Hello from TacomaWorld

[ItHasPotential85]

So I recently purchased an ‘85 Ranger 4x4 with the 2.8l V6 and manual trans. It’s a one owner with 53k original miles and some upgrades done back in the ‘90s (lift, 35” tires, KC lights, stereo, etc). The truck has been sitting since 2015 due to the owner buying a new Jeep. I paid $2k knowing I’d have to put another $2k or so in it to make it a fun and reliable driver.
Currently, I’ve tore the motor down to the heads for some much needed maintenance and repairs. I found 3 bent push rods, I’m assuming due to old gas and some motivational starting fluid. Other than that, the smog system needs to be removed, most of the gaskets are bad, and both parking brake cables are broken. Not saying there aren’t more issues waiting to pop up. I’m in the process of cleaning and inspecting everything from the heads up to the carb while I wait for parts.
The biggest issue I face at the moment is, parts availability. (No surprise there)
Currently waiting on:
Comp Cams stage 2 kit (cam, lifters, and timing gears)
Comp Cams valve springs
Comp Cams pushrods
Fel Pro full gasket set
I’m unable to find the the parts needed for the Duraspark mod, mainly the distributor. Both the single and dual-vacuum advance distributors are apparently in short-supply and high-demand.
My DD is a 2011 Tacoma so there’s no rush on getting this old Ford back on the road. However, patience has never been a friend of mine.
With all of that being said, a 5.0 swap now seems to be the best solution. I’ll be going Sunday to a Pull A Part to scour their lot in hopes of finding a good candidate to pull an engine, auto trans, computer, and harness from. Let me know some good suggestions if you have any. I’ve read the 95-01 Explorer 5.0 with a C4 is a good combination. I’ve had several full-size Broncos in the past and have always been a fan of the 351w, so that might also be a possibility.

 

[rumblecloud]

OK...so which one are you fixing?

 

[superj]

That's a good looking ranger

 

[ItHasPotential85]

That's a good looking ranger

Thanks! It looks as though someone drove it straight from the 80's. Definitely has a "time capsule" feel.

OK...so which one are you fixing?

Instead of fixing the 2.8, I'll more than likely cancel or return the parts I've ordered for it and start shopping for a motor swap.

 

[superj]

I think the roll bar and push bumper really make the look. I want a roll bar for mine but it's a step side and hard to find

 

[Slug]

Great purchase at a great price, considering the equipment already on it, and the mileage! Almost nothing better than a cool project and a solid plan. 351W would absolutely rock.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Snag the 4R70W from the Explorer would be the best automatic you can find.

NP205 tcase fits nice but is heavy and only has 2:1 low range unless you do a doubler.

With a little tweaking many t cases will fit though.

 

[ItHasPotential85]

Snag the 4R70W from the Explorer would be the best automatic you can find.

NP205 tcase fits nice but is heavy and only has 2:1 low range unless you do a doubler.

With a little tweaking many t cases will fit though.

I was wondering about the 4R70W, but hadn’t seen too many people talking about it. I’m sure I’m not looking in the right areas.

Hopefully I can find a decent Explorer tomorrow with most parts still intact. I’ve found a few for sale, so I could also go that route.

But thanks for the info! That’ll help narrow down the search

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I think the roll bar and push bumper really make the look. I want a roll bar for mine but it's a step side and hard to find

I have a tube bender and a big 90* die and I’ve thought about this…

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Your best bet might be a 5.0 Explorer up to 97. That would be pre-PATs and have a fuel system with a return, probably be the easiest to get hooked up. 98 had a return and PATs, 99-01 had returnless and PATs. Literal tons of aftermarket options for the 302. If you don’t want to get into all of the electrical and fuel mods for EFI, you can get an older carb 302 or I think you can change the intake and add a distributor and stuff to a newer one. I went the cheater route with 302 swap and am doing a 98 (converted to 99-01) 302 Explorer into a 2000 Ranger which is pretty plug and play

 

[ItHasPotential85]

