Explorer 302 into 1st gen tips and questions

[corson]

Just wanted to share my experience getting this motor and trans in. A lot of the info I found on the internet doesn’t align with my experience here so thought id share and save someone money.

my steel explorer 5.0 oil pan cleared the crossmember. Using ricksrangerz motor plates and stock 2.9 mounts.

No issues clearing the trans, 4r70w off the explorer, i did hammer the pinch weld on the cab in.

The heater box is a big pita and needs to be clearanced with a heat gun. Same with the (Idle air control?) box on the top of the firewall

I cut the middle of the core support out to put the motor and trans in together, just gonna weld it back on. Basically no room for a rad, going to pick up an electric fan

Looking for a couple tips too. I picked up a PATS deleted computer, has anyone had any luck just splicing the 2 harnesses together to connect fuel and ignition signals to the connectors coming out the driver side firewall? Im assuming I just need to connect fuel pump, ignition on, and starter signals. I do have dual tanks btw, assuming its still just one fuel pump signal from the ecm and the tank is controlled from inside-the-cab wiring but if not please let me know.

What are people doing for fuel lines? The 98 explorer motor is both female and the feed is 3/8 return 5/16. Ranger is male 5/16 feed and feme 5/16 return, having trouble finding ford fitting adapters. Was hoping to just get 6AN adapters and use unions

Also any suggestions for inexpensive radiator solutions would be nice, I have a 5.0 explorer rad that i’d like to use but it might just be too big.

Thanks

 

[JoshT]

If it's an 85+ then 96 Ranger 4.0l radiator, I think 83-84 mounted different. There were a few row counts, get the most you can. (Probably 2, maybe 3.) Alternatively a few companies sell big aluminum conversion radiators for the swap. I think champion is one. If you look around you can find them with a shroud and e-fans IIRC.

You may run into an issue with dual tanks. Depending on explorer year, you'll have to have a fuel return. Can't return fuel to a full tank so it needs to switch with the supply valve. If you have a non return explorer (99-01), you won't have to worry about that, but the intank pumps won't supply enough fuel pressure. Even with the return style system they might not supply enough, some dual tanks had lift pump in the tank and high pressure pump on the rail.

Believe there has been a thread or two covering the swap on dual tanks. Might have to dig for them.

There will be some wiring work needed, can't recall the details now. I'd modified a '98 Explorer EFI to standalone years ago to used in a first gen, but never finished and tested it. There are a few resources out there online. Probably a few YouTube videos. When I was doing it back then there was a guy in the classic broncos forum that had kind of set up a guide for it, the swaps were real popular in those at the time.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

83-84 Radiators are different from 85-94 which are different from 95-11 Rangers which are different than 95-01 Explorers

Explorer radiator could probably be made to fit, guestimating with just a shroud I thought I may be able to fit one with a bodylift, the are tall.

I have a low pro flex fan on the water pump and dual pushers off a Mercedes. HD 91-94 radiator fits with A/C.