88 Ranger Swap

[ranger58]

Hi all, well I've decided I'm going to pull out the old 2.9 and make the move for more reliability and power. With that said though, I am focusing on reliability and how difficult the job is going to be. I'm a freshman in college and cost would be a concern. I understand that If I'm going to do a swap people say that I might just put in the 5.0. I also live in Colorado and don't completely understand the emissions law and if this would even be worth it. I was wondering if any members that have done any of these swaps live in Denver. It would be great to have help available close by because I'm going into this alone and to also talk to them about the options and course of action.

Thanks everyone!

 

[SenorNoob]

I'm no where near close by but, what's worth it can only be defined by you. Keep in mind that with any engine swap there are 1,000,001 things that you didn't think of or didn't know you needed. Just to swap a 2.9 to the 4.0 (which btw has to be about the easiest engine swap ever) I spent $400 for the engine and another $600 for the parts to swap it in. I'm still not sure how that happened.

 

[ranger58]

Going with the 4.0. It's easier and cheaper (I think). I'll do the 5.0 quite a few years down the road when I can really dump money into it.

 

[CAD]

if you still have the original trans i would suggest changeing it out also to the m5od did this swap in my 88 and it was a direct bolt in no modifications needed.

 

[ranger58]

I understand its a bolt in. I really want to keep my original dash to...

 

[SenorNoob]

That's possible. Not too bad depending on how you do it. I took one of the harder ways and stripped all of the extra stuff out of an Explorer harness. Like 2 weeks of wiring covering the whole kitchen floor. Just to find out I needed all the wires on one side of the harness and only like 3 on the other.

Leave the light and accessory harness from the 1st gen. It doesn't need to be touched. Just put the new harness in the mount points with it.

I don't have a full list available but I remember some of the wires on fewer side were:

clutch interlock/ignition to starter solenoid
power to the interior fuse box
ignition power to the alternator

I'd make it pretty simple and get both sides of the big white plug from the donor vehicle (BTW get a donor vehicle it WILL be cheaper in the long run) and wire what was the inside of it to the outside of the connectors on the 1st gen harness. That way you have a 2-foot long adapter that makes it plug and play when you're done. Also would make it easy to swap back a 2.9 later if you wanted too.

 

[ranger58]

I received Sven Pruett's book yesterday on building Ford 60 degree V6 engines. In his book he talks about the possibilities of building up the 2.9. This is defiantly an option I'm considering. I understand the 4.0 has much more power but keeping everything original and having better performance with the Sven's rebuild may just be what I'm looking for.

 

[SenorNoob]

Sounds like you've found your method. Now go do it!

Edit: And post LOTS of pictures.