Hello I am gonna swap my 3.0 ranger to a 5.0 so my question what year explorer do I need to swap with as lil headache as possible I have an 01ranger

 

Welcome to the forum

Because of the Returnless fuel system in the 2001 Ranger you will want a 1999-2001 Explorer V8 2WD if yours is 2WD

You need the engine computer(PCM) and the PATS module(above glove box), they are a match set, and the Explorer key(s) to activate PATS module

No swap is easy, even replacing with same size engine can have its issues

But this swap has been done many many times so look around and you will find a similar swap

Some info here: https://therangerstation.com/Magazin..._v8_swap.shtml

 

will any 5.0 Motor work

 

As Ron said, you'll want one from a '99-01 Explorer V8 2wd.

 

It will but, you wanted "with as little headache as possible", you'll want a 99 to 01 Explorer.

Other wise you'll be buying a $1000 + worth of 99 to 01 Explorer 5.0 parts to make it fit.

 

If you going to use a carburetor and distributor then yes, any 302/5.0l Windsor engine can be used

If you want EFI then you need the Explorer upper and lower intake manifolds because they sit lower in the engine bay