Dweano's V8 Project Attempt

[Dweano]

With a 5.0L rad right? Maybe I will end up doing that. I was thinking of going with the 4.0L rad for a bit at first. At least for winter and then see how it is in the spring. I suspect it may not have enough cooling capacity tho.

 

[RangerSVT]

The 4.0 rad will be plenty, just need to make sure you get the right fan to move the air. The ex 5.0 rad is tight between the framerails and hangs down low...

SVT

 

[Dweano]

Sweet deal. I will look around on Summit and see what fans I can come up with

 

[Dweano]

Well this isn't a very exciting thread, but here is a tiny update. I found a grand marquis with a blown engine I can steal the oil pan from. Drove a half hour to get it. And it turned out to be a real pain to get too. Couldn't see anything. Was getting rained and snowed on. Wife was waiting in the car. So I ended up leaving. I will have to get it later. And I am ordering more parts from summit tomorrow. My plan is next weekend to take out the v6 power train and then the next weekend get the 5.0l ready (change oil pan, get temp sender installed. Change thermostat, get oil relocation done) then drop it in. I only wanna drop it in once. Side note, summits replacement of the 92003...does the same thing? Wtf. I am just going to try it out. Once I have more leverage maybe it will spin on...

 

[Dweano]

LONG OVERDUE update: random pics... I am super busy with school and family and life and what not. But I am slowly banging away at this project

No A/C for me:

Big 1 inch socket for taking off... something? Can't remember what it was now.

Some shop companions for my truck:

This tab was in the way for header clearance so it got removed (look for it in the next pics):

Header clearance:

Just in case you forgot what a 5.0L looks like:

The collectors on the headers where 2 inch...disappointing because I based all my exhaust buying on them being 2.5 inch...so...another order to summit:

Here you can see some work I did to make it work for the Ranger, bigger starter wiring, engine plates, headers, oil pan:

Draining coolant:

Coming out:

From here on out I accidentally messed up a setting on my phone so...garbage pics... and here is the 4.0L OUT!

See!

 

[bobbywalter]

 

[RangerSVT]

Which headers are you using? Once you get the original motor out, its all downhill from there


SVT

 

[adsm08]

Which headers are you using? Once you get the original motor out, its all downhill from there


SVT

And it goes downhill fast if the lift chain breaks.

 

[Dweano]

I used Hedmann 88400, -Nathan- used them and they work. So...hoping for the best

 

[Dweano]

Phew...what a day. Putting in the 5.0L was tougher than I thought. I really didn't want to bust apart the tranny and engine so I did it together.

As you can see it was TIGHT:

Belt routing pic:

BUT IT IS IN:

Clearances:

And now...the casualties:

and the worst:

Lotsa pics for you guys!

The cross member is still quite strong. I couldn't even flex it even with a chunk cut out. But I will definitely weld up some flat iron on the top and side to reinforce it ....stronger than new! So don't worry. I know some people will think it was stupid. But it was the only way it would work. Unless I ripped it out and tore off the intake. But I was getting my boss to help me and didn't want to waste his time. So...trimmed up the cross member and it slipped right past...BARELY. It was tight tight tight. As you can see there was some casualties. The tranny tube was the worst. I will have to take it off and straighten it out or get a new one.

Alignment:

As you can see it is as far back as it will go. Tons of room in the front. Not alot in the back I will probably move it up an inch or two for final fitting. Even furthest back the tranny cross member wouldn't line up. I think I will redrill the tranny crossmember holes an inch forward and reattach the tranny crossmember. It also looks sloped back. According to RangerSVT i need to lift up the tranny two inches, which makes sense to me. I will make a spacer with some slots to move things around.

Also...the headers... the passenger side is almost on top of the frame. But the drivers side is about 2 to 3 inches away from the frame rail. I understand that the drivers side has the steering and what not so it should be over. But I am just wondering how to determine alignment.

The way it is now the tranny fit in the tranny cross member (left to right, not front to back)

So I guess I am should make new plates an inch over? Or no? What do you guys think with alignment? Definitely move it forward an inch or two. I have to to clear the passenger side exhaust I think.

Questions:

Grounding...what should I do? On the 5.0L I upgraded the starter wire to 4 gauge. But there is no ground. The 4.0L had a power and ground wire to the starter. So obviously the 5.0L just grounds to the block. Should I just run a big 4 gauge ground to the block somewhere? And ground the battery to the body, and engine to body? All bigger wires or what?

Also would running the alternator straight to the positive battery terminal instead of the solenoid be an upgrade?

Any other comments or recommendations...are welcome!

 

[bobbywalter]

go punch yourself in the balls.



crazee fawkers...



hey its in there right?!?!?!?!?!

 

[Dweano]

Haha I knew I would take some flak for the trimming...but I could not get the darn thing in there no matter what I was doing so I had frig it...I will trim it and then weld some angle iron back on there later. Will it look terrible? Probably...did I finally get the engine in there? Yes!!!

I don't know how people without a body lift and stuff get engines in there. Haha

 

[bobbywalter]

dude....thats why i make the clip removable and i pull the front clip.


then dialing in the best spot to locate the engine is cake.



usually i do the clip at one point in time as a separate project prior to any swap so when engine swappin time comes up its a simple deal.


its a worthy investment of time....for the eventual upgrades to come.

you know....that 351 stoker you really want. or 429...or whatever.

 

[Dweano]

If I ever decide to do anything else I will do that for sure. I probably shouldn't have trimmed it but...what ya going to do now I guess. Should I make new plates and move it over you think? The tranny seemed lined up but it seems too far over to the passenger side. I am not sure how level it is. The drivers side has an inch spacer on the plates

 

[bobbywalter]

lol.....



i cant see it enough to make a suggestion.


i put it where it suits my needs....and exaust plans and t case size dipstick access....hvac....