Drain plug clearance. What have you guys done?

[absentminded102]

I have a 95 Ranger 4x4 extended cab, just sat a 5.0L engine and trans in it from a 97 Explorer. It has a Mustang dual sump oil pan and I used the old 4.0L rubber motor mounts and I also modified the Explorer plate mounts. I put (roughly) 1/2 inch spacers on the driver side plate... The problem is that the rear drain plug is resting on the suspension. Just wondering how you guys addressed this issue, I haven't seen it documented anywhere. Should I raise the driver's side of the engine higher, or slide the powertrain back?

 

[fangotango306]

how much room do you have between the drivers side head and the fire wall? sounds like you are too far forward.

 

[absentminded102]

I have the cab removed at the moment, however, the transmission is bolted into the Ranger's stock location. I have an adapter tail housing on the trans to keep the transfer case in stock location also so I wont have to modify the driveshafts. The trans mount is slid all the way back in it's slot. The whole assembly looks like it would have to slide back at least an inch to access the plug, which might cause firewall issues, and might have to modify driveshafts. I'm thinking raising the engine would be the better way to go, but I'm just curious how others have approached this situation.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I had to shim up the engine and hacksaw the plug in half so it would be short enough to get it in and out.

If I had it to do over I would weld that hole shut and put a different one somewhere that wouldn't dump on the pivot bracket/bushing.

 

[fangotango306]

crazy man, might be hard to determine without the cab on there. my drain plug is about 2inches back from the pivot bracket, running stock v6 mounts with 1/4" plates. with the 2in body lift i've got about an inch between drivers head and firewall.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have the convert/SN95 mounts FWIW.

About an inch of washers between the mounts and the block and the PS has a 1/2" thick hunk of steel between it and the crossmember to level the engine.

Really wish I would have used V6 mounts...

 

[Elutheros]

I used the flat plates on my 1992 with a 3" body lift and spaced the driver side up a bit--can't remember how much. Transmission in normal spot M5ODR2 with NP205 and stock one piece driveshaft.

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[absentminded102]

I appreciate all the helpful replies. What I decided to do was install 1.25" spacers on the driver side mount and cut the drain plug like 85_Ranger4x4 said he did. It's still really tight getting the plug in and out, but it'll work. I can't wait to get this project finished.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you at all can do it, I recommend pulling the engine and welding a pipe thread bushing in the pan somewhere to dodge the bracket.

I mean, what I did works... but every time you change the oil the rubber bushing gets an oil bath. Rubber doesn't like oil... and even if you swap to a different material (like poly) it is going to attract dirt and foreign matter to grind into the bushing.

When I pull my engine next time that is going to happen and I am swapping to the V6 mounts with plates.

 

[bobbywalter]

in my favorite location, i have to cut and invert the corner of the pan to clear the stock bracket. the plug is actually behind the bracket. i run nearly 2 in lower then these others posted pics. if you look close you can see how the corner is inverted.

the plug is behind the stock bracket 3/4- 1 inch. of course this is an after market adjustable bracket in this pic as duff would not send me a replacement single front bracket after i smashed a front one back in the day.

engine placement is the huge variable in swaps. i run down and back maximally to allow maximum cooling options.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Mine is pretty tight against the firewall, maybe half an inch of room. For some reason my engine sits farther ahead than most.

 

[bobbywalter]

the higher it sits the farther forward it has to sit because the firewall protrudes out as it rises up.

if your body mounts are forward in the holes it can cheat or rearward make room as well.

with rotten mounts there are even more variables.