my favorite special.

 

[SlugStang8997]

Your link to rules isn't working, but I wasn't going to read them that closely anyway cause cali rules don't matter that much to me. I think that rules for engines swaps generally specify that the engine must be same year model, or newer that the receiving vehicle, and that the emissions equipment match the engine.

As for your "50 state" engines from Blueprint. Go back and read what the blueprint site says about those engines. They are essentially stock replacement engines built to factory specfications and emissions legal when used in the specified applications with original emissions equipment. Those "50 state" engines aren't high performance engines, they are just built with "tighter machining tolerances, higher quality components, and finer balancing" per their sales literature.

Of note, the Explorer isn't listed as an application on any of those. An Explorer is the only potential 5.0L (SBF 5.0L) swap that could be "50 state" emissions legal on a 98+ Ranger, so technically the Blueprint engines wouldn't be guranteed to be legal anyway. That is not to say that they couldn't pass an emissions test when used with the Explorer emissions equipment, just that they do not carry a carb certification or gurantee for that application.

If you want to do a 5.0L SBF based V8 swap on a 2001 Ranger and ensure 50 state legality, a 2001 Explorer is likely the only acceptable donor. If you are starting from scratch you'd be better off selecting a '98 or '99 Ranger (esentially the same vehicle) and have more options for donor. You are still restricted to Explorers since ity is the ojnly thing that used the 5.0L after 1995, but you would have a larger selection. A '99 could use a 99-01 Explorer as a donor and those years would be most compatible for the swap with the fuel, PATS, and VSS systems matching.


Are you thinking about building your own trail rig now? If not I don't know why we're still discussing this. You've already got a nice truck that Thedrill put together and you've already stated that you are not up to the task of building one yourself. I still stand by my earlier statements regarding your brother and his chioce of rig, as well as the engine selection for a trail truck.

Thank you for your reply
Sorry the link didn't work for the CA Rules on engine swaps. But you got the gist of it.

And you are right about the blueprint engines after taking another look at them. There just factory replacements nothing special. I thought they were better engines at first. But the performance engines are for vehicles that don't have to abide by emission rules cause they are for older vehicles. And none of them are for an explorer. I was hoping to find one there. I thought i really found something special for a little bit. The best they would have is a 1996 Bronco engine.

As far as a trail truck goes for myself I would want a crazy truck build that i can't afford... capable of just about everything i would probably never do. LOL I have a dream truck build Now basically like what i have but smaller with some custom parts and stuff...I was hoping my bro would build it and i would get to drive it sometimes. He makes double what i get working at a Bakery...Factory...But he still wants the ls swapped jeep. Maybe we can compromise and build something together Im hoping for a Ranger build...still Im trying to get him to join the discussion on here.

Thank you for your advice on vehicle selection i will study it carefully cause i read alot of different things thus far.

 

[SlugStang8997]

Here is a link to Explorer/Mountaineer engines remanufactured and you can choose to modify them a little if you want which i think is cool. There basically rebuilt engines with some modification options. This is the only site i found that offers to modify the engine to make it better though and claims the engine is better then when originally manufactured. I am not sure if that claim is true though. So i am not claiming these engines are better but they might be better. It cost money to have them modify the engine. But anyway i hope this is better than the blueprint engines i linked

Take a look at this sweet Ford 302 CID from S&J Engines. These guys are the best builders around! --

Take a look at this sweet Ford 302 CID from S&J Engines. These guys are the best builders around! --

www.sandjengines.com

I was also wondering about the 2003 explorer/mountaineer engine the 4.6L v8. That engine was not reccommended to be swapped. What great challenges are there for swapping that engine?

 

[Curious Hound]

I was also wondering about the 2003 explorer/mountaineer engine the 4.6L v8. That engine was not reccommended to be swapped. What great challenges are there for swapping that engine?

It's wide. Makes steering and exhaust really difficult, plus takes up room where you need battery, coolant reservoir, air filter, relay/fuse box, etc. Plus, I bet it would interfere with the A/C evaporater box pretty bad.

 

[SlugStang8997]

It's wide. Makes steering and exhaust really difficult, plus takes up room where you need battery, coolant reservoir, air filter, relay/fuse box, etc. Plus, I bet it would interfere with the A/C evaporater box pretty bad.

Thanks for your reply
I figured i had to be big problems cause when i read about swaps it isn't mentioned often

 

[Curious Hound]

Thanks for your reply
I figured i had to be big problems cause when i read about swaps it isn't mentioned often

Work with what you have. It's your truck. Do what makes you happy. You have a new engine inexpensively and it can be used. There just may be some challenges along the way as people have mentioned. A lot of it depends on your skills, tools and determination. I've read a couple times of people putting 7.3l ppwerstrokes in Rangers. But, as much as I would enjoy driving it, that's not a project I would want to tackle.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Work with what you have. It's your truck. Do what makes you happy. You have a new engine inexpensively and it can be used. There just may be some challenges along the way as people have mentioned. A lot of it depends on your skills, tools and determination. I've read a couple times of people putting 7.3l ppwerstrokes in Rangers. But, as much as I would enjoy driving it, that's not a project I would want to tackle.

Who the hell has put a 7.3 in a ranger?

That being said....a bet a godzilla wouldnt be *super* hard

 

[Thedrill]

I've got a 2004 AMG S55 Mercedes that has body damage, this may be the new motor/trans for my next Ranger project. 491hp 5 speed auto.

 

[JoshT]

I've got a 2004 AMG S55 Mercedes that has body damage, this may be the new motor/trans for my next Ranger project. 491hp 5 speed auto.

Sounds interesting.

After hearing people's nightmares with maintenance on a Mercedes, I would be hard pressed to put their engine into anything. I work with a few people who (and their families) buy into the mercedes status symbol hype and are dealing with maintenance prices, parts, and limited service locations. I know that last one wouldn't affect you much. Also watched a lot of LegitStreetCars videos dealing with his Mercedes problems.

 

[Thedrill]

Sounds interesting.

After hearing people's nightmares with maintenance on a Mercedes, I would be hard pressed to put their engine into anything. I work with a few people who (and their families) buy into the mercedes status symbol hype and are dealing with maintenance prices, parts, and limited service locations. I know that last one wouldn't affect you much. Also watched a lot of LegitStreetCars videos dealing with his Mercedes problems.

It's my first ever Mercedes, I bought it for the Fast V8 supercharged motor, I don't really care for the car much, I want to rip it apart and stuff the engine into something useful.
I'm looking for a clean bodied Ranger with a bad motor / trans up to 2003/4.

 

[superj]

i use to do lots of bmw racing. people always asked me why i never did mercedes racing. i asked if they ever opened the hood on a mercedes? you want to talk about vacuum lines for miles, thats mercedes. it looked likea bowl of spaghetti under the hood of all the mercedes i ever saw