jolene

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

So yesterday I got the sohc in. Everything went relatively smoothly and I realized that I didn’t need to rush as much as I did during the whole process cuz I finished at like 3pm lol. But I did take some time to clean up my frame and paint some areas that were left exposed because of the old engine being in the way when i built everything
Here’s what I gathered so far

The autofab ohv engine mounts bolt directly to the sohc block
Oil pan clears the lower engine cross member with no issues *with these engine mounts*
My upper engine crossmember from my engine cage BARELY cleared the upper manifold but it does fit and I am able to put it on and take it off. So that’s sweet.

I put the ranger back in the garage for now. Waiting for the rain to clear up and I’ll start working on the wiring and stuff

....if the world doesn’t end today Hahahaha

 

[Jim Oaks]

Do the Autofab mounts sit the engine higher than the stock mounts?

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

back when i had my ohv and these mounts it did lift it a tiny bit. less than an inch.

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

so i got everything in today and started the truck for the first time. it runs!
the only thing i had to "make" so far was a home for the IAT sensor. on the OBD2 system the IAT is integrated with the MAF.
since i was getting rid of the egr system, i used that port to house the IAT sensor by making a plug with a threaded hole to thread the sensor into.
other than that every sensor bolted on just the way it did on the SOHC.

ill try to figure out how to upload videos of it running and the original gauges reading everything.

 

[Jim Oaks]

TRS-2 needs a 4.0 rebuild. This seriously has me thinking about switching to a 4.0 SOHC.

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

i was talking with a friend about it and came to a realization.
for me, it was an extremely easy swap. basically as easy as swapping in a rebuilt ohv (aside from needing a tune).

BUT if you have a some what "stock" vehicle this swap will probably be much harder. i didnt fiddle with ANY egr stuff, i dont have a heater box, and i dont have any ac lines to figure out. all of that stuff will definitely add some difficulty to the swap.

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

finally got to drive the truck yesterday. with everything buttoned up this thing runs flawlessly! idles perfect and HAULS ASS. i didnt drive it too much cuz i want to get it on a dyno to make sure everythings safe on the ohv tune...ill get note of that for anyone else interested in the swap before he actually tunes it. this engine pulls so hard from 3500 till the limiter kicks in at 5500. and its got more to give!

 

[Uncle Gump]

I've never taken my SOHC past 3500... rarely has it seen 3000.

Glad you like it.

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

oh youre missing out on a whole lotta fun.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'm sure... it runs way better then the old OHV. But I told myself I was going to take it to 300,000 miles... just saving up for the long haul.

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

ive always thought the ohv was a pile of poo. and now that im driving the truck with a sohc, it definitely solidifies that theory haha.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

All Ima say is the rest of the parts from @rpcaster arrived so I can install one of these m90s on my SOHC. Cause if you are liking it now, boost will only make it better.

I'll let you know how it goes after it's finished. Right now he has the M90 plenum and intake manifold on ebay for a little over $300

 

[Jim Oaks]

@PetroleumJunkie412 Sweet. Are we going to see pics and a write up?

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Pics? Of course. Write up? I still need to finish the epas one

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

if anyones curious, i put the ranger on the dyno today

nothing has changed besides a sohc swap.
stock internal sohc with gibson headers.
35" tires, c4 trans, and 5.13 gears.

with the ohv it put down 100 hp and 143tq
as i rolled into the dyno on the old OHV tune the truck made 168hp/180tq *note that the programming for the ohv was completely safe to run. it wasnt lean anywhere in the rpm range. so a tune wasnt absolutely necessary
after some adjustments to the computer the final numbers were 179 hp/185tq


*note that the programming for the ohv was completely safe to run the sohc on. it wasnt lean anywhere in the rpm range. so for anyone considering this EEC-IV SOHC swap. a custom tune wasnt absolutely necessary.

to add.
heres a pic of a dyno sheet for a 5.0 explorer completely stock with stock sized tires.