v8 swap for 2002 ford ranger 3.0 2wd

[akalt24]

hello all. im just looking thru a few of the threads i have not yet search the entire forum. i find alot of articals on v8 swaps done to older model rangers and i am trying to find one for my 2002 model 3.0 2wd tremor. i find the 3.0 enigne to be a lack of crap as far as power but she has goton thangs done for the last 250k miles. i thank my trans is now going out and im sure the engine is not to far behind with already having a pinging rattleing chatering noise dureing a load or mild-hard accel. i change the plugs, tried differnt gas and oil to try to quite it down and check the timing. nothing working and i thank it could be the valves or something in that area.

anyways im sick of all the o2 sensor,computer crap codes and sensors and the weak 3.0. A basic old school carb engine would be nice something i can actually work on thats more basic and easy without all the electronic crap. when the time comes i want to upgrade/swap the enigne. It just seems more bang for the buck to just buy a reman or new 302 carb engine and tran than to have to rebuild the v6 and worrie about all the other parts down the road and faulty sensors and stuff. Can you guys please help!!!!!!!

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS for a 02 model 3.0 ranger? what mods and neceastys will need to be done to fit a 302 other than motor mounts and compatable trans? should i buy a new one from someone like jegs or buy a reman one from a rep ebay seller? what year/type 302 will i need to look for and what kinda trans/rearend driveshaft will be needed?

Thank you guys so much and im sure this is one of them just search the forum questions.

 

[baddad457]

Thank you guys so much and im sure this is one of them just search the forum questions.

You're right, it IS !!! Too many questions, so little time................The first thing you're going to need to find out is will it pass vehicle inspection with a carbed engine. Then go back and search, read, search, read, search, read................. If you're not willing to do all this, then sell the truck and get a new one.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

You could always get a 2.8L out of a first gen. Got a carb and you can swap in duraspark ignition for simplicity. I have both a first gen (84 with 2.8L) and and 4th gen (99 with 3.0L) and the 99 is nice but you get behind the 2.8L and it hauls...

But yeah you need to look up emissions laws and I guarantee you won't legally be able to do it if they are strict laws. To pass emissions you need an engine of a similar year that has the same standards. The closest engine you will probably find will be from a 00'ish v8 explorer or mountaineer. It is fuel injected and has all the stuff you don't want but it will be more efficent and can be just as reliable. Besides diagnosis on new vehicles isn't all that bad.

If nothing is really an issue then...

Go with a carbed 5.0 out of a mustang, i hear alot of people using c4's (auto) or a T5 (manual), and you have a 2wd so you won't need a Tcase or front axle... so an explorer 8.8" (which is a 31 spline axle with factory disc brakes) or a 9" will probably work. the nice thing about the explorer axle is that is has the same bolt pattern so you can use the same rims.

A for fitment it should be like most other rangers even of older years, I think the frame has basically stayed the same for like ever.

 

[akalt24]

i live in the country and it seems that the law really dont care about stinky cars in the local larger citys as i never herd of anyone being pulled over here in ga for a stinky car accept in atlanta metro area. I care less about failing emssions. I dont plan on moveing and i dont go to atlanta hehe and i have never took or know anyone that has had to take a emssions test. just to save us all time emissions is not a issue.....
thanks orignal ranger... you help me figuer out just what type of rear end and trans i may need so i can start with figuering up how much these parts would cost to have.

check list: 302 "still need help on what year engine and type" c4 auto trans and explorer rear end "what year?"

so i still need help with what year and i would love to have a 351 but i here the heater box gets in the way. I hope to here from more people soon im still bogeled and have alot of stuff left to wonder on fit issues. Can any point me in the right direction or post a link to a thread dealing with newer model or 2002 year engine swaps. I sure find alor of older model threads im still searching.

Me sell my vehicals never!!!! lol if i drive something longer than 3 or 4 years im attached and i hardly never sell anythang i always want to rebuild or engine swap

 

[akalt24]

looks like a rear end from local junkyard would run around 300 and a reman 302 would run around 1600-1800 and c4 trans for around 1100. im thanking of maybe looking for a c4 used and even try to find a 302 out of anouther vehical with low miles in the local salvage warehouse to save money any suggestons on the prices i listed.

 

[Teddyzee]

If your truck has coil spring front suspension, buy a 5.0/302 Mustang from '93 or earlier. Then swap the motor/trans. The rearend on your truck will be fine.
You'll need to make motor mount adapters based off your stock mounts, search the various forums for pictures.

If your truck is a torsion bar front suspension, the '96-'02 Explorer 5.0 will bolt right in. Since you want a carb, this isn't the best idea, as the trans in computer controlled.
But an Explorer will get you a motor, mounts, and exhaust that will work. Find an AOD from a Mustang or any other Ford car and bolt that up. A c4 will also work.
Sell the explorer intake, or don't even buy it, and get yourself a carb setup.

The HO 5.0's (Mustang, Cougar, Explorer, etc) mke around 225 horse. Other non-HO engines are in the 50 horse range, stock.

Buying a whole car will get parts you can use at a much cheaper cost than what you quoted.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Your best bet would be to get a 96+ donor explorer with the 5.0L then you get an axle the driveline and all that other good stuff. like he said ^^^

I would imagine you could fit a 351W under there specially if you did the body lift.only problem with them is the fact that only one header will work i believe...

