93 Splash in SC, V8-Swap version

[PlumCrazy]

The later Explorers had cast manifolds.

I have headers, aside from the ball socket joint continuously working loose (metal lock nut with a regular nut double nutted, fine thread gr8 bolts to maintain any kind of a seal) and the header bolts continuously backing out and no off the shelf y pipe known to man fitting them they work great.

Part of my pretrip routine every year is retorquing all the header bolts so they get done once a year. I lost one bolt out of the head I think it was the first year we to Kentucky.

I'd have to look at what the application was but I bought some"Ford" retainers that you bolt down the header then bend some tabs to hold the bolts in place.

Anything I own with actual tubular headers I have bought Stage 8 header bolts. They have a 12-point teardrop piece you slide onto the bolt head followed by a snap ring to keep them from backing out

 

[Curious Hound]

I am running some 289 "log" manifolds from IDK what application on my 5.0 Ranger and they clear everything by a mile. I did swap to GT40 heads and sold off the GT40P heads that force you into the goofy manifolds/headers.

My passenger manifold exits straight back and my driver side aims down and back.

I recall buying a pair that were symmetrical but the driver's side pointing straight back was more hassle then it was worth, so I found a similar dr side manifold that exited more downward that wrapped around the oil pan perfectly between the trans and rear sump.

If you are interested I can take some pictures or dig some up. Probably wouldn't hurt to wake up that truck and pull it on to the lift for a spring time inspection anyway.

Going for log manifolds might be my best bet.

 

[Curious Hound]

I'd have to look at what the application was but I bought some"Ford" retainers that you bolt down the header then bend some tabs to hold the bolts in place.
View attachment 140213

Anything I own with actual tubular headers I have bought Stage 8 header bolts. They have a 12-point teardrop piece you slide onto the bolt head followed by a snap ring to keep them from backing out
View attachment 140212

Thank you for the pictures.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Thank you for the pictures.

I'll try to get more decenterish gooder ones this weekend. I did have to make my own y-pipe, but it honestly fell together with little effort.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Going for log manifolds might be my best bet.

289 manifolds fit really nice, guys even use them for 351W swaps.

I had a set I sold eons ago, I kinda wish I would have used them.

 

[Curious Hound]

I assume this is what I would be looking for.

 

[PlumCrazy]

I assume this is what I would be looking for.
View attachment 140238

That's the setup I have now.

I have an extra driver side that mirrors that pass side too

 

[PlumCrazy]

They do use an odd flange/ball socket at the collector that's tricky to find when it comes to building your own y-pipe. I bought some stainless down pipes from Pypes for a 67 Mustang or something and cut that flange off.lol. The rest of the pipes got up cycled into an LS400 exhaust.

Unless you get a set like you shared and they come with the cutoff chunk you need. That's all I kept off the brand new down pipes I bought

 

[Shran]

I used mid-late 70's truck 302 manifolds for my swap. They fit really nice and were dirt cheap. Some of them including mine have this extra little dumb ass piece with a flapper valve (looks like those Maverick ones have it built into the manifold.) It's not a big deal to remove but you need an extra gasket that's only available in a kit. So when you blow the donut gasket out, pray that you don't damage the gasket above it during disassembly or you're buying that kit as well.

 

[rubydist]

Do those 289 cast manifolds fit on the 1998+ trucks also, or just the older ones?

 

[scotts90ranger]

Do those 289 cast manifolds fit on the 1998+ trucks also, or just the older ones?

I'm sure they would bolt to the heads but the spark plugs likely go right into bad places.

 

[PlumCrazy]

I'm sure they would bolt to the heads but the spark plugs likely go right into bad places.

Yeah I swapped back to the non "P" heads so I could run 289 manifolds and regular length plugs.

 

[bobbywalter]

Not necessarily. The reading I’ve done about this engine indicates that exhaust is where it needs help. The OEM manifolds are tubular, not cast log style and they look horrible. All squashed and misshapen some areas look pinched right at the flange. Some if it is probably due to the location of the mounting holes. I’m no expert on exhaust. But these look like something a third-grader drew up or threw up. They “look” inefficient. So, they bother me. It’s psychological. I have no hard data saying they are good or bad in any way. So I’ll end up ordering new OEM style manifolds and that’s what it will be and i will never really know any difference.

A strange coincidence; my 88 F150, 5.0l, years ago, the passenger side cast log style manifold cracked. I ordered a new one. Installed it. And several years later, that one cracked the same as the first one did.

they dont merely look ineffecient....they scream inefficiency.....may as well have a neon sign twice as big as the truck floating above it shaming it every second it is running....and the larry curly moe squad at ford responsible for this travesty having the shit slapped out of them the whole time as well.....nyuk nyuk nyuk...


the p has smaller exhaust valves and a bit more compression as opposed to the normal gt40.

the plug shrouding vs protrusion development had a few reasons, but you have the information that says they ....those exhaust manifolds are shit. rated at 215 hp factory net. that is not just the cam and springs limiting it. the e7 engine netted more with less head. that is evidence.


fortunately it looks like you have regular gt 40 heads...and can run normal headers.

i see three bars(at least in this pic it looks that way to me) and i like those heads much more than the p versions.

the sn95 headers can work ok with minimal issues, and the comet type headers, but those all have shitty flat gasket type connections so welding bands on is something to consider.

 

[bobbywalter]

as plum mentioned there are 5 distinct chassis for this platform...and that really adds significant variance to what can be done.


and as Eric is finding out.

rabbit holes get deep fast....and sometimes you are not even digging.

choice is key.

you could have slobbed this thing in there....it is a running swap.....for next to nothing.

you could have.

maybe you should have.

but just like when you get her preggers.....it dont matter now.

have fun....gonna be expensive even if you dont have any money

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yeah, my swap wasn’t cheap and there’s still more to be done. But it has been fun to drive. I’m well aware that I could have probably done a 2.3 EcoBoost swap that would have been more powerful, but that doesn’t sound like a v-8 and a 5.0 was what I wanted to drop into a Ranger since I was about 15. That was worth the price of admission to me, getting a dream. My Choptop is my other dream from that age. The one other dream is dad’s 79 F-150, I always said I’d drive it from the age that I could talk and walk, lol.