Starting another SOHC swap into a 97

[Nightshift Motorsports]

I just picked up a 97 Ranger ext cab 4x4 with 109k on it and a blown 4.0L. I know nothing about the actual issues with the motor since I bought the truck 3rd hand and the previous owner had never heard it run either. The story was it was abandoned at a garage when the customer decided they wern't paying for a new motor after the shop had started removing it. A friend of a friend had bought the truck to build himself but hadn't gotten around to it so I was told to go check it out. I ended up picking it up for $500, clean frame, and near flawless body on it and it already had a minute mount plow hook up, warn hub conversion and almost new snow tires on it. My plan is to swap in the 4.0L SOHC and hook it up to the OHV 5R55E and use it as a second truck for my plowing business for the winter. By spring I'll be swapping in my D44 HD high pinion and D60 rear full width axles and setting it up on 38" tires with Pre runner style fenders to cover the full width axles. I'm pulling the truck in tomorrow to start on the motor swap and hope to be driving it by wednesday. The motor I'm using actually came out of my last SOHC swapped 98 Ranger I used for mud drag racing. pics of both trucks are below. I'll keep you posted on the progress and any glitches I have with the swap into a street legal 97.



The Donor truck


My old drag truck turning 38.5" Super swampers and "skimming" the 4 foot deep pit at an event


The new project truck/daily driver

 

[Nightshift Motorsports]

ran into my first (and hopefully only) unexpected snag before I even started on the swap. My 97 Ranger runs a return style fuel system, the SOHC runs a returnless. I didn't realize this before because I had swapped it into a 98 3.0L truck which had the same fuel system. Doing a little research tonight on wht I may have to do. worst case scenario is that I'm dismanteling my 99 4.0L ext cab tomorrow because of a severly rotted frame so I could basically pull everything from the fuel tank up to the motor out and swap it under my 97. Anyone else have any insite or suggestions?

 

[Nightshift Motorsports]

fuel rail fix

ok after researching for a few hours I've figured out an easy solution for the fuel system. 97 Explorer SOHC ran the return style fuel rail which happens to be the same ECU I'm running for this swap in mine so I'm assuming everything should work exactly as it was designed to in the explorer but in my 97 Ranger with the 01 SOHC motor. Hoping to get this all right first try with no check engine lights or codes. and hopefully in 2 days working on it. I need this done ASAP so I can pull in my Powerstroke to swap in a fresh motor for plowing season. No sleep for me for a couple weeks

 

[Nightshift Motorsports]

Well some plans have changed, a friend of mine is buying the red 97 off me with a stock 4.0L put in it and I just bought a super clean Brick red ext 4x4 with a good 4.0L and 5 speed. truck has no issues and is SPOTLESS! Got it for less than anyone would believe. So I'm going to run the stock 4.0L in this one until it starts acting up (VERY high miles) and then I'll worry about swapping in the SOHC with the 5 speed. Unless I come up with a 4bt before then

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Well.... thats ok for you but how am I going to do a vicarious swap now!!!!
What, if anything, did you keep from the truck?

Richard

 

[Nightshift Motorsports]

Not sure I understand what your asking if I kept? Wow that doesn't even sound like it's worded right. Haha, long night of work

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Did you keep the plow for your business? the snow tires?

 

[Nightshift Motorsports]

aghh yes the plow is coming off of it tomorrow and I'm leaving the tires on it for my friend. He actually owns another large plow company and after seeing how well the Rangers have worked for me on small driveways plans to use it for the same thing and as a daily driver instead of running around in his Powerstroke. Aside from the plow I dont think I'll be pulling anything off of that one. He's giving me $2,000 and a 2 yard sander for my dually so I'll pad the deal for him as best I can

 

[Nightshift Motorsports]

As for the swap it will still be happening at some point most likely in the spring but for now this new truck runs fine even with the 230,000 miles on the clock. For this winter the new truck was a more practical option. It runs...lol thats a big thing I dont have to stress about and after seeing the imacculate condition it was kept in I have no concerns about the current drivetrain holding up. The frame still has the factory coating on it, the interior doesn't have a single stain or tear and there isn't the slightest hint of rust anywhere on the body. He was concerned the Ranger wasn't rated to haul his 2,000lb trailer to the dump on the weekends so he bought a new F350 with a powerstroke (FOR DUMP RUNS!!!) He lives in Boston, wears a suit to work and drives an Audi TT as his daily driver to give you an idea of the type of guy I bought it from. The only issue with the truck is a check engine light came on for a bad O2 sensor a couple weeks ago. So he sold it to me as a non inspectable part's truck. Hahaha, I love finding deals like these!

I'll snap a couple pics of the new truck tomorrow and post them here

 

[farmer]

Any new revelations on the SOHC swap?

 

[Nightshift Motorsports]

Yes I guess you could say there have been some changes. After swapping the plow onto the new truck and using it a couple times I've come to the depressing realization that I can no longer drive a standard plowing. I have a bad knee and have had several surgery's on it now so after getting this 5 speed ready to go I have to go back to the original plan. Im hoping to get back to the SOHC swap into the red auto 97 by the weekend. I'll keep this post updated as I go