95 Ranger/97 Explorer Swap and or Performance parts??

[xXfourmanXx]

Ive recently come upon a deal to get a 97 explorer with the 5.0 and the rear end that ive been lookin for. It has the full harness and pcm. I was wondering because I deffinately want to build it... How should I be looking for performance parts??? I know they stopped making the 5.0 in the mustangs in 95, it is the same engine?? I feel like its a stupid question but if I didnt ask I wouldnt feel right starting a swap. Is the motor the same as an older mustang 5.0?? If is start buying performance parts for a mustang motor will it be the right stuff?? Any feedback and guidance would be much appreciated. Not going to start a engine swap till next winter but im planning ahead. I also intend on using the fuel injection so I know tuning will be involved. Any heads up on problems being an explorer based PCM would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[originalnitro]

Mustang 5.0 parts will interchange with 5.0 explorer parts. However stock vs stock explorer is better. The mustang performance will work on an explorer motor. Anytime you put performance parts on you will want tune it to get the best performance out of it. Good luck

 

[Teddyzee]

Explorer has a slightly different oil pan (two of them), much shorter front accessories- closer to the engine, and a slightly milder cam. But it does have better flowing heads and intake than the Mustangs.

Those are some basics.

 

[xXfourmanXx]

Any particular year mustang work better than others??? I know they ran the 5.0 for a very long time but could i use parts from a 88 gt and would it still work or should i stick to later years like 94-95?? Is there a group of years that will work with the explorer 5.0?? Every/Any detail is gonna make me feel better about doing a swap.

 

[RangerSVT]

The 5.0L was replaced with the modular 4.6L motor in the mustangs in 1996, however, Ford still had a plethora of 5.0L parts left....So they took all the remaining parts (read, the performance parts) and put them into the explorer until they ran out of the 5.0's in 2000. The explorer 5.0L motors already have all the good parts, GT40 heads, roller cam, etc. If you do performance (IE aftermarket) cam, you will need a tuner like SCT as the ECU is very sensitive to upgrades and don't like them well...
The good news, the electrical end of the swap from a 97 explorer to a 95 ranger is plug and play, even the tail lights and backup lights work. You will need to change the oil pan to dual sump, you will also need a bolt/stud kit and pickup tube for the oil pan, the old ones will not work. Motor mounts, oil filter relocator kit with side outlet block adapter, oil filter adapter (where the oil filter would normally screw onto the block, there is a female thread there for the oil cooler which must be removed and a make thread installed for the relocator housing to thread on to), oil cooler removed, mechanical fan removed, if using 4 wheel drive, a spacer block to go between the trans mount and the x-member, electric cooling fan(s), new end installed on the power steering pressure line, modification to the power steering return line...
SVT

 

[xXfourmanXx]

Hey thanks thats a big help. Heres my next problem. My ranger is 2wd and intend on keeping it a 5 spd sooooo can i swap a 5 spd to the 5.0 explorer engine without screwing with the computer? I know they made a 5 spd explorer but did they use it in the 5.0 version? Would I be better off getting a mustang drivetrain thats a 5 spd?

 

[fordmike1]

You will need to check the heads to see what heads that the Explorer engine has on it. The early 97 Explorer engines had the GT40's and the later 97 engines had the GT40"P" heads on them. If this engine is going into your 95 ranger and it has the GTP heads you will want to change them out to the GT40's or you will have clearence issues with the spark plugs and the exhaust. If you have the GT40's then you are all good no problems.
The way you can tell which heads you have are as follows

GT40's have three vertical lines cast into the front and back of each head.
GTP heads have four lines cast into the front and back of each head.
Also
The GT40's say GT on them by the pass front headbolt and by the driver back headbolt
The GTP's have GTP cast into them in the same spots as the GT40's.

 

[RangerSVT]

Ford never put a manual trans behind the 5.0L in the explorers. Soon I will be doing another explorer 5.0L swap in my other ranger, a 96 2wd and I will be using a manual trans in it. My research has lead me with going with an SCT tuner after the swap to delete the auto trans from the ECU, which is what you will need to do. I had no issues with the factory explorer exhaust in SVT's 5.0L swap, but it is the GT40 headed motor...
SVT