Explorer 5.0 V8 and Auto trans into a 94 Ranger 4x4

[Josh40601]

As some of you know, I have been building my little ranger into a very capable daily drivable rockcrawler. Well i just picked up a 96 Ford Explorer V8 AWD and want to use all the goodies i can off this thing then sell the rest for parts. Motor and trans swap don't concern me too much, because the parts are easy to come by. motor mounts, headers, and radiator from James Duff, and the oilpan from a 87-93 mustang from a junkyard. easy enough. slap on a 1" body lift and i have all the clearance for the firewall and heater box. Where the fun stuff begins is what about wiring. I have dug and searched, but can find only posts asking the same questions... What needs to be done with the wiring harness to make this thing work in my truck? Does anyone like Painless or Howell make a harness that is a plug and play? I am keeping all the a/c and emissions stuff because my truck is in California, so i have to meet all their requirements. I could use any help anyone has to offer me. I am even thinking about taking the dash and center console from the exploder too. Does anyone know if this will help out with the wiring nightmare? I wont be using the rear axle, so the VSS system will somehow need to be wired into my 9". Come on guys and gals, help me out here in the beginning and i will use this thread as my build thread for when the swap goes down. Desert season is coming to an end, so motor swap time is opening up rather quickly

 

[Downey]

i cant wait to see this i want this info. bad only with a 351w

 

[Mac]

Over 98% of the people using the later Explorer into an early Ranger have just gone back to the '93' Mustang wiring/computer and ignition system. In your case would at least have to use the '94' system. Some tried doing what you suggest but really haven't heard how the out come was.
Dave

 

[Josh40601]

Yea, i have a 89 5.0 LX mustang with an auto which would be a perfect swap, but i cant because the darn smog laws out here.

 

[Teddyzee]

Here we go again.

Check out rwenzing's article on page one of the website, it will let you know that the '96 Ex had the speedometer VSS in the trans, not the rearend, so that won't be an issue.

The Explorer, like '95 and later Rangers, uses a 42-pin main connector. Your truck does not.

Buy an EVTM for the Explorer.
Buy an EVTM for your Ranger.
And buy the $25 manual from Harwood. this will show you where to make all the connections into the two main connectors on your year ranger.

It tells you haw to do this with a mustang harness. But if you review the Explorer EVTM, you can find all of these same connections in the Explorer 42 pin plug, and splice them to the Ranger plugs.

It's really not very difficult if you plan, and do the wiring on paper first.

 

[Josh40601]

This is why you were TOTM on RPS