Biggest mistake you made on your 5.0 swap

[Elutheros]

I know we love to show off our stuff when it goes well, but I learn from other's mistakes often. Sooooo, if you have swapped a 5.0 into a 1992 or earlier Ranger/BII, what is the one big mistake you made and what would you do differently if you did it again??

 

[rangerjunk]

I put one in a 83 Ranger. I used the painless kit worked great. All gauges worked. No tach it didn't come with one. I had to use a oil filter relocation kit and had the hoses backwards lol no oil pressure. Open exhaust couldn't hear it rattle. Swapped the hoses rattle went away and it ran great.

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[dangerranger83]

I have alot. Time constraint, not getting the engine back far enough, didn't have the time to go through everything so I have a few oil seals that have slow leaks and also getting my slots for my mustang motor mounts to long ago the engine has sunk a bit to where the oil pan is almost touching the crossmemeber.

Do I regret the swap, never. Good thing is I can back and fix all of those things. She does run and drive so that I'm happy about.

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[85_Ranger4x4]

Cut the slots too deep in the engine crossmember for 5.0 convert mounts - use 4.0 mounts and plates in stock holes.

3 speed non-od trans - M5OD

I was crunched on both time and budget though, the 5 speed swap (automatic truck) and a fullsize t-case would have been tight for both.

 

[gsp]

Not installing blower on first day,

When installing the GT clutch pedal assembly quadrant, a torch is required, I punctured the upper cowl,,, sucked..

 

[adsm08]

Bought the engine in a few hundred pieces, and also what I am sure are a few extra pieces.

 

[JoshT]

Deciding to use the Explorer EFI and auto trans rather than swapping to Mustang EFI and 5 speed in my first gen Ranger. Still not wired and running so it may still change.

 

[Elutheros]

Thanks for the feedback. The engine mount slot thing seems like something I would do if I hadn't heard from a couple of you. I'm hoping to find a M5OD2 and a 1356 TC to make this easy since my Ranger is a manual already--but budget is an issue.
The oil pressure line reversal is also something my dyslexia could also screw up. Good reminders!

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I let a family member rebuild my block then bought all those parts from the company they worked for. Heads were junk, intake had a crack, pistons were two thousands too small for the bore. They were 30 thousandths over stock and the bore was 32 thousandths over stock. All the crank and rod bearings were too small also. Cost me $2,800. Plus I had my block rebuilt at another shop for $2,500.
Don't trust family!

 

[PetesPonies]

The holes cut in the subframe for the Mustang mounts . . don't have to be perfect. You need them correct, from to back as to where they are. But the length of the slot isn't as important as the engine will locate itself if you fuss with it some. Then tighten it down.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The holes cut in the subframe for the Mustang mounts . . don't have to be perfect. You need them correct, from to back as to where they are. But the length of the slot isn't as important as the engine will locate itself if you fuss with it some. Then tighten it down.

And then as the engine runs it settles down, I have pulled it back up once, I am making a shim for the second time. I get it as tight as I can but the torque of the engine makes it roll to one side over time.

 

[dangerranger83]

Mine has sunk almost 2 inches down (and looks to have stopped) because the slots are to long so I'm going to have to raise it back up.

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[PetesPonies]

I don't believe with proper hardware this will happen. It certainly hasn't happened with mine.

 

[bobbywalter]

not putting a 429 super cobra jet in was the biggest mistake of the 5.0 swap on my personal pig....


but uh...yeah....other then that it was pretty smooth save for some cold solder joint issues.



but fawk....that was almost 20 years ago...

 

[bobbywalter]

i always ripped my mounts in half....they never settled



bolt and safety chains ftw.