 

[Teddyzee]

Your best bet would be to get a 96+ donor explorer with the 5.0L then you get an axle the driveline and all that other good stuff. like he said ^^^

I would imagine you could fit a 351W under there specially if you did the body lift.only problem with them is the fact that only one header will work i believe...

Just wanted to mention an Ex donor makes it easier if you're keeping the EFI, but as he wants a carb, any 302 would work.

The Ex accessory brackets may need some grinding to fit a distributor (to clear a TF, may be similar for a vacuum advance). They are nice and short, and make it so no mods are needed to the rad, but '94/'95 Mustang and the last Cougars have front accessories of similar dimensions.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Well I didn't mean just the engine... More of the mounts and stuff just cause the spolder frame is basically the same up there.

 

[baddad457]

Cross the rearend off your list. You do NOT have to do anything with the rearend for a V8. Concentrate on the engine and transmission. No sense in complicating it any further than it already is. Only you can decide on what engine to use. It's YOUR truck, your swap.

 

[akalt24]

sob... errrr this forum act stupid with my computer. I type up a bunch stufff but the stupid fu$$ker did not post it last night after i hit post reply...

err lost all that typeing....

anyways my ranger has the torsion bar setup on the front. I would love to fit a 351 in if it did not mean i had to give up the heater box and other thangs. just seems like the 302 will have a better fit.

I dont want a efi engine with a bunch injectors and a ton of computer controled stuff includeing all the stupid sensors. I dont like trouble shooting stupid electronic stuff and in my life exsperianced i ditch out thousands of dollers buying replaceing stupid faulty sensors that make the car run sluglish or stupid. there nothing worser than paying a ton of money for parts that only monitor the engine.

I dont know much about converting a engine to a carb setup from a efi. I just would much rather have a old school type 302 without all the computers,sensors,wiring that way when something is wrong i can much easly troubleshoot it and know what it is and not what it could be. I also like carb engines cause im more confiedent on working on them vs electrnoic and it seems alot easy to tare down if needed.

ok so i will cross out the rear end since the factory will do for now. I want a mild tune 302 not just a basic non ho stock one. I would love to same money and find a donor vehical but i much rather prefer spending the extra cash for a already mostly built engine thats new or reman with new fresh parts and already runs. Screw the electronic transmission i will do away with that and get a c4 new or rebuilt.

So what kind of 302 would i be looking for what year/short ,long etcc


I just place a order for the body lift and im searching for spindles and leafs. thanks to the forums i got plenty help on lifting.

 

[281Ranger]

Converting your '02 to a carb setup isn't as simple as just putting a carbed engine into it. There are other things you'll have to deal with. Your truck was built to be computer controled, you can't just rip out part of it and expect everything else to work properly. Some of it won't work at all.

 

[Teddyzee]

And I wouldn't worry about the heater box. On the newer trucks, '95 and newer, there's no issue at all.
With a Mustang EFI intake, the throttle body come very close to the box, but can be used.
I swapped to a non-AC box (same plastic box, but no tubes) and cut a section off. Since there's no condensor(? Evaporator, whatever it is...) inside, the front is just a hollow box.

 

[akalt24]

281 ranger i see what you mean but i dont plan to use a computercontroled trans and if i have to i will rewire lights/dash/stero/ac/heat/fans. I dont want to deal with the cpu at all if possiable. but just wondering about the 5.0 efi mustang engine swaps.. what controls the engine the cpu out of the mustang? and what year model mustang engine and exsplor will work


.............. Also i am looking for a differnt rear end.. I am not a fan of limited slip and the ranger has been one of the worsest out of all my limited slip vehicals about bad traction and spining 1tire to easly. something like a full pos traction or something to lock it into pos when needed would be perfect for me. im just not a fan of this rear end maybe mine is wore out or the truck is to light in the rear but the traction sucks even with new tires..

 

[Ozwynn]

281 ranger i see what you mean but i dont plan to use a computercontroled trans and if i have to i will rewire lights/dash/stero/ac/heat/fans. I dont want to deal with the cpu at all if possiable. but just wondering about the 5.0 efi mustang engine swaps.. what controls the engine the cpu out of the mustang? and what year model mustang engine and exsplor will work


.............. Also i am looking for a differnt rear end.. I am not a fan of limited slip and the ranger has been one of the worsest out of all my limited slip vehicals about bad traction and spining 1tire to easly. something like a full pos traction or something to lock it into pos when needed would be perfect for me. im just not a fan of this rear end maybe mine is wore out or the truck is to light in the rear but the traction sucks even with new tires..

if you are going with EFI then you can not mix OBD1 and OBD2 (96+) if you are going to use EFI then use an explorer engine that is 96+. if you are not going to use a computer controlled engine then strip everything electronic from your truck and start with a 14 circuit harness from painless. If you are going carb then use a mustang engine and intake and heads and cam. the mustang 5.0L is alot more agressive. at this point you should consider a 302 with late 60's cam and 351w heads 4bbl intake and 750 CFM 4bbl. set it up infront of an AOD so you have overdrive. not even your gauges are going to work with a carbed engine. with a 2002 with sla and rack and pinion steering I would seriously consider a 32 valve DOHC 5.4L from a navigator as it would not be anymore trouble to fit than a 32 valve DOHC 4.6L from an explorer.