Your best bet might be a 5.0 Explorer up to 97. That would be pre-PATs and have a fuel system with a return, probably be the easiest to get hooked up. 98 had a return and PATs, 99-01 had returnless and PATs. Literal tons of aftermarket options for the 302. If you don’t want to get into all of the electrical and fuel mods for EFI, you can get an older carb 302 or I think you can change the intake and add a distributor and stuff to a newer one. I went the cheater route with 302 swap and am doing a 98 (converted to 99-01) 302 Explorer into a 2000 Ranger which is pretty plug and play

So I’ve been reading into the Explorer PATs system, and it seems the older systems can possibly be bypassed? If someone can confirm I’d appreciate it. Hopefully I can avoid the system altogether.
It’s good to know about the return on the gas system.
But the Pull-A-Part website is showing 8 Explorers currently on lot from 96-97. So hopefully there is a mint, slightly damaged on passenger side, 5.0 Auto AWD Explorer ripe for the picking. Realistically, it seems like a needle and haystack situation. But there are several U-Pull and salvage lots within a few minutes of the Pull-A-Part with Explorers in stock. So maybe I’ll get lucky, or maybe I’ll pull an older carbureted 302 out of frustration and call it a day. Like I said before, patience has never been a friend of mine. However, I’d much rather spend more time and money upfront for less problems down the road.
Thanks for the info so far everyone!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So I’ve been reading into the Explorer PATs system, and it seems the older systems can possibly be bypassed? If someone can confirm I’d appreciate it. Hopefully I can avoid the system altogether.
It’s good to know about the return on the gas system.
But the Pull-A-Part website is showing 8 Explorers currently on lot from 96-97. So hopefully there is a mint, slightly damaged on passenger side, 5.0 Auto AWD Explorer ripe for the picking. Realistically, it seems like a needle and haystack situation. But there are several U-Pull and salvage lots within a few minutes of the Pull-A-Part with Explorers in stock. So maybe I’ll get lucky, or maybe I’ll pull an older carbureted 302 out of frustration and call it a day. Like I said before, patience has never been a friend of mine. However, I’d much rather spend more time and money upfront for less problems down the road.
Thanks for the info so far everyone!

Not sure how well PATs can be bypassed, I’d just avoid it for your situation. You’re probably going to have to change the fuel tank and pump since you need the higher pressure EFI system. The ones with a return off the fuel rail to the tank run a lower pressure than the returnless system. Still not as low as carb, but lower. If you need to build your own fuel lines, it can be done with -AN line without a whole lot of trouble, or you could scavenge lines and a tank off the appropriate Ranger. All of the EFI Rangers used the same pump and pressure up until they went to the returnless system, more or less. IIRC, 89 was where it went from a lift pump in the tank and high pressure pump on the frame rail to one high pressure pump in the tank, but the pressure stayed the same until about 98 I think.

Hard to say on what the yards have. One time I went to the one u-pull-it around here and they had literally 7 Explorers with the 5.0 and 3 without. Next time I went there was 6 Explorers and none had the 5.0. So it’s kinda mix and match. Hopefully you don’t end up in my situation though. It’s a good thing I have some patience. I went to change the spark plugs before putting the 5.0 in my Ranger figuring that it would be easiest. Most access and all. Except one plug broke off in the head. Then after 6 hours of patience and fighting, the easy out snapped off. Would not come out and would not shatter. So, the heads had to come off. Well, that head at least. Broke a manifold bolt and a valve cover bolt. In the opposite head. Got the manifold bolt and the spark plug extracted but have had zero success with the valve cove bolt. Went to change the water pump because why not at this point and broke a bolt there. Pulled the timing cover to get at it and the timing cover broke for no good reason. Timing chain is stretched. Half inclined to just rebuild the motor at this point just because I’m pretty much there. Oh, and except for a few small scratches, the cylinders are perfectly crosshatched like the motor was new. All because I wanted new spark plugs instead of original Motorcraft plugs with 160k on them.

 

[dvdswan]

Great looking truck. A steal a 2K too.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I think the roll bar and push bumper really make the look. I want a roll bar for mine but it's a step side and hard to find

Are you saying if I were to fabricate roll bars for step side rangers, you would buy one?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Are you saying if I were to fabricate roll bars for step side rangers, you would buy one?

Sounded like that to me, need to finish getting the air over hydro cylinder on my tube bender, lol