Emissions issues with 5.0L swap

[adsm08]

The emissions must expire at some point! Here is MA it's 15 years. I have a 2003 that I am building and won't have to worry about emissions because it is older than 15 years. Emissions parts (such as the cats) have a life expectancy. Check to see if your state has a cut-off for emissions testing.

Actually, most states that have some form of emissions testing do not have a point where a vehicle "ages out" of the program.

In PA all gasoline vehicles 1975 and newer, under 9001 lbs GVRW are subject and that is not a rolling year. That is the first year that emissions controls were federally mandated. CO probably has a similar setup.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

http://aircarecolorado.com/index.php/about-the-test/1981-and-older/exemptions/

Need to buy a farm.

Might be able to do something with the custom thing.

 

[bobbywalter]

my truck is salvage/assembled.


happens after a few totals...


but its tricky and can hurt me in the right/wrong situation..


pretty sure Colorado will take the hard line. and texas will soon... 5-10 years....both will be deeeep blue. hope i am wrong about that.


so its up to the op how hardcore blueoval he/she is.


but easily doable with all of these current awesome powerplants out there.

 

[Yettiyell]

Have you considered the 4.2/3.8 engine?

It would be legal, and the fwd versions have a small block pattern from what I know of them. You could even find one with a manual tranny behind it for simplicity or bolt up a small block tranny, c4 t18/t19 etc. Easy 4x4 set up from there. Maybe even a small block Bellhousing zf...that would be cool.

That engine isn't a huge power house but it could be supercharged and make respectable power imo.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Have you considered the 4.2/3.8 engine?

It would be legal, and the fwd versions have a small block pattern from what I know of them. You could even find one with a manual tranny behind it for simplicity or bolt up a small block tranny, c4 t18/t19 etc. Easy 4x4 set up from there. Maybe even a small block Bellhousing zf...that would be cool.

That engine isn't a huge power house but it could be supercharged and make respectable power imo.

I don't know about the FWD ones but the RWD have a small block pattern.

I have a 2004 4.2 M5OD behind the 5.0 in my Ranger. I had to very lightly drill out the bellhousing bolt holes, the 4.2 uses a metric bolt slightly smaller than the SAE SBF bellhousing bolts.

They have head gasket issues without a blower... and you would still be opening a can of worms for emissions testing with a blower. NA I don't know if they would show a SOHC 4.0 a whole lot (but no timing chain issues FWIW)

 

[adsm08]

Have you considered the 4.2/3.8 engine?

That is just a terrible idea. Those are two of the worst engines Ford ever made.

The 3.8 has head issues. Not head gaskets, the heads. They warp.

The 4.2 is a big 3.8, it doesn't have all the same issues with the heads, but they blow the bottom end out. Used ones are hard to find and expensive when you do because of it.

 

[Yettiyell]

Thank you for the correction I got it mixed up. It is the rwd ones. My apologies.

If there is a visual inspection then yeah a super charger probably wouldn't pass, but I would think with proper configuration and tuning it could pass, but I'm just thinking out loud.

And I wouldnt say the 3.8/4.2 is the greatest engine ever either, but its an option. Its been done. And theres plenty of info on how to do it. And there are people who get good power out of them (I cannot say for how long). My personal opinion is LS is the most logical all around choice. But I was just trying to give ideas.

 

[mikkelstuff]

I really cringe at the thought of a Cheby LS in my Ford Ranger but I'm just not seeing any reasonable alternative.

I do see where there has been a 4.6L mod engine stuffed into a Ranger but geez that has to be crowded.

The trouble here is stupid Colorado - at least those counties like mine with emission standards. The law strictly states that any engine changes cannot use engines older than the vehicle year. Hence the 5.0L V8 which fits so nicely is out.

 

[Craig0320]

I really cringe at the thought of a Cheby LS in my Ford Ranger but I'm just not seeing any reasonable alternative.

I do see where there has been a 4.6L mod engine stuffed into a Ranger but geez that has to be crowded.

The trouble here is stupid Colorado - at least those counties like mine with emission standards. The law strictly states that any engine changes cannot use engines older than the vehicle year. Hence the 5.0L V8 which fits so nicely is out.

The 4.6 has been done but it is tight and usually a/c is not an option. Those engines are really wide. I live where there aren't any emissions testing. It is wonderful. It sucks you have to go through all of it. An ls would be great. I am going to eventually build a turbo ls silverado. Ford and chevy have always been my go to vehicles.

 

[adsm08]

The 4.6 has been done but it is tight and usually a/c is not an option. Those engines are really wide. I live where there aren't any emissions testing. It is wonderful. It sucks you have to go through all of it. An ls would be great. I am going to eventually build a turbo ls silverado. Ford and chevy have always been my go to vehicles.

That's one of the reasons all my stuff is so old. Here anything 95 and older is visual and gas cap only. As long as I have EGR and cats I'm good.

 

[bobbywalter]

ac works with the big 4.6/5.4 and big block engines. just have to alter the hvac routing or run some vintage air stuff. once you gut the stock plenum in the cab there is plenty of room for the vintage air setup inside under the dash.

or use a van/suburban rear sytem long ways down the fender pulling and feeding the stock firewall holes with custom ducting. lots of options.


curtis 408 had a 4.2 recently...i was getting ready to do a write up on it...i was bugging him to do a 3.7 n/a but he had what he had and run with it....before i could get with him forpictures ect he did what they do commuting for work....popped the pump shaft and blew it up....


good thing there....the 5.0 went in without too huge of hassels and he is fine tuning it as he goes...


so 3.8/4.2 wont touch a 4.0 dollar for dollar.

5.0 150 engines and transmissions are getting real reasonable.