Digger's 88 Ranger Swap Thread

[Diggerauditor]

Well I officially started my swap today. I got the old trans out and inspected it along side the new one.

As you can see, the V-8 bellhousing is considerably bigger than the V-6. The R1 is on the Left and the R2 the right.

In the side by side photo, the R1 from my 2.9, is on the right, is the same length, shifter is in the same position as well as the trans mount on the R2, which is out of a 01 f-150. I checked the drive shaft for fitment and the splines are also the same.

This is the Speedo port on the R1 in the above photo, below is the speedo port for the R2. As you can see, both are in the same position, for the most part. Biggest diff is the the R1 is angled and the R2 is straight.

The biggest issue is the clutch hyd fitting.

When I bought the R2, it had the clutch tube cut off so I removed it and checked to see if they were the same. They are not.

The R2 fitting is smaller than the R1 fitting, as shown in the pics. Top one is the R1 and the gold fitting is the R2. It is cheaper to replace the tube to the R2 fitting but I dont know how to do it. Going to have to do a search for that I guess, unless someone reading this has done it before.

Here is the engine it's going behind.


It's a 97 Exploder motor. Never mind the carb on top, it's getting a TBI from my sons 84 T-Bird. I'm buying the parts to mate them this week so hopefully I'll have them by next weekend and post the pics to update the thread.

 

[RangerSVT]

Nice detailed pics, keep em up. Believe it or not you may find yourself using it later for reference. I have...

SVT

 

[Mac]

Really wondering how that is going to bolt up to a 5,0L, got an adapter?
Dave

 

[dangerranger83]

Earlier 5.0s had TBI on them.

The headers you have are the same as mine that I used for my swap but they are restrictive. The cast ones of the later explorer engines are said to be much better flow.

I will be watching this build.

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[Mac]

I meant the transmission, not to clear was it.
Dave

 

[Diggerauditor]

No Adapter needed. The 4.2 v-6 has the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the 5.0. I'm told that the index starter plate will even work but I didn't get that since it was a auto trans so I'm getting the Ford Racing index plate for the manual trans and it will bolt right up, or so I'm told. I'll post pics when I get the parts.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

No Adapter needed. The 4.2 v-6 has the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the 5.0. I'm told that the index starter plate will even work but I didn't get that since it was a auto trans so I'm getting the Ford Racing index plate for the manual trans and it will bolt right up, or so I'm told. I'll post pics when I get the parts.

Same pattern but the holes are smaller so you will have to drill them out.

 

[Mac]

No Adapter needed. The 4.2 v-6 has the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the 5.0. I'm told that the index starter plate will even work but I didn't get that since it was a auto trans so I'm getting the Ford Racing index plate for the manual trans and it will bolt right up, or so I'm told. I'll post pics when I get the parts.[/QUOTE
Confusion came because in your first post you mention V-8 when talking about the bellhousing from a 2001 F-150 which would have been one of the Mod motors.
Dave

 

[shane96ranger]

I thought the same thing Dave.

Sent from a Commodore 64 using a 300 baud modem

 

[Diggerauditor]

Continuing to document my build, for myself and others who may be attempting one soon.

I started getting parts in today. I got the Starter Index plate, the Flywheel, and the elect fan controller, pics below.







I pick up my clutch kit tomorrow. I'm going to at least get them put together this weekend. I really want to be able to stuff them in this weekend too. We'll see how it goes. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[kamshaft]

sweet

 

[Diggerauditor]

Picked up my Clutch Kit today. Just for info sake, Zoom, who is famous for their drivetrain components, was bought out by Perfection. That is what Advance Auto carries as one of their lines of drivetrain components.



Also, Ford, in 1985-86, changed from standard Clutch hardware to metric. After 1985 the bolts for the pressure plate were 8mm, whereas if you go from an aftermarket manufacturer, they may be standard. In my case the bolts are 3/8" instead of 8mm. Just for info sake.

I'll try and post more pics this weekend, depending how much cursing I'm doing and how tired I get from trying to shoehorn this in, lol...

 

[dangerranger83]

The flywheel I have is for an 84-91 f150, since the part numbers were all the same for those years, and I'm using standard thread bolts to hold my pressure plate and stuff to my flywheel. I'm running a 10 inch clutch due to I got it for half price on eBay.

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[Diggerauditor]

Well my son and I started in early today hoping for a good amount of progress but it wasn't to be. We disconnected everything and didn't take us long to pull it out. We had to stop a couple times and change how the hoist was rigged but no big deal. If that wasn't the nastiest engine compartment I don't know what is. Oy vey!!!



I was so happy to see that ugly pig out of that engine compartment!!! I then stripped the compartment of non-essential items for that engine. Air box, heater box and such. Since the engine was out, I took the time to also remove the harness, since it will never be used again.



And wouldn't you know it, as soon as I got the harness out it started to downpour. With no garage to pull into, we had to button it up for today. I also took this chance to take the harness inside and spread it out and chase some wires to keep essential items. I started with the harness plugs on the driver side first. This let me find wires for the coil and gauges and such.

I'm going to try again tomorrow and post more pics.

 

[Diggerauditor]

Just want to let ppl know, the Ford Racing Starter Index Plate for everything up to 95, M-7007-B, will not work on an R2 trans. The top section will bolt to the engine fine but the bottom where the starter mounts is not even close. I'm going to have to try a trans shop today, if any are even open since it's Sat, and see if I can find one or I'm hosed for another week til I can find one. I'll post pics later.

Pics posted. This really sux...Feels like I'm never going to get this project on track...