One more 2wd 98 coil spring 5.0 swap.

[RangerSVT]

Good progress. Here's some info for you. The explorer V6 and V8 dual row radiators are the same. The shrouds, however, are different. The V6 shroud is thicker and comes closer to the engine, and the fan is mounted about 1.5" higher, so using a V6 shroud on the V8, the bottom of the fan blade is real close to coming in contact with the shroud. That being said, make sure you get the 5.0 shroud ordered...


SVT

 

[Jbrown1238]

Good progress. Here's some info for you. The explorer V6 and V8 dual row radiators are the same. The shrouds, however, are different. The V6 shroud is thicker and comes closer to the engine, and the fan is mounted about 1.5" higher, so using a V6 shroud on the V8, the bottom of the fan blade is real close to coming in contact with the shroud. That being said, make sure you get the 5.0 shroud ordered...


SVT

The shroud in the photo is the new 5.0 shroud. My mistake in the paragraph describing the test fit. I test fit the old fan and fan clutch with the 3.0 shroud and then ordered a 5.0 shroud and tested it with the same set up. The new fan and fan clutch has not arrived yet.

I quickly compared the two and I thought the 3.0 V6 shroud was the same dimensions except it has 3.0 or V6 embossed on the top. I will have to double check them side by side after reading your post.

Comparing the overhead photos of my set up to others on line including 5.0 Explorers it appears that my engine needs to come forward about an inch. The fan is not completely inside the shroud. There is still availability on the engine plates for forward adjustment. I will need to have the trans adapter plate slotted a little to allow for the same amount of adjustment.

 

[RangerSVT]

The 4.0l fan clutch sticks out about an inch further than the 5.0 fan clutch, rather than notch the mount, you might want to just use a 4.0 clutch...

SVT

 

[Jbrown1238]

The 4.0l fan clutch sticks out about an inch further than the 5.0 fan clutch, rather than notch the mount, you might want to just use a 4.0 clutch...

SVT

Thank you very much for the heads up. I may just do that. I have not picked up the fan or the fan clutch and I do have time to change the order. It would be nice to gain that 1 inch of clearance at the shifter but I don't think I truly need it as much as I did in the 93 Ranger. The idea of a simple solution like adding the 1 inch at the fan clutch is appealing.

 

[RangerSVT]

I'm right at the finishing touches on a customer's 01 sport trac V8 swap, and I went through the fan clutch juggle. The original radiator was a single row, the V8 a dual row. I knew the rads were the same dimensions, and 98+ ranger frames were the same width as the gen 2 explorers, so I went hunting, and brought home a dual row V6 rad and shroud. The V6 shroud will fit, but the AC line near the alternator doesn't like it, and its offset slightly higher than the V8. It's a lot of package in such a small real estate right there (the shroud, AC line, upper rad hose, and the air intake tube). It fits, but its tight. I'm still working out the bugs in it, so I might swap it out to a V8 shroud.
Any info I can pass to a fellow V8 swapper to help them with there's is not something I keep a secret. I want to see others succeed in there swaps and would gladly help them any way I can

SVT

 

[Jbrown1238]

I'm right at the finishing touches on a customer's 01 sport trac V8 swap, and I went through the fan clutch juggle. The original radiator was a single row, the V8 a dual row. I knew the rads were the same dimensions, and 98+ ranger frames were the same width as the gen 2 explorers, so I went hunting, and brought home a dual row V6 rad and shroud. The V6 shroud will fit, but the AC line near the alternator doesn't like it, and its offset slightly higher than the V8. It's a lot of package in such a small real estate right there (the shroud, AC line, upper rad hose, and the air intake tube). It fits, but its tight. I'm still working out the bugs in it, so I might swap it out to a V8 shroud.
Any info I can pass to a fellow V8 swapper to help them with there's is not something I keep a secret. I want to see others succeed in there swaps and would gladly help them any way I can

SVT

Much thanks, anything to make it easier.

 

[Jbrown1238]

About a month ago I posted a thread asking if anyone could point me in the direction of a kit to mount 13 inch 2003 Cobra front brakes on a 1999 Ranger. I know there has been a great deal of information on this subject and many forum members have obtained such kits from various sources. The main problem for me was finding a current vender/machinist who offers the custom brackets and hubs for sale right now. Within a week or two of posting the thread I received an e-mail from a forum member named Adam who referred me to a friend of his that makes the custom brackets and hubs for the upgrade. When I say he makes them, I mean he makes them on demand right now as needed.

After several e-mails back and forth with Adam’s friend, Chris, the deal was set. Almost immediately the new parts were under construction. Right from the very beginning I could tell Chris was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his work. He was kind enough to share some of his CAD drawings, final design plans, and photos as the custom parts started to take shape. He not only had the plans for the brackets and hubs to mount 13 inch 2003 Cobra front brakes but also the data required to mount the 15 inch rotors and four piston Brembo calipers from the 2007 up GT500 on the 1999 Ranger. That was very tempting but I really didn’t want to jump up to 18 inch wheels and tires at this time. I asked Chris if it would be alright to post some of the information he shared with me. He agreed and forwarded some revised information designed to protect his intellectual property yet still share some of the technical information with the novice such as myself. The following information is being shared with his permission.
Here are some of the CAD drawings showing the 13 inch Cobra front brakes and the Ranger spindle.









The technical knowledge and craftsmanship that goes into a project like this is fascinating to me. The plans show how critical exact measurements and tolerances need to be. The upgrade is pure custom, definitely not a handful of off the shelf parts thrown together with the help of a pry bar and a grinder.





Here is one of my brand new 1999 Ranger front hub/rotor that was purchased and is now ready to go under the “knife”.



Here is the1999 Ranger hub/rotor chucked up and ready for the first cut.



The process starts with milling down the outside diameter and then moves on to cutting in the other dimensions.

 

[Jbrown1238]

At this point the brackets have been cut from the appropriate material. The pieces are ready to be test fit and all of the tolerances double checked. Chris is very thorough in this area and won’t ship anything out until he is sure all of the parts fit perfectly.













Once the fit and finish is perfect Chris tig welds each of the two corresponding pieces together and the one pair of completed brackets is ready for shipping.









Before the hubs are packaged up and shipped Chris pressed and fit 3 inch wheel studs in each of the hubs. These are installed so a ½ inch spacer can be used in conjunction with the 17x9 Chrome 03 Cobra wheels and 275 series tires.

 

[Lil-Pony]

How much for this setup?????


Sent from outer space.

 

[Jbrown1238]

How much for this setup?????


Sent from outer space.

I had a few extras like longer studs, special fasteners, and he moved the bracket location slightly from his main design. I can tell you with all of that it was still less than others I have seen. I will get a to the penny price for you over the next couple days.

 

[Lil-Pony]

Thanks, it looks so sexy and ingenious. To bad i just put new rotors on


Sent from outer space.

 

[Lil-Pony]

But i will be doing this when it comes time for new rotors


Sent from outer space.

 

[veefer800canuck]

Wow, that's nice work.

 

[RangerSVT]

Great work, wonder if that would apply to us unit bearing guys, then I'd only need the brackets. Are the caliper brackets OEM?

SVT

 

[win]

Very interested in hearing of the total cost of the front brakes. Sweet setup you've got going there!

I'd though about carving the OEM style brakes into hubs and using custom bracket adapters but that's way way outside my skill/tool set.

As an FYI, I'm not to far from Largo and have a Ford NGS if you want/need to lock the ABS solenoids open to bleed the brakes. You're welcome to borrow it.