Got a few questions

[gearhead299]

i'm working my way through swapping a 5.0 into my 98 ranger (formerly a 3.0), the new drivetrain came from a 97 explorer, i bought the whole explorer and still have everything so i can get any and all parts that i need, i just have a few questions for those that have done this swap before, i guess i'll continue to add questions to this thread as i'm sure i'll have more as i get deeper into the project

i went to swap throttle cables today only to find that the explorer cable is designed to snap into a square hole in the fire wall and the ranger has a round hole for a round cable holder, do i need to get a cable from a different model year or should a do a little sheet metal work to solve this problem?

i'd like to know if i have to swap the trans shifter cable or not?

have you done anything to beef up the 4r70w? when all is said and done the engine is predicted to make about 350hp at the crank and i wonder if the trans will hold up, i'm planning to put a shift kit in it, maybe a new converter, a B&M cooler in place of the stock auxiliary cooler and maybe a bigger pan if one is available, any other suggestions to help this trans hold up?

what did you guys do as far as fuel lines go? my ranger is a returnless system, i read that i can get the fuel rail from a different model year explorer so that i don't have to run a return line, i also wonder what you guys have done about the fuel pump and regulator, i was looking at a trick flow pump made for mustangs but i'm not yet sure if it will work for my application or not

i read that i need to swap in the explorer battery cable harness, i was looking at it today and i was totally lost, no idea where to start, can someone point me in the right direction?

i have a BW1354M that i bought before the 3.0 died but never got to install, my plan for now is to get the advance adapters piece to mate it to the 4r70w, i saw that there is already a removable panel in the trans tunnel i just wondered if my manual shifter will end up there or will i need to cut another hole further back?

thats all my questions that i have for now but i'm sure i'll have more later so i'll keep updating this thread, again its a 98 ranger 3.0 recieving a 5.0 from a 97 explorer, and i'll toss up a couple pictures, everyone likes pictures

 

[ChrisR1S]

what did you guys do as far as fuel lines go? my ranger is a returnless system, i read that i can get the fuel rail from a different model year explorer so that i don't have to run a return line, i also wonder what you guys have done about the fuel pump and regulator, i was looking at a trick flow pump made for mustangs but i'm not yet sure if it will work for my application or not

Correct me if im wrong anyone, but to my knowledge 99-01 explorers have a returnless system as well. get the fuel rails from one of these.

 

[gearhead299]

yeah thats what i thought i would have to do, looks like i'll be makin a junkyard run to try and find one

i'm also wondering if there could be any clearance problems with an aftermarket cast aluminum valve cover such as a ford racing one, i don't want to put the steel ones back on since they seem to have problems rusting through at the flange, i wish i had thought to measure before i took the damn thing apart

 

[ChrisR1S]

Does your truck have a bodylift? if so you MAY be in luck. From my reading, it seems to mainly depends on where and how low you mount the engine and if your truck has a body lift

 

[Mac]

No body lift required with your swap. I just bought the the right battery harness. You didn't mentin if you were using the '97' Explorer computer or not. That year did not have the PAT system, your truck now has it. Might cause problems with that combonation. Might be easier to go with the '98' computer and wiring. With the '97' computer, using the Mustang pump is alright but then you would have to run a return line. '98' computer you would have to use the Explorer pump & regulator. There is the good write-up in the tech library on the Explorer swap in what works with what. You might luck out with the after market valve cover, depending on what the filler cap looks like. They come out right under the TB. You also said you are looking at 350 HP at the crank. Better plan on ordering a set of the Torque Monster headers now, 4-6 weeks wait time as of last week. Don't use the popular E-303 cam, the Explorer computer doesn't like the tight LSA of 110 degs. Go with something like the Comp Cam XE-264-HR-14 with 114 degs and upgrade the valve springs for any cam up-grade. That trans should work just fine if it's in good shape now.
Good luck with the project. You ever need some pictures or something, just shoot me a PM.
Dave

 

[gearhead299]

yes i will be using the explorer computer, i still have the entire explorer at my disposal since i bought the whole things and took it apart myself, i'm pretty sure neither truck has PATS, they both have a smaller old school key, according to what i read neither should have it, thanks for the heads up on the headers, i'll be in touch with them tomorrow, i was planning on a set but didn't realize the wait would be that long

 

[Mac]

Sorry but I mis-read the year of your truck. No pats problem which makes things a lot easier other than running the return line, swapping out the Ranger fuel pump for the Mustang one.
All Bob at TM needs to know is what year, suspension and heads. He usually builds them up one at a time. With the larger collectors, think they are good to about 350-380 HP.
Dave

 

[gearhead299]

cool i'll get in touch with him ASAP, i just need to figure out what heads i'm gonna run, trying to get a hold of some dart pro-1s, i have a friend in a race shop that is very good at head work among other things, he's gonna mill the heads, cut a new valve job, and assemble them with some good springs valves etc., we haven't ordered the cam yet but prob next week, parts have been coming in steadily, water pump, cloyes timing set, fel-pro gaskets, crane aluminum rockers should be here tomorrow, lots of goodies for this motor, i've been thinking about the swap since i got the truck, i just got forced into it a little early when the 3.0 seized up last summer