2005 Sport Trac 5.0 swap plan

[Jordaar71]

Hi All,
My name's Alex and I have an 05 Sport Trac with close to 300k on the original engine and transmission. It's still a great truck, no timing chain rattle, not even leaks to speak of. 4wd works, AC, most of the power windows and locks even. BUT, it's got to be on borrowed time and I just picked up an 01 V8 Explorer, the next steps are obvious. It's going to be a while as I'm building the 302 with a goal of 325/325 with EFI. I just want to say I have already read a lot of great info here and plan on posting questions and accomplishments come fall when I begin the swap. Thanks for all that I've read from others doing this swap and thanks in advance for the help I may need coming up.
Alex

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

You will need to bring over the 2001 Explorer instrument cluster, I think the 2005 may be HEC(hybrid electronic cluster) full digital dash, Ford switched over Rangers in 2004, not sure when Sport Trac was changed

The HEC's are "married" to the computer(PCM) at the factory, this prevents odometer swaps which was common on older Fords
And the HEC gets most of it gauge readings from PCM, and it won't accept any other computer's data, only its "soul mates", lol.

 

[Jordaar71]

Thanks for the information, that was one of my questions. I have a complete donor Explorer as well as an Explorer 5.0 and ECM in the garage. One of my other concerns is the PATS system, as I just don't know how it works. Thanks Again.
Alex

 

[RonD]

PATS uses RFID tags embedded in the key handle, these need no batteries, each key has a unique "number", a digital ID
The PATS software in the ECM or a PATS module, reads the RFID tag number then compares it to a list of 3 or 4 numbers in its memory, the keys that came with the vehicle when it was new.
If a match is found then ECM(PCM) will turn on fuel injectors for start up, no match, no injectors

Fuel pump and starter motor may also be disabled, but the big anti-theft deterrent is no injectors.

As long as you have at least one of the 2001's working PATS keys then you can get engine running

Around the ignition key slot is the "transceiver", its a powered antenna, it is used to read the RFID tag, it is only vehicle model specific, it fits the steering column key cylinder set up, all have the same 4 wires, 2 power and 2 data, so can be swapped around.

 

[Jordaar71]

Thanks a ton, RonD! That all makes sense to me however the Explorer 5.0 and PCM I have in the garage has no keys. Since I'm changing cam, injectors, exhaust and plan on having it Dyno tuned can the PATS be disabled with the new flash? If not I suppose this PCM is useless to me and I'll have to either get a key made from Ford by s/n (did not budget for this) or find another PCM with keys, right? Does the PCM need to be Explorer V8 or would any Ford 5.0 box work as long as I get the associated key(s) with it? As in, could I snag a Crown Vic ECM and key?

 

[RonD]

Yes, most PCM programming devices can flash a "no PATS test" software to the PCM, so same as deleting it

 

[Jordaar71]

Whew, that's good. Thanks again! There's tons of information on these forums and I'm reading everything that has to do with 5.0 swaps. I'm looking forward to a hotrod ST as much as the process. If it weren't for much of what I've learned here I'd have encountered a whole lot more headaches than I anticipated.

 

[Oxxon]

Hello and welcome to TRS!!