1998 Ford Ranger v8 help

[dshwopper]

Hello, I'm doing the v8 from the Ford explorer swap. Need little help with my motor mounts. I read the v8 form on top of the page, I've read other peoples and they haven't had this problem. I bought a 1997 believe it was april of 97 Ford Explorer 5.0 AWD. I have a 1998 Ford Ranger 2.5L 2wd Auto. I pulled my motor out and everything, Pulled my motor out of the explorer, now I have the 302 almost sitting on the motor mounts, But I noticed my engine is sideways, its sitting at an angle if it is sitting on the motor mounts correctly. I know that it's suppose to just line up and go in. I also pulled the oil cooler off and everything. It looks like my oil pan is clearing, I have a bolt sticking up witch needs to be cut before it pokes a hole in my oil pan. Also noticed I do not have the PH8A oil filter, looking online everyone says buy this one, well supposedly the guy I talked to down at VIP said it wont work its a different thread so don't try it. So I picked one up from daler or something for 73 bucks. (universal oil relocator) I'm 100% sure its the orginal engine from the explorer, it has everything from the explorer, I haven't ran the vins or nothing yet. Do I need to buy the Ford Explorers motor mounths? if so how abouts will I get around this, I can post pictures. I have tomorrow off from work I would LOVE to have this motor in amoung with the tranny in tomorrow afternoon so I can get the ECU reprogramed and oil repositioner on there and be ready to roll. I will be posting pictures when the build is complete or almost complete and share all my info with everyone in a seperate thread! Its was a stock 1998 Ford Ranger 2.5L auto trans 4r44 I believe or the 55 never figured out witch one I had. 2wd with 227,016 miles on it. Maine truck with almost NO rust. Tranny leaked lmao. Any info will help. Please! Thank you!

 

[JoshT]

What mounts are you trying to use now? According ton the tech library for a 98 up ranger you need to use the explorer mounts and plates.

As for the filter the explorers used a different filter thread at the block. IIRC it is metric thread. The filter they were recommending was for the older standard thread. It would help to know what the oil filter relocater they sold you was.

I'm sure some one with more experience on the 98+ swaps will chime in soon.

 

[V8 Level II]

You can bolt the 5.0 Explorer mounts and plates into 98+ Rangers w/torsion bar front suspension. Examples are 4x4, Edge, Trailhead.

If the 98+ Ranger has coil front suspension, the Explorer engine plates don't fit and custom plates are needed. 98+ coil trucks include the 2WD XLT and 2WD XL (except Trailhead).

 

[dshwopper]

okay so your going to have to break it down dummy style. so do i have to pull the motor mounts from the 5.0 explorer frame? im trying to use the motor mounts attached to the 5.0 and the mounts actually on the frame of the ranger. and since the other guy cant see the name on my phone sorry. but i do have the coil suspension. i cut up the explorer sadly. but as long as i know what to buy exactly ill be set. or if i can make a plate. its only two inches off. i could possibly make a plate to hold it in the orginal and attach to the motor? if someone can break it down be amazing. thanks again for you guys for replying

 

[pulse_tuning2000]

i just did this this swap last week in about 10 hours, i used the mount plates that i bought from someone on this forum, dont remember who. everything bolted up for me. only had to move two wires, add a ground for the tach, have driveshaft shortened and off to the exhaust shop, i have been driving the truck since saturday and it is badass

 

[JoshT]

You can bolt the 5.0 Explorer mounts and plates into 98+ Rangers w/torsion bar front suspension. Examples are 4x4, Edge, Trailhead.

If the 98+ Ranger has coil front suspension, the Explorer engine plates don't fit and custom plates are needed. 98+ coil trucks include the 2WD XLT and 2WD XL (except Trailhead).

Sorry, I was going on what the tech library said. Looks like it was written for the torsion bar suspension, might need to be updated with a note mentioning that.

Since I've been corrected about the mounts looks like OP needs to get some 4.0L motor mounts for his year Ranger, and make his own engine mounting plates. FYI the mounting plates are the plates are bolted between the engine block and the motor mount on the frame. If you look at this link (<<click) under the section where it says "Making Your Own Motor Mounts" it will give you some more information about doing this. I would assume that it is the same process.

I've also seen it suggested to modify the factory Explorer mount plates to work, by either slotting the holes in them or drilling new ones. Don't know if anyone has tried this way on a 98 up Ranger. If you had the plates it wouldn't be difficult to try it. Get the 4.0L mounts installed. Line the motor up where it needs to be in the bay, mark where the mount plates need to be modified. Modify the plates and bolt the engine in. To get a better idea of what I am talking about check out this link (<<click) and look at about the 10th -13th picture down. This member used the method I'm taking about on his 97 4x4, his truck is much different than yours in frame and suspension, but the idea behind the plates is still about the same.

