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V8 swap questions.


The factory manifolds I've been seeing look a lot more like headers. Curvy tubular pieces making funny loops. Maybe not as good as welded up tubing, if done right, but they are more like headers than cast log style manifolds. Maybe some kind of hybrid compromise.

View attachment 136852
Those look more like the Ford Racing set of headers my dad got years ago. The factory manifolds on the 98 Explorer I robbed parts off of and the Mountaineer dad did his swap from, those things are garbage. I’ll have to find the picture…
 
Also, yeah, 98 Explorers had PATS with an older return style fuel system. 99-01 Explorers had PATS and a returnless system.

97 and older had GT40 heads, return style fuel system, and no PATS.
 
You're looking to put this into your 93?

I think saying this is going to make me sick, but reconsider the LS swap. :bad:

Going into the earlier truck is going to throw out a lot of what makes the Explorer 5.0L desired for the later trucks. The engine mounts aren't going to work the same, you will need adapter plates or swap mounts. The EFI system isn;t a near direct swap in like on the later model trucks. Fuel system differences. ETC...

As noted previously you're actually better off with the earlier GT40 heads because of the exhaust options. The torque monsters are about the only thing made for and working with the GT40P heads (in a Ranger) due to the plug angle and the best fit for a 98+4x4 engine bay, but they are not cheap, the maker is difficult to work with, and there is quite the wait time. The GT40 heads have the standard plug angle and a lot more and better flowing exhaust options, even when sticking with OEM manifolds. The slight power gain is not worth the hassles of the "P" heads, and can likely be surpassed with good exhaust on the non "P" heads. As mentioned by lil_Blue_Ford above, the manifolds you pictured are not stock manifolds, those are uber rare FMS Explorer headers. The OEM manifolds, both styles, are much more restrictive.

If I were doing the swap on the earlier truck I'd use the 96-97 Explorer mostly for the short block, the intake, and the transmission if it had the right one. I might use the heads or I might order a set of aftermarket aluminum heads. I wouldn't spend any money on the GT40s aside from maybe valve stem seals, I'd lap the valves if needed, and install a camshaft and supporting valve springs. Given a do-over I'd say the same for the GT-40Ps. BT, DT, got the t-shirt (literally). I was way too focused on keeping factory heads. Instead of the Explorer EFI system, I'd install a Holley EFI system that has transmission controls if using the 4R70W. If I kept the GT heads for now, I'd be setting aside for aftermarket heads at a later date. I'd also pick up a second intake manifold and send it off for porting job to install with the new heads, or figure out what a good aftermarket intake is.

By the time you consider all of that, you're into the same money as an LS swap that makes more power. I hate it, really don't want to suggest a LS in a Ford, but it was mentioned and I'm being realistic.
 
You're looking to put this into your 93?

I think saying this is going to make me sick, but reconsider the LS swap. :bad:

Going into the earlier truck is going to throw out a lot of what makes the Explorer 5.0L desired for the later trucks. The engine mounts aren't going to work the same, you will need adapter plates or swap mounts. The EFI system isn;t a near direct swap in like on the later model trucks. Fuel system differences. ETC...

As noted previously you're actually better off with the earlier GT40 heads because of the exhaust options. The torque monsters are about the only thing made for and working with the GT40P heads (in a Ranger) due to the plug angle and the best fit for a 98+4x4 engine bay, but they are not cheap, the maker is difficult to work with, and there is quite the wait time. The GT40 heads have the standard plug angle and a lot more and better flowing exhaust options, even when sticking with OEM manifolds. The slight power gain is not worth the hassles of the "P" heads, and can likely be surpassed with good exhaust on the non "P" heads. As mentioned by lil_Blue_Ford above, the manifolds you pictured are not stock manifolds, those are uber rare FMS Explorer headers. The OEM manifolds, both styles, are much more restrictive.

