One more 2wd 98 coil spring 5.0 swap.

[Jbrown1238]

The heavy gauge Y/LTB wire is your starter solenoid wire. The R/Y and BK/W are the AC high pressure switch wires (vehicle side) and will need to be removed from the engine harness and installed in the fenderwell harness, along side the driverside of the radiator, to the new location of the high pressure switch. The remaining grey (GY/BK or GY/W, cant remember off the top of my head) and black wires are for the AC compressor clutch, which go to the 12 pin plug....

SVT

Ok, that all makes sense. I can cut out the necessary color coded wires and connectors from the old 3.0L battery harness and tie them into the appropriate locations on the new application. I don't know why but I got caught up in thinking they were separate connectors and belonged to unrelated components. It wasn't until I stepped away for a while and read the replies that I understood they are the same circuits.

 

[Sharkin904]

Thanks for documenting this whole swap so much. It's helped me out on a number of occasions. I just can't wait to see how you tackle the PATS system! lol, I could use a few pointers in that ballpark. Keep up the awesome work!

 

[Jbrown1238]

The one on the right is the Ranger C184 and should have all you need except the DG/WH to the oil pressure sending switch. Easy enough to add or route through the main engine harness.

The one on the left looks like the 5.0 Explorer C125 except I don't see a RD/YE. Somewhere in my foggy memory, I seem to remember that the 01 5.0's had a couple of wire differences compared to the 99~00 but I don't have a 01 Wiring Manual to confirm that.



I have seen this before and I believe that I had to change connector shells on mine (99 Ex in 2003 Ranger). So, yes, possible.

99~01 5.0 Ex are ALMOST entirely identical. Both my 99 and 2000 Ex Wiring Manuals show it as C125. It is possible that it got a different ID in 2001 but again I don't have that manual so I can't confirm or deny. I do remember that they redid a wire here and there to accommodate an OBDII change.

Thank you for the detailed response. With your help as well as the help of RangerSVT I feel confident that the wiring is as you describe and as I understand from the EVTM's. I found the diagram for DG/WH for the oil pressure sending switch.

 

[Jbrown1238]

Thanks for documenting this whole swap so much. It's helped me out on a number of occasions. I just can't wait to see how you tackle the PATS system! lol, I could use a few pointers in that ballpark. Keep up the awesome work!

You are very welcome. When I first starting posting it was really more for a few friends and family members to keep up with the progress. I don't Facebook or anything similar to that so the thread kept the info and photos flowing in there direction. Glad some of the information has helped. This forum is where most of my information comes from. Just like outlined in the previous post.

Several years ago when I first started this project I began bookmarking threads with information I would need down the road. I also made notes of the forum members who would be willing and able to help when the time came. Rwenzing and RangerSVT were both at the top of my list.

 

[RangerSVT]

As far as the pats goes, again, I'm doing this swap in another sport trac, and have wired in the type B pats components. I have a dealer programmer (Rotunda) and will have to program the system (I didn't get the keys, so I need to introduce a new set dealer style). If you choose this direction, let me know as I might be able to help...

SVT

 

[Sharkin904]

As far as the pats goes, again, I'm doing this swap in another sport trac, and have wired in the type B pats components. I have a dealer programmer (Rotunda) and will have to program the system (I didn't get the keys, so I need to introduce a new set dealer style). If you choose this direction, let me know as I might be able to help...

SVT

Exactly what I've got to do. 98 Ranger, 00 expo pcm/column/module from the junkyard, sadly no keys. I'll have to send you a PM when the time comes, just dropped the motor in today.

Sidenote: I actually paint cars for a living, that said I'm very imprssed with your blocking/spraying/buffing skills. Devils in the details!

 

[Jbrown1238]

Sidenote: I actually paint cars for a living, that said I'm very imprssed with your blocking/spraying/buffing skills. Devils in the details! [/QUOTE]

Thank you for the compliment. I painted cars for a Lincoln Mercury dealership but that was many years ago. I have not kept up on industry changes over the years and for the most part stay in my comfort zone. I like PPG products and (don't laugh) a Binks #7! To be honest I have been looking at updating my gun but I just don't paint enough any more and I am trying to get away from it all together if that is possible.

"Devils in the details" yes it is. I don't do production work so the pace is of no concern to me. Other than a DA sander to feather edges and the buffer everything is done by hand. I like to see the work change slowly and under a close watchful eye. There is no substitute for a sanding block and some extra time.

 

[RangerSVT]

Ok, I've successfully reprogrammed the pats type B ecu to work together in the V8 sport trac, so if you need help with that, pm me...