 

[dshwopper]

Sorry, I was going on what the tech library said. Looks like it was written for the torsion bar suspension, might need to be updated with a note mentioning that.

Since I've been corrected about the mounts looks like OP needs to get some 4.0L motor mounts for his year Ranger, and make his own engine mounting plates. FYI the mounting plates are the plates are bolted between the engine block and the motor mount on the frame. If you look at this link (<<click) under the section where it says "Making Your Own Motor Mounts" it will give you some more information about doing this. I would assume that it is the same process.

I've also seen it suggested to modify the factory Explorer mount plates to work, by either slotting the holes in them or drilling new ones. Don't know if anyone has tried this way on a 98 up Ranger. If you had the plates it wouldn't be difficult to try it. Get the 4.0L mounts installed. Line the motor up where it needs to be in the bay, mark where the mount plates need to be modified. Modify the plates and bolt the engine in. To get a better idea of what I am talking about check out this link (<<click) and look at about the 10th -13th picture down. This member used the method I'm taking about on his 97 4x4, his truck is much different than yours in frame and suspension, but the idea behind the plates is still about the same.

Sweet find man. So I need to buy the 98 Ranger 4.0 motor mounts? And use the motor mounts from the 5.0 block? Or brackets for the frame andthe block mounts from the explorer? I was thinking maybe just taking the drivers side off, since I did notice my passengers side was lining up correctly. The drivers side is the one I'm having problems with. Taking it off and cutting it like he did and having it welded. Or should I do that to the passengers side? Because I believe it was only 2inches of if I get it welded it should obviously be strong but being only two inches it probably wont go too far if it breaks.

As far as the oil filter, not sure the part number. I ordered it through o rielly's through daler or something like that. It was a universal oil relocator. They called them and talked to the guy and they said it will fit that model witht hat oil filter.And they said it's a no return item. But the guy at o reillys called bback and talked to the manager and said if it wasn't used anddoes not fitand they can say it des not fit, they will send me a different one, or something like that. Guy said if that happens it'll take a long time to get the correct one.

 

[dshwopper]

As far as the o2 sensors if any one knows. I haven't looked it up yet. Does anyone know where all 4 is located. I know the first one is right below the header on the drivers side I believe it was. Guy I bought the truck off of was nice enough to cut all the cats off, after seeing the prices I see why he did so. Going the cheaper and louder way out, buying other cats and having a body shop drill the holes tacking them in. But since my state being a stump about exhaust I have to install it myself. No big deal I suppose. Just can't bent em lol.

 

[Mac]

SVTRanger at site does sell the platess, not sure which mounts they are designed for. No need at all for an oil re-locator kit, stock Explorer works fine, uses Motorcraft FL-820 filter. First O2 sensors are both located in front of the converters. Third one is right behind the first cat on one side and the last one is halfway to the back cat. Pictures somewhere on my computer.
Dave

 

[dshwopper]

Okay new question, I know I ask a lot of questions, working at it everyday now and its always a new problem or I try to fix something ahead of time and I shoot myself in the foot (oil relocation kit being 120 bucks) but oil pan. I've trying finding out what will work. What I'm finding is the dual sump oil pan from the earlier Mustangs will work. Trying to find someone who has done this on here with my same set up, and of course I can't. I did see someone posting something about using the 4.0 motor brackets and use the stock motor mounts and make a bracket, but I used my 2.5 motor brackets and made a new motor mount. Almost heared flip the mounts (left to right) and it'll line up. I did read something a long time aho before I even bought the explorer using a 94 Mustang oil pan.... Not sure. All I know is I don't have enough room with my oil pan and suspension set up. I have the coil spring front end. Just want this motor sitting in there. I coulda swore I had it all hooked up but had to grind a little off the motor mount to clear my steering arm, and now it just wont line it and it looks like its sitting on my suspension set up. Do you guys know anything about this or know where to point me into to find out? Went to Ford they obviously have no clue, the guy I talk to just about everytime I go there knows a little but couldn't find out what I needed, and was willing to bring me out back if he had both in stock.

 

[1998graycobra]

Have same setup my ranger is 98 2.5 coil spring I used ford 4.0 motor mounts have to be ford no others work. As for the pan if you can find one use the stock one it should be the correct one I used the 01 but it involved lifting the motor 3/4 to an inch. The plates I used a guy on Rps makes and sells them his screen name is strada and they are made for the coil spring 98+ front ends.