302 99 ranger

[Sblosser99]

I have a 99 2.5l 5 speed ranger and I’m swapping an explorer 302 with 1988 5 speed 2wd trans. First things first, what rad can I use factory or aftermarket and hoses. Second what clutch master is needed?

 

[don4331]

The 2nd one is easier: The M5ODR1 (Ranger manual 5 speed) and M5ODR2 (F-150 manual 5 speed) will both work fine with the stock Ranger master and hoses.

And I'm almost positive I just used the Explorer radiator and hoses on my swap....but its been a few years...

 

[JoshT]

Can't help on the clutch master, I went auto, but maybe I can on the radiator.

Definitely an Explorer radiator. If you use mount adapters like those available from Rick's Rangerz, you can use the 96-01 Explorer radiator, fan shround, and hoses. They'll bolt in and line up perfectly with the engine fan.

IIRC there are slight variations/revisions in the Explorer 5.0L radiators but nothing that will affect how it installs into a Ranger. The earlier Explorer 5.0L Radiators had a thicker core and were available as a dual row for more cooling capacity. The earlier dual row is what I used on mine, wanted as much cooling as I could get here in GA. That said, I haven't really gotten to drive it during the peak of summer yet as the engine was torn apart from early July through early September.

If you have and are retaining AC you can use the Ranger AC condenser with the Explorer radiator. In fact I recommend retaining the Ranger AC condenser, since the Explorer AC condenser is actually mounted to the Explorer radiator. If you need to pull the radiator with the Explorer condenser, you've got to try to separate them in the engine bay (not easy) or evacuate the AC system and remove the condenser with the radiator. When I initially did the swap I moved the entire Explorer AC system over intact, a few months later I was pulling everything back out for the engine rebuild and said to hell with that. It got reassembled with the Ranger condenser and Explorer radiator.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’ve done two of these swaps on 2000 Rangers (98-00 are all the same) and the Explorer radiator bolts right in, shroud and all with the Explorer 5.0 and uses the Explorer hoses.