Exhaust Pipes

[Papaw2eleven]

I have a 2000 Ranger that I want to swap a 289/302 into. My question, if I use the standard exhaust manifolds, will I have a problem with installing exhaust pipes ?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So, the ideal candidate for a donor would be a 99-01 Explorer or Mountaineer. Being you have a 2wd and most of those are AWD, you will have to do something about the transmission and t-case. Those motors are largely plug and play in the 98-00 Ranger though and have the shortened front accessory drive to fit better.

The stock manifolds suck, but in the 4x4 Rangers your choices are limited to the stock manifolds, Ford Racing headers (long out of production), OBX headers from China (they come and go on the market and most agree the fit is less than great), or Torque Monsters which if you place an order you will probably have minimal updates and the headers within 6 months to a year and a half. No other option exists for the 4x4 trucks because everything else gets in the way of the front driveshaft. Even with those, there’s a funky jog to the pipes to make it all work.

Now, being that you have a 2wd, little of that applies. The stock manifolds still suck but you don’t have a front driveshaft to worry about. Rumor has it that some shorty headers fit the 2wd or you can stick with the manifolds. Either way, when it comes to exhaust, it’s gonna be custom. You can use the Explorer exhaust to after the cats, but beyond that nothing will fit right without going custom.

My dad’s 00 that we did the swap, we kept the stock manifolds and the Explorer exhaust to after the cats and had a local shop bend up duals from there back with a Magnaflow 18” crossover muffler.

My green 00 that I did the swap I went for the TM headers and had a local shop bend everything after that. Two universal cats, 2.5” stainless duals all the way back through a Magnaflow 18” crossover muffler. Probably should have gone to a 20” or something longer. I like the sound but I’m not sneaking up on anyone, she gets rowdy fast.