CARB Legal CAI for 2001 Mercury Mountaineer 5.0 v8 in Ranger?

[SlugStang8997]

I bought a California Legal v8 swapped Ranger. It seems to have a stock intake from the Mountaineer. Wondering if there is a CARB Legal intake that would fit.
Or would i have to modify it or have something made witch would probably be illegal here as well.
I am also Wondering what other performance upgrades i could do to this Ranger that would be CA legal or CARB legal?
The truck has headers and exhaust done.
I highly doubt there would be a turbo or super charger that would be CARB Legal for this truck. Plus i read that those cause the motor or engine to wear more quickly witch i would not want.

It is 4 speed automatic 2wd 2001 Ford Ranger xlt ext cab stepside with a 2001 Mercury Mountaineer 5.0 v8 and transmission and rear end.

 

[rubydist]

I am not aware of anything that is both CARB legal and actually valuable for performance improvement that is available for the Explorer/Mountaineer.

There are aftermarket heads for the 302 that are smog legal but I think only for early years when there was not much for rules like pre-1979 or pre-1985.

 

[SlugStang8997]

I am not aware of anything that is both CARB legal and actually valuable for performance improvement that is available for the Explorer/Mountaineer.

There are aftermarket heads for the 302 that are smog legal but I think only for early years when there was not much for rules like pre-1979 or pre-1985.

Thanks for your reply
Bummer... but i am not surprised. I guess i would like to explore the invaluable performance parts... See if there is anything to them.

 

[Service_Bed]

I really wanna know more about how the V8 swap got cleared and CARB legal?? Would love to swap my 2.9 to a v8 in my ‘88 work truck

 

[JoshT]

Not sure how I missed this thread the first time around. If you manage to find a CAI for these please share. I can't find one at all, CARB legal or not. The stock air intake will breathe enough for the stock explorer engine, but I recently discovered my duct was damaged and leaking. I've acquired a good replacement, but having an alternative would be nice.

You can find filter adapters to slap a cone filter on the stock tube in place of the air box, but that is t much of a COLD air kntak, and doesn't fix the problem with the duct. Alternatively you could find stuff to make your own, but that doesn't carry CARB certs.

For more performance from yours, CARB does seem to make for some pretty big restrictions. It sounds like Thedrill already did a bunch of the stuff that could be done easily and retain cert. The headers and Exhaust were the #1 upgrade you could do on that engine. Like rubydist, I'm not sure of any other parts that would carry carb cert for use in the explorer/mountaineer.

With the better flowing exhaust, maybe you could benefit from having it tuned? The exhaust would allow it to run higher RPM easier, but the stock valve spring are fairly weak and can result in valve float and limit what is available. Maybe stronger valve springs if you start to experience valve float.

Engine isn't the only place that improvements can be made. Gearing can completely change the performance of a vehicle. Don't know what gears he used, but that might be an option. Transmission shifting can also have a big effect, so maybe a shift kit or J-mod. Neither of those should be affected by CARB requirements.

I really wanna know more about how the V8 swap got cleared and CARB legal?? Would love to swap my 2.9 to a v8 in my ‘88 work truck

Yes, it is/was possible. Your truck is very different from his and your requirements to clear may be different. That could be a good different or a bad different. The guy that built and certified this truck is actually a member here, he joined when sorting out some issues that the OP was having recently.

@Thedrill any chance you could provide more insight on that for Service_Bed?

 

[Thedrill]

All I did was follow the rules, it would be best to get a complete donor vehicle of the same year or newer, swap out ALL the emission garbage to your vehicle including the ECU.
Try not to cut and move the original cats or deviate from the factory positions, the rest of the exhaust is not a problem after the cats.
Try and keep the vin tags off the donor vehicle, so you can prove where the running gear came from, lots of photos.
Once you have managed that, you will need to make an appointment with the bar, they will ask you a lot of questions and ask for photos of pretty much everything.
If you meet the requirements, they will contact you for a full smog test and inspection (only when all your monitors are set) If it passes after about an hour or so of testing, it will cost you $8.25 for a smog certificate.

Hope that helps.