I swapped the 302 from a 1997 Explorer into my 1998 Ford Ranger a few years ago. And I read these forums everyday and I just now realized a never made a post about anything on my swap. When I did this swap I just wanted a project and I did not own a Ford Ranger or Explorer at the start of all this. So after a couple months of searching I found a 98 Ranger with a bad transmission and transfer case. Then I bought a 97 Explorer that wasn't running because it was described as having a "knock". (Just some foreshadowing) I ended up choosing these years to avoid the PATS and have the most direct swap in.
I did end up using the Explorer Transmission and the AWD Transfer Case.
When I pulled apart the 302 - the LAST thing expected to be "knocking" was a crankshaft that had broken in two! First off... how? Who needs to take their kids to soccer that quickly? Anyways, I measured the block and heads and miraculously it was all still in spec. But this did mean a full rebuild had to be done.
Because of the surprise rebuild I was not able to afford performance replacement parts. So more affordable OEM parts were put back in with some spray paint. Also, if this is helpful to anyone, I will never ever be doing press pins for the pistons ever again.
Putting the engine in was not bad at all. Everything found its home rather quickly. But I found out that I needed a fuel rail from a different year explorer because of the pressure regulator. And even the wiring was not bad at all because of the model years I chose.
Overall the experience was great. I was rebuilding after work and on weekends with zero help pulling, pushing, banging or wrenching at any point. It ended up taking me one winter season to get everything done by myself. HOWEVER, in my experience driving this thing around if you do not add any performance parts or at the very least install new suspension I don't think it was worth all the effort for what I got initially. But I definitely felt sexy driving through town with a rumbling straight piped V8 Ranger. I did get Torque Monster Headers to start my quest for performance upgrades but after waiting so long for them my wife decided that birthing our baby would be quicker. I did end up selling the truck because I knew how much more money it was going to need for me to justify keeping it.
I did end up using the Explorer Transmission and the AWD Transfer Case.
When I pulled apart the 302 - the LAST thing expected to be "knocking" was a crankshaft that had broken in two! First off... how? Who needs to take their kids to soccer that quickly? Anyways, I measured the block and heads and miraculously it was all still in spec. But this did mean a full rebuild had to be done.
Because of the surprise rebuild I was not able to afford performance replacement parts. So more affordable OEM parts were put back in with some spray paint. Also, if this is helpful to anyone, I will never ever be doing press pins for the pistons ever again.
Putting the engine in was not bad at all. Everything found its home rather quickly. But I found out that I needed a fuel rail from a different year explorer because of the pressure regulator. And even the wiring was not bad at all because of the model years I chose.
Overall the experience was great. I was rebuilding after work and on weekends with zero help pulling, pushing, banging or wrenching at any point. It ended up taking me one winter season to get everything done by myself. HOWEVER, in my experience driving this thing around if you do not add any performance parts or at the very least install new suspension I don't think it was worth all the effort for what I got initially. But I definitely felt sexy driving through town with a rumbling straight piped V8 Ranger. I did get Torque Monster Headers to start my quest for performance upgrades but after waiting so long for them my wife decided that birthing our baby would be quicker. I did end up selling the truck because I knew how much more money it was going to need for me to justify keeping it.