If I were doing the swap on the earlier truck I'd use the 96-97 Explorer mostly for the short block, the intake, and the transmission if it had the right one. I might use the heads or I might order a set of aftermarket aluminum heads. I wouldn't spend any money on the GT40s aside from maybe valve stem seals, I'd lap the valves if needed, and install a camshaft and supporting valve springs. Given a do-over I'd say the same for the GT-40Ps. BT, DT, got the t-shirt (literally). I was way too focused on keeping factory heads. Instead of the Explorer EFI system, I'd install a Holley EFI system that has transmission controls if using the 4R70W. If I kept the GT heads for now, I'd be setting aside for aftermarket heads at a later date. I'd also pick up a second intake manifold and send it off for porting job to install with the new heads, or figure out what a good aftermarket intake is.

By the time you consider all of that, you're into the same money as an LS swap that makes more power. I hate it, really don't want to suggest a LS in a Ford, but it was mentioned and I'm being realistic.
Thanks for your thoughts. I'll read through it a few more times to make sure I follow what You're saying.

I'm not looking to make a ton of power. Just maximize what I can on a low budget - more power torque. Getting the complete running donor vehicle (going the Explorer route) should give me nearly everything I need, especially wiring and ecu. I've read of several different engine mounts to try. That doesn't worry me.

Not sure what you mean here.
. The EFI system isn;t a near direct swap in like on the later model trucks
The EFI system is coming from the donor vehicle with the rest of the engune. Nearly EVERYTHING is coming from the donor vehicle.

With an LS swap, there would be a lot more stuff to buy.
 
Also, yeah, 98 Explorers had PATS with an older return style fuel system. 99-01 Explorers had PATS and a returnless system.

97 and older had GT40 heads, return style fuel system, and no PATS.
It will be nice to avoid PATS. But, most of what I've been considering has been buying a complete donor vehicle. So, like it or not, I would just end up with a 93 Ranger with PATS or figure out how to defeat or eliminate it with Forscan.
 
I have always been one of the die hard "if it's a Ford, keep it powered by Ford" guys but these days, and after building my own smallblock Ford Ranger, the LS swap makes more sense if you're wanting more power. The LS does way better stock than the typical smallblock Ford, let alone if you strap an Ebay turbo to the LS on the cheap.

LS parts are way more plentiful in most areas as well. Better 2nd hand market on them.
 
It will be nice to avoid PATS. But, most of what I've been considering has been buying a complete donor vehicle. So, like it or not, I would just end up with a 93 Ranger with PATS or figure out how to defeat or eliminate it with Forscan.
PATS is not deletable or bypass able with Forscan. All that you can do is reprogram to mate up the different components (ECU, PATS module and keys), that’s how I was able to pair up my Explorer ECU to the PATS module and keys I already had in my green Ranger.

Personally, on an older rig, I’d avoid PATS.

Also, the return style fuel system used on the older ones should pretty much mate up with the fuel system in your Ranger.

Honestly, I did my 5.0 swap because that’s what I wanted to do when I was 17. For the time and money I spent to make it all happen, I could have probably found a motor that made better power. 2.3l EcoBoost, LS… there’s options.
 
For what you are going for I think a 5L explorer donor will do, it'll be a good compromise and get your Ranger going good... I have 50k miles on a V8 Explorer and it's got plenty of power... it's rated low on power just because the rev limit is at 5k, if it went to 6k I bet it would add another 20%... or at least that's what I'm hoping, I need to buy a tuner... and bigger injectors once I get one, and ditch the stock exhaust...

You guys gotta remember he's dealing with a 3L to compare to :), and not racing, just offroading moving rig that weighs near 6k if I remember right with all the stuff in it... my stupid '00 Explorer gets around good and when being nice to it gets like 18mpg on the highway, going slow in the woods is another story... but it's a 5k pound mommy missile... for now, I really am itching on modding it into a wheeling machine... not gonna muddy up this thread with my wacky plans...
 
I didn't think any V8 Explorers came in the 2wd flavor. I'd avoid the newer GT40P heads personally. The sparkplug angle sucks and really limits you manifold options. 95-96 should be the plain GT40 heads.
My 99 Explorer donor was a 2wd.
 
I'm actually going to need a 4x2 4R70W for what I want, depending on how quick you would want to get into things if you get that '96 I might be able to work out a swap with the one from my mountaineer after I have my friend go through the one I have... I could probably get shipping quotes from my work to your work and such... these transmissions love a shift kit, my '00 is fantastic... Just an option if it fits your goals and if shipping isn't dumb...
 

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