93 Splash in SC, V8-Swap version

[85_Ranger4x4]

I’m aiming for results roughly half way between hillbilly quality and premium show quality. Maybe leaning a bit closer to show quality. I don’t want to spend my whole remaining life on this one project. And my remaining life is getting shorter.

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

Get the engine in and running circle back to the dash later.

 

[Curious Hound]

Maybe I don’t need a dash and instrument cluster. I could drive by the song my truck sings and the feel of the wind (rain,hail, sleet,snow,bugs) in my face.

 

[Shran]

Way better than hillbilly engine swaps is ideal. Chasing failed wire splices sucks.

I used a Ranger harness when I did my stepside truck (actually engine & harness came out of the same donor) and it is fighting me occasionally even though it was 99% drop in with no splices. Sometimes it just randomly dies, sometimes it just won't start at all. Sometimes that's because it's out of gas, sometimes it just takes a few tries. Mostly it's just fine but I don't trust it now. I am sure glad my V8 swapped truck doesn't do things like that, it has a lot more splices.

 

[Curious Hound]

Way better than hillbilly engine swaps is ideal. Chasing failed wire splices sucks.

I used a Ranger harness when I did my stepside truck (actually engine & harness came out of the same donor) and it is fighting me occasionally even though it was 99% drop in with no splices. Sometimes it just randomly dies, sometimes it just won't start at all. Sometimes that's because it's out of gas, sometimes it just takes a few tries. Mostly it's just fine but I don't trust it now. I am sure glad my V8 swapped truck doesn't do things like that, it has a lot more splices.

I want to avoid splices as much as possible. The wring harness is coming out if the Explorer very nicely. I haven’t even broken a huge number of locking tabs. I need to figure out where and how I’m going to mount the ecu and protect it from the elements. The pocket it lived in in the Explorer is above all the firewall stuff that I would be transplanting if I still do the firewall swap.

I need to look at the EVTMs some more and re-decide what is actually necessary for the results I really want.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I do have a '97 parts rig, depending on what you need I might have it, I can look at the steering column soon, it wouldn't look right in my intended swap candidate, would want to retain cruise but would need special hidden momentary buttons... I'm likely going to have to play games with the shifter when I get there... honestly I haven't looked at that part of the Mountaineer in a while...

Have you ran it since you fixed the cam sensor? The tach not working could have been that... Ford likes to do that kind of thing.

 

[Curious Hound]

Not much progress today. I went and did Mom's income taxes. Was going to do mine. But didn't feel like it.

Anyway. Removed the remaining portions of the Y-pipes from the exhaust manifolds. Then removed the manifolds. After that, I opened up the val⁹ve covers for a quick inspection. Looked great. No sludge, no loose parts. I'll call that a minor win. Removed the oil pan. That's it for the day.

Huh. I THOUGHT I heard an exhaust leak. This might be it.

My new favorite tool. An induction heater.

looks pretty nice.

 

[Curious Hound]

Good news!!! I found plans to make my own exhaust manifolds. Really cheap.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Good news!!! I found plans to make my own exhaust manifolds. Really cheap.
View attachment 139798

Running them out the hood demo derby style would greatly simplify the exhaust situation...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Running then out the hood demo derby style would greatly simplify the exhaust situation...

That's what I thought they were probably made for...