97 2.3L Ranger Chassis Swap

[Fireside]

Hey good afternoon, brand new here. Been looking around and reading quite a bit trying to gain as much information as I can. Turning to the experts for help now. Question at the bottom, quick story and reasoning first. I will give as much information as I can. I am a novice to this work so please enlighten me.

I have picked up a 1997 2.3L 2wd Ranger. First truck so exciting stuff. Outstanding issues are really non-issues. The truck was lifted and put on 32" MT's by the previous owner and no work was done to support it.

The Goal: Find an 8.8 rear from an Exporer and increase the dreadful stock gearing for the 2.3. That led to thinking about the master cylinder for the now brake discs. I need a new track bar since the truck sways. I would want to swap the motor to the 4.0 V6 and upgrade the shocks as well since for increased power.

I have the opportunity to buy a 1994 Explorer sport for extremely cheap from a friend, runs and drives. Which would give me all the parts I want without buying them individually. It has the 8.8 already in, the motor I want(4.0 with a lot less miles), upgraded suspension, It's also still a manual(with 4 low, 4h, etc.), 4x4 and all. Just a direct upgrade. I understand rear bed mounts do not line up, and the difference in total length is about 6 inches. I just really want to keep the Ranger's body but the Explorer's capabilities.

The question: I'm looking for opinions on wether it's worth swapping the frame with the motor and all attached already; Or swapping the drivetrain from the Exploder to the Ranger's frame.

 

[sgtsandman]

Hey good afternoon, brand new here. Been looking around and reading quite a bit trying to gain as much information as I can. Turning to the experts for help now. Question at the bottom, quick story and reasoning first. I will give as much information as I can. I am a novice to this work so please enlighten me.

I have picked up a 1997 2.3L 2wd Ranger. First truck so exciting stuff. Outstanding issues are really non-issues. The truck was lifted and put on 32" MT's by the previous owner and no work was done to support it.

The Goal: Find an 8.8 rear from an Exporer and increase the dreadful stock gearing for the 2.3. That led to thinking about the master cylinder for the now brake discs. I need a new track bar since the truck sways. I would want to swap the motor to the 4.0 V6 and upgrade the shocks as well since for increased power.

I have the opportunity to buy a 1994 Explorer sport for extremely cheap from a friend, runs and drives. Which would give me all the parts I want without buying them individually. It has the 8.8 already in, the motor I want(4.0 with a lot less miles), upgraded suspension, It's also still a manual(with 4 low, 4h, etc.), 4x4 and all. Just a direct upgrade. I understand rear bed mounts do not line up, and the difference in total length is about 6 inches. I just really want to keep the Ranger's body but the Explorer's capabilities.

The question: I'm looking for opinions on wether it's worth swapping the frame with the motor and all attached already; Or swapping the drivetrain from the Exploder to the Ranger's frame.

It would be easier to swap everything from the Sport Trac to Ranger as far as the engine and rear axle.

The catch may be the front axle and mounting it to the frame. I don't know if the Sport Trac ever had twin traction beam or not and the mounts for a 4X4 Ranger are different than a RWD Ranger.

If the Sport Trac has the independent suspension front axle, like I think it does, then it will take even more cutting and welding to to make it work due to the changes in suspension design and it using torsion bar springs.

Either way, it is not going to be a bolt on swap.

 

[lowspeedpursuit]

'94 explorer is TTB. A drivetrain swap isn't bolt-on, but it is just swapping parts. The "hard" part is swapping the 4x4 front crossmember, but half the work is taking the engine out, and you're doing that anyway.

Wouldn't know about ranger body on explorer frame firsthand, but on top of moving body mounts, doing it "right" means extending the back of the frame, which is some amount of actual fab. Quick search says rear frame widths are different too? So now all kinds of shit is going on.

However, IIRC the most desirable explorer rear was '95-'01. '94 should be the last year of drum brakes. So if you're wedded to discs, the '94 doesn't help with that. Also not sure what's you mean about the "track bar". Traction bars? Or sway bar? A bolt-on ranger rear sway bar can be made to fit an explorer rear with minor grinding on the brackets.