SVT

 

[Jbrown1238]

Ok, I've successfully reprogrammed the pats type B ecu to work together in the V8 sport trac, so if you need help with that, pm me...

SVT

Thank you for the offer. If I disable the PATS with a SCT Tuner I should be fine, correct?

 

[RangerSVT]

Yep, thats how my trac is. But for the money, its cheaper to get a pats type B module, transceiver, and the 99-01 5.0 ecu and 2 keys. Best part is, none of the individual pieces needs to be from the same vehicle...

SVT

 

[Jbrown1238]

I got home from work today and found several boxes sitting at the front door from UPS.” Oh, goodness, what could it be? Next month’s parts budget I imagine!”



I was pleased to see most of the parts arrived but a little disappointed that a few are still on back order and coming in the next few days. Not to worry, I have enough to get me started and to be honest I am still preparing and painting a few of the front end pieces.

“Let’s open one of the boxes and check out the new wheels.”





I wasn’t sure about the 03 Cobra wheels at first but once I decided on the color for the truck I thought the chrome would go nice with the Tuxedo Black Metallic.

Looks like I have enough pieces to finish one side but I am still missing an upper and lower control arm.



After the frustration started to wear off I decide to test fit one of the wheels on the back so I could get a couple of measurements. The outside of the wheel sits 17 inches from the frame of the truck. I compared that to my 98 Ranger with the stock wheels and it measured the same. So with this offset the wheels should set very close to stock. However, I already know I am going to have to use at least a ½ inch spacer on the front to clear a couple tight spots. I want the offset to be the same front and rear so whatever size spacer I go with I will do the same on all four corners.







The plan is to go ahead and order the tires then mount the wheels and tires on the 98 Ranger and check appearance, stance, and offset. Then find where the clearance issues are and adjust as needed. By using the 98 Ranger I can get an idea of how the wheels will look with the bed mounted and various size spacers on a completely assembled truck. The 98 and 99 I own are somewhat identical in appearance.

I will be back in a few days when the front suspension is done and the new 03 Cobra front brakes are installed.

 

[Jbrown1238]

Progress over the past few days has been a bit slow. It seems that the rain sets in each afternoon just when I get started and forces me to work between the showers. Along with the rain I have also had several issues with incorrect parts which required a couple extra trips to the parts store to make exchanges. Then the right side Moog lower control arm was a special order and didn’t ship to the correct location. Just stupid stuff all at one time that ended up costing me a couple days of work.

I was able to lightly mock up the driver side front suspension and brake assembly to check the fitment and make sure I had everything I need to move forward.

The hub assembly was cleaned and new bearings were packed with grease prior to installation.



Then the brake rotor was added along with the new driver side front caliper. The new hubs and brackets fit flawlessly and the fasteners threaded into place with ease. A perfect precision fit. I could not be happier with the pieces Chris produced for this project.





I test fit one of the 17x9 Cobra wheels to double check clearance. There is a slight amount of contact between the dust cap and the wheel when mounted without a wheel spacer. There is also no chance of the wheel center cap fitting without at least a ½ inch spacer. This comes as no surprise as many threads I read while working up to this point described the issue. I am going to stop by the parts store today and compare the diameter measurement of the OEM Ranger dust cap to the 03 Cobra dust cap. The 03 Cobra dust cap isn’t as tall as the Ranger dust cap and may save some space in this area. I am still planning on using at least a ¼ inch spacer and probably will just go ahead and get the ½ inch spacers for all four corners.





I turned the wheel lock to lock and didn’t find any problems with clearance. Of course this is with the suspension fully extended and no tire mounted. I still plan to wait to order the spacers until the tires are mounted on the wheels and the clearances double checked on the 98 Ranger when the suspension is loaded.





It was nice seeing how the pieces fit together and to finally get an idea of what the wheels and front brakes will look like. This step has been a long time in the making and just makes me want to finish the entire project that much more.

 

[RangerSVT]

Looks good. Its always nice to see a project get finished. I just finished up the V8 sport trac last night. Onto the next one...

SVT

 

[Lil-Pony]

Looks like we will both finish our v8 rangers at about the same time. I need to start a thread with the little amount of photos ive taken.


Sent from outer space.

 

[Jbrown1238]

Looks like we will both finish our v8 rangers at about the same time. I need to start a thread with the little amount of photos ive taken.


Sent from outer space.

I think you should. It really helps a lot. It keeps you motivated and moving forward every chance you get. Plus there are a lot of people here who can offer advice and solutions to problems as they arise. Often somebody will notice something in a photo that may not look completely correct. Then they will question it and get you thinking and suddenly you realize that it isn't right. Problem solved! Just by having another set of eyes looking at it.