Ready to Swap my 2003 2.3L for a V8.

[CaptnJoeK]

So all you swap vets please convince me not to do this myself. I'm not a professional mechanic and cars are not my favorite thing to work on. I am very mechanically inclined and have most of the tools and an indoor shop to work in. I'm retired and have ample time. I'm up to the challenge. I inherited this 2003 60k mile B2300/Ranger from my Uncle and fixed up the interior and did new paint in his honor. See the pics. I was hoping I could tolerate the squirrel cage engine in it but no. So if I'm going to upgrade this would be the last step to have a unique show ready truck. I want to go low and 2wd. Looking for recommendations for easiest/best plug and play V8 drive train. Not necessarily looking for max hp but serious power upgrade. Looking for better ride so brake and suspension recommendations would be appreciated. I will likely convert the truck over to a full Ranger look or a clandestine B2300. In the end.
Thanks everyone in advance.

 

[franklin2]

Where do you live? They are cracking down on all this swap stuff. I am sure you have heard of all the EPA stuff and the diesel guys. They were also going to crack down on people modifying their cars for racing. Even if it wasn't on the road, just a race car. I don't think they have made much headway on that yet. But the way the world is now, they will come sooner or later.

The crazy people that run my state (VA) just voted last year to copy anything California does as far as emissions rules. I haven''t seen any changes yet, but now they have the tools if they want to use them.

 

[mikkelstuff]

Colorado sadly will not allow the 5.0L Ford engine upgrade.

As for brakes, if your truck still has rear drum brakes, look into the Mustang rear disk brake conversion outlined on this website. I found this to be a great improvement on my 2002 Ranger. I also wrote up a documentary with photos of this upgrade as I changed out mine.

The 2004 Ranger had larger diameter front disk brakes and I did that upgrade on my 4WD 2002 Ranger. The 4WD required that I change out the steering knuckles but changed out all the ball joints while I was at it. I do not know what is required for 2WD but I'm sure someone on the site can tell you. This does require 16" rims.

 

[CaptnJoeK]

Where do you live? They are cracking down on all this swap stuff. I am sure you have heard of all the EPA stuff and the diesel guys. They were also going to crack down on people modifying their cars for racing. Even if it wasn't on the road, just a race car. I don't think they have made much headway on that yet. But the way the world is now, they will come sooner or later.

The crazy people that run my state (VA) just voted last year to copy anything California does as far as emissions rules. I haven''t seen any changes yet, but now they have the tools if they want to use them.

Hi Franklin I live in Missouri where they haven't completely lost their minds. Thanks for the info.

 

[CaptnJoeK]

Colorado sadly will not allow the 5.0L Ford engine upgrade.

As for brakes, if your truck still has rear drum brakes, look into the Mustang rear disk brake conversion outlined on this website. I found this to be a great improvement on my 2002 Ranger. I also wrote up a documentary with photos of this upgrade as I changed out mine.

The 2004 Ranger had larger diameter front disk brakes and I did that upgrade on my 4WD 2002 Ranger. The 4WD required that I change out the steering knuckles but changed out all the ball joints while I was at it. I do not know what is required for 2WD but I'm sure someone on the site can tell you. This does require 16" rims.

Bummer on the Colorado restrictions. I guess I better check on the license stuff here in Missouri. I forgot we don't live in a free country anymore. Thanks for the info. Where do I find the Info to your documentary? Can you attach a link? Thanks.

 

[Rangeritus]

Hello, im in Missouri too & wanting to 302 my 01 ranger. Here in Jeff county we have to pass safety & emissions but as long as the monitors are ready & it passes a basic safety inspection no worries.

 

[CaptnJoeK]

Thanks for the info Rangeritus. What year 5.0/302 and why are you going to install?

 

[franklin2]

Hello, im in Missouri too & wanting to 302 my 01 ranger. Here in Jeff county we have to pass safety & emissions but as long as the monitors are ready & it passes a basic safety inspection no worries.

Monitors are ready? The OBDII monitors? Sounds like a lot of software work to hide a carbed 302 or hide a aftermarket fuel injection system or integrate a different year OEM fuel injection system. A little over my head.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

General rule of thumb in emission test states is the engine must be same model year or newer then whatever its installed in.

So a 302 in any truck past 2000 isnt gonna clear as the 302 died in 2000

 

[Rangeritus]

Thanks for the info Rangeritus. What year 5.0/302 and why are you going to install?

From what ive read, & makes sense, 98 up 5.0 motor, harness & pcm from explorer are the best bet for my year ranger. The exhisting 3.0 has a rod knock, needs head gaskets & was always underpowered for this truck from the get go

 

[Rangeritus]

General rule of thumb in emission test states is the engine must be same model year or newer then whatever its installed in.

So a 302 in any truck past 2000 isnt gonna clear as the 302 died in 2000

Theres only 3 counties in missouri that i know of that still do emissions tests, in that test all thats done is to check for current obd2 codes & make sure all but 1 readiness monitor is passed. Nobody ever lifts the hood

 

[Rangeritus]

Monitors are ready? The OBDII monitors? Sounds like a lot of software work to hide a carbed 302 or hide a aftermarket fuel injection system or integrate a different year OEM fuel injection system. A little over my head.

By using the 1998 up explorer 5.0 its pretty much a direct swap from what ive read on this site. Now to put it to practice

 

[franklin2]

By using the 1998 up explorer 5.0 its pretty much a direct swap from what ive read on this site. Now to put it to practice

I am sure that would work fine. But I would be afraid to take it to a emissions station in one of those states, and the guy hooks up his scanner and hits "auto identify the vehicle" and your 2004 ranger comes up as a 1998 Explorer.

 

[rubydist]

The Explorer used the 5.0 up through 2001, so any Ranger up to 2001 can be swapped with the 5.0 and be emissions legal (if you keep all the cats, etc.) but the OP has a 2003 so that is a no-go for places like CO where they have emission testing.

 

[franklin2]

The Explorer used the 5.0 up through 2001, so any Ranger up to 2001 can be swapped with the 5.0 and be emissions legal (if you keep all the cats, etc.) but the OP has a 2003 so that is a no-go for places like CO where they have emission testing.

I wonder if anyone has tried this and has real world experience at a testing station. You may be right, but they could get picky and say the ranger never had this engine combination as original, so the v8 in a ranger combination was never certified as emissions legal so we are not passing it. Even though that complete drivetrain was certified in a Explorer, would they pass it in a Ranger?