First engine swap being considered - tips

[ryanthegreat]

just bought a 5.0 out of a 1996 explorer , thinking about dropping it into a ranger. before i buy the ranger to transplant it into i want to completely rebuild the motor, any ideas on cams or other things i could do to the motor. im reaching for a gain of about 50 horsepower at the crank when im done with it

 

[disciplerocks]

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/January2011/explorer-v8_95-97_ranger.htm

 

[bearsrngr]

50 horse shouldn't be hard to do. Port the heads and lower intake, install 1.7 roller rockers and better valve springs, a larger throttle body and a set of headers and you'll be close.

 

[ryanthegreat]

thanks for the link that will be very helpful when im ready to drop the 5.0 in the ranger.

 

[ryanthegreat]

my motor has PATS and being from a explorer it is programmed for an auto trans, but i want to put a T5. do i just need a computer from a mustang to solve both problems?

 

[JoshT]

Unfortunately no. To use a Mustang computer you will also need the mustang harness and some other related items.

To get rid of the pats you will have to have the Explorer computer reprogramed to remove PATS, from my understanding a dealer should be able to do this. What I will probably do when.if I do the swap on my 86 is to retain the PATS module and leave a PATS enabled key under the dash in the truck. The fact that the ECU is programmed for an automatic won't stop it from working with a manual, and once again I'm pretty sure that it can be reprogrammed for the manual if you want to go that route.

 

[Mac]

If you do have the '96' 5.0L, it shouldn't have the PATS to worry about. The motor should have the 65mm throttle body which is plenty big enough. Might want to try a comp cam XE264HR-14 or even a HO cam with the mentioned 1.7 rockers. The trans function is just programed out as mentioned, don't know if any hand held tuners will have that function. Headers will sure help but sometimes a problem depending on year of truck. Have fun and enjoy.
Dave

 

[hoosier1104]

Listen to Mac. He knows what he is talking about.

 

[ryanthegreat]

thanks for ur help guys. i have access to the IDS so maybe i will just plug it in and see what i can do