V-8 Engine swap?

[TNRangerBoy]

What would be the easiest and most compatible engine to put in my truck, and what would I have to do/ need parts wise?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Carburated 302.

Mounts, trans, Tcase....theres lots of info on this swap. Just do a quick search

 

[adsm08]

Carburated 302.

Mounts, trans, Tcase....theres lots of info on this swap. Just do a quick search

In his case a 98-01 Explorer swap is the best option. It will be largely plug and play since it is the same engine bay, fuel lines and such will hook up, etc.

Going carb on an already fuel injected vehicle is never the easiest option.


Now if the truck already has the SOHC 4.0 then the 302 swap is pointless as the power curves of the two engines are nearly identical.

While it adds an extra dimension of work an LS swap would be better bang for the buck.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

In his case a 98-01 Explorer swap is the best option. It will be largely plug and play since it is the same engine bay, fuel lines and such will hook up, etc.

Going carb on an already fuel injected vehicle is never the easiest option.


Now if the truck already has the SOHC 4.0 then the 302 swap is pointless as the power curves of the two engines are nearly identical.

While it adds an extra dimension of work an LS swap would be better bang for the buck.

Oh its an 02. I read it as 92 this morning.

Id still say on a pre PATS injected vehicle a carb is still eaiser, but thats just an opinion.

 

[RonD]

What would be the easiest and most compatible engine to put in my truck, and what would I have to do/ need parts wise?

3.0l would be the easiest since that is what it has now

There are power upgrades for this engine, some seen here: http://www.moranav6racing.com/category.html?CategoryID=36

"There is no replacement for displacement", so larger engine would certainly give better power.
But not the easiest or compatible since most vehicles these days are built specific to the Factory engine they came with.

You have a 2002 Ranger 3.0l, Ford also made Rangers with 2.3l and 4.0l engines that year, and they could not be swapped in to your 3.0l Ranger easily or be any more compatible than any other engine, even though they are Ranger engines

When you change displacement you need the new engine and transmission, mounts for both, exhaust, radiator(usually), driveshaft(s), then engine wiring harness and computer to run that size engine, then interface current truck power system wiring with new computer wiring
Thats as easy as it gets, because there is more, like PATS as mentioned earlier, and fuel systems and...........ect

 

[Angie]

(and...........ect )


Time & MUCHO $$$$$

 

[adsm08]

Oh its an 02. I read it as 92 this morning.

Id still say on a pre PATS injected vehicle a carb is still eaiser, but thats just an opinion.

No it's not easier. You are still going from "a few extra wires to connect" to " I know, let's rework the whole fuel system that would have just hooked right up if I'd left it EFI".

 

[rusty ol ranger]

No it's not easier. You are still going from "a few extra wires to connect" to " I know, let's rework the whole fuel system that would have just hooked right up if I'd left it EFI".

How hard is it to cut the ends off, hook up a return style regulator, and push it on a fuel filter screwed to the carb? Alot eaiser then cutting/splicing wires that may, or may not work, then spending hours chasing some ground thats not working because a dog pissed on it, just to realize oh, it WAS the sensor this time.

A carburated engine swap will ALWAYS be simplier the EFI unless youre changing the EFI engine out for the exact same engine.

EFI and wireing is a pain in the ass. With very little benefit over a good carburator.

This debate has gone on for many years. Lets not rehash it now.

 

[fastpakr]

The only reason it's being rehashed right now is that you just went there again. The OP could do a direct plug and play swap, but you encouraged him to do a far more involved, less reliable, and emissions illegal swap.

 

[adsm08]

EFI and wireing is a pain in the ass. With very little benefit over a good carburator.

I know you keep saying this, but it isn't one of those incorrect statements like "it's time to go home" that eventually comes true if you say it enough times.

EFI is superior to a carb in almost every regard, reliability, power, economy, and ability to operate in extreme angles.

