Sleeper, build.

[Outlaw40322]

I have a 2002 Ford Ranger. 2 wheel drive automatic transmission with a blown 4.0 the truck body is really beat up. But the rest of it is in good shape. I think it would make a good sleeper. Build I would like to put the 5.0 in it but not sure how to go about it looking for advice.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Find a V8 Explorer... swap it in.

There is a bunch of V8 swap info in the Tech Library... have a look there and it will have many answers to your questions.

 

[Blmpkn]

Pre coyote 5.0s are a joke as far as power is concerned IMO... at least in stock form.

Reliable? Yes. Sackless? Unequivocally yes.

Dual cam 4.0 makes 210hp/258tq

5.0 makes 210hp & 280tq.


That's a hell of a lot of capital and elbow grease to invest only to enjoy a return of a measely 22 ft lbs. A good waste of 2 extra cylinders to be honest.

A simple 5.0 swap is miles from being a sleeper.. especially considering we're in the age of being able to purchase bone stock-factory fresh Civics and Corollas that make 300+ HP..


Almost any LS family truck motor can be bought for just about literal peanuts and will reliably hold 3-4x the power it made from the factory on a bone stock bottom end.. hell.. even the smallest LS (4.8) makes a good bit more power than the 302 without touching a single thing on it..

You want a sleeper? Build it Ford tough with Chevy stuff.

 

[Outlaw40322]

Pre coyote 5.0s are a joke as far as power is concerned IMO... at least in stock form.

Reliable? Yes. Sackless? Unequivocally yes.

Dual cam 4.0 makes 210hp/258tq

5.0 makes 210hp & 280tq.


That's a hell of a lot of capital and elbow grease to invest only to enjoy a return of a measely 22 ft lbs. A good waste of 2 extra cylinders to be honest.

A simple 5.0 swap is miles from being a sleeper.. especially considering we're in the age of being able to purchase bone stock-factory fresh Civics and Corollas that make 300+ HP..


Almost any LS family truck motor can be bought for just about literal peanuts and will reliably hold 3-4x the power it made from the factory on a bone stock bottom end.. hell.. even the smallest LS (4.8) makes a good bit more power than the 302 without touching a single thing on it..

You want a sleeper? Build it Ford tough with Chevy stuff.

So what would you do to make this a sleeper if you were going to do it.

 

[JoshT]

Find a V8 Explorer... swap it in.

There is a bunch of V8 swap info in the Tech Library... have a look there and it will have many answers to your questions.

Few extra steps to do it on an 2002 IIRC, but if you want a 5.0L V8 and don't have to worry about emissions testing, that is the way to go.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

So what would you do to make this a sleeper if you were going to do it.

Run a 302, and build it.

 

[Outlaw40322]

Run a 302, and build it.

What year of motor and automatic transmission would you go with?

 

[Blmpkn]

So what would you do to make this a sleeper if you were going to do it.

6.0 LS and a 4l80.

It's a lot easier to find a donor vehicle that has this combo than it is to find a V8 explorer.. It's pretty much the same amount of electrical work.. It'll make much more power in stock configuration.. The power ceiling for the stock bottom end is miles above a 302.. Way more aftermarket parts.. Cheaper aftermarket..

 

[Outlaw40322]

6.0 LS and a 4l80.

It's a lot easier to find a donor vehicle that has this combo than it is to find a V8 explorer.. It's pretty much the same amount of electrical work.. It'll make much more power in stock configuration.. The power ceiling for the stock bottom end is miles above a 302.. Way more aftermarket parts.. Cheaper aftermarket..

What year Explorer would be best for my situation?

 

[stmitch]

Is your truck coil spring or torsion bar front suspension? The Explorer swap has been done in both, but it's easiest in a truck with Torsion bars up front. If you have a torsion bar truck then maybe the swap is easy enough to be worthwhile, but Blmpkn isn't wrong. It's some work, adds weight to the nose of the truck, and really doesn't gain a ton of performance in stock form. You get a broader torque curve, but that's mostly it.

The old 5.0's can make some power, but they're not going to be quiet about it, and rolling around with a big lumpy cam and rowdy exhaust kills the "sleeper" vibe you're going for. And of course hp costs money, so the budget grows too.