2000 Ranger to 5.0L wiring.

[1990F150]

I am planning on swapping in a 99-01 Explorer 5.0L into my ranger. It is a plain jane regular cab 2wd, short box, 2.5L 5 spd. What I am wanting info on is the wiring. I am guessing I will need the main engine harness (obviously), transmission harness, battery harness and dash harness from the explorer correct? I believe I will use a 4r70w trans out of a mustang as well if it makes a difference.

 

[Teddyzee]

No.

Explorer engine harness only. You don't need to touch anything past the 42pin connector in the engine bay.
Trans harness attaches to the engine harness, so you may get away with the Ex piece, although some people have drama mixing year/model of automatic trans wiring. (4r70w between Ex years and various Mustang years)

 

[1990F150]

So the V8 explorer gauges will work with the ranger dash wiring?

 

[V8 Level II]

There are 3 harnesses that I would grab from the 5.0 Explorer:

• the main engine wiring harness
• the transmission harness
• the harness that plugs in on the driver side inner fender (12-pin) - would require a connector change to connect to the 2000 Ranger engine bay harness (8-pin).

 

[RangerSVT]

The third harness that rwenzing is talking about is the altenator harness. It runs from the altenator along the front of the engine to right behind the battery box on the firewall side, thats where the connector is located. Yes, your stock gauges will work with the Explorer V8, electrical wise its plug and play. You will Need the ECU, engine harness (just remove the ECU with the harness attached, and lay it on the engine), disconnect the 42 pin plug located just above the driver side valve cover, and pull the engine and trans together, the trans harness will come with it. I'd find a 2WD explorer donor and use that trans. Also, since you have a manual now, you will need a pedal assembly, auto shifter column and shifter linkage, all available from the explorer donor, it will all bolt in place...
SVT

 

[Teddyzee]

So the V8 explorer gauges will work with the ranger dash wiring?

It was a little late when I posted, but the guys have added some clarity.
Yes, you can run the stock gauges with no issues.
You may need to re-pin the tach wiring, inside the gauge cluster. I did this for my tach to work with the Mustang engine wiring, these guys can clarify if that is necessary when using the Ex wiring. Regardless, it's very simple, and everything in the dash can work like stock.

 

[V8 Level II]

Regardless of whether an Explorer or Ranger cluster is used, a ground wire will need to be reconfigured for the V8 swap. It is the dash harness that determines how the tach reads, not the cluster. In the case of a 4-cylinder dash harness, it needs a ground wire added for the V8 tach calibration; Rangers originally built with a V6 need the ground wire moved from one cluster connector to another to correct for the V8 firing frequency.

Tachometer ground differences for 4, 6 or 8 cylinders

8-cylinder: "Selector" ground configuration:

• pin 8 of the 10-pin: (NOT connected to anything)
• pin 16 of the 16-pin: (wired to chassis ground)

6-cylinder: "Selector" ground configuration:

• pin 8 of the 10-pin: (wired to chassis ground)
• pin 16 of the 16-pin: (NOT connected to anything)

4-cylinder: There is no "Selector" ground

• pin 8 of the 10-pin: (NOT connected to anything)
• pin 16 of the 16-pin: (NOT connected to anything)

The above should be correct for these RBV's:

• 1996~2003 Ranger/
• 1996~2003 2-door Explorer Sport
• 1996~2001 4-door Explorer
• 2001~2003 Sport Trac

 

[1990F150]

Dang, sounds a lot easier then I was expecting. Thanks.

 

[Mac]

Dang, sounds a lot easier then I was expecting. Thanks.

It's all your fault for picking a real easy year to swap, jump in, get going and keep us posted with progress!
Dave of the Nord