In fact the only situations where a carb is better are scenarios, like an EMP, where the point is likely moot due to the fact that the other electricals like the starter, alternator/regulator, and ignition coil (really anything with unshielded copper windings) would probably be fried and so it wouldn't run anyway.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I know you keep saying this, but it isn't one of those incorrect statements like "it's time to go home" that eventually comes true if you say it enough times.

EFI is superior to a carb in almost every regard, reliability, power, economy, and ability to operate in extreme angles.

In fact the only situations where a carb is better are scenarios, like an EMP, where the point is likely moot due to the fact that the other electricals like the starter, alternator/regulator, and ignition coil (really anything with unshielded copper windings) would probably be fried and so it wouldn't run anyway.

Depends on the carb.

You ever run the venerable little 2150 motorcraft?

They start as fast in any weather as EFI, they are as reliable as the sun, and will handle any angle a stockish vehicle should be running on....

Ive ran edelbrocks, holleys, quadrajets, carters, you name it. The only ones that ever gave me fits were holleys. Have no idea why.

Truthfully, to me im kind of indifferent to carb or EFI anymore. Ill daily drive a carb vehicle, ill daily drive EFI. Never once have i had a carb in a situation where ive thought "damn, i wish i had EFI"

However, theres been many times with EFI vehicles ive said "damn i wish i had a carb". Mainly when the inevitable failures happen. Take the issues ive had with rusty 2.0. Had it been carburated, ida spent 2 hours and 40 or 50 bucks rebuilding/setting the carb and been happily on my way. Instead of spending countless hours and quite a decent amount of money just to get it running "good enough".

Most people who "hate" carbs dont understand them. Just like guys who "hate" EFI. I dont really hate either one, or love either one. But carbs are unquestionably eaiser to deal with when it comes wrench time. Espicially for backyard mechanics.

There is durabilty through simplicity. Im a FIRM beliver in that. And its hard to get simpler then a small diapragm pump sucking fuel thru a rubber hose regulated by a float and needle.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Depends on the carb.

You ever run the venerable little 2150 motorcraft?

They start as fast in any weather as EFI, they are as reliable as the sun, and will handle any angle a stockish vehicle should be running on....

The one on my 2.8 was a POS of the highest order.

I like the Edelbrock on my 302, it runs great. However ease of swapage was unplug the 2.8 dizzy, unhook fuel line, drop in 302 and hook up fuel line and plug in 302 dizzy.

Totally different world with a 2002. How you gonna run the speedometer? Are the gauges metered thru the computer? If so you are running all custom gauges. Gonna get the book to decifer what wires you need and fish thru the whole mess or just go innie minnie miny mo and guess?

To make that kind of suggestion I think you really need to actually do the swap to say how much easier it is than anything else.

Or just take an engine that was designed to drop into that chassis and plug into that chassis and go with that?

I think I have heard rumblings that the Explorer powertrain into an '02+ is not quite as plug and play as the earlier trucks though, never dealt with one to say for sure. My suggestion would be '01 Explorer though.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The one on my 2.8 was a POS of the highest order.
.

Thats cause it was feedback and had electronics tacked on it.

Funny how that works aint it? Electronics screw everything up thats good.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Thats cause it was feedback and had electronics tacked on it.

Funny how that works aint it? Electronics screw everything up thats good.

Splitting hairs now...

At any rate anything carbed into a 2002 is one of the poorest swaps imaginable BECAUSE of the electrical.

 

[adsm08]

I think I have heard rumblings that the Explorer powertrain into an '02+ is not quite as plug and play as the earlier trucks though, never dealt with one to say for sure. My suggestion would be '01 Explorer though.

This is true. Sometime between 99 and 04 (the two years I know for sure bracket this change) there are some pin changes that would have to be dealt with, but it is still possible.

Thats cause it was feedback and had electronics tacked on it.

Funny how that works aint it? Electronics screw everything up thats good.

Yes, it is amazing how badly things get messed up when you start trying to take two systems that were never originally designed to work together and try forcing them to do just that.

EGR and carbs is problematic too. Cats don't live as long behind a carbed engine, but neither cause major issues with EFI.