Here's the deal... I've got a First gen ranger I'm building that has an almost new, and slightly warmed over 2.8L V6. I've got a 99 Ranger 4.0 4x4 that I like as is but the engine is driving me up a wall. I've found a wrecked 99 Explorer V8 2WD in my area for sale. So if I can beat everybody else to the Ex one of the two Rangers will be getting a V8 down the road.

If it goes into the first gen that's an easy swap, but I have something a little more special in mind for that truck down the road. In it goes into the 99 I believe that the swap itself is fairly straight forward, made even easier since the Donor and Recipient are the same year model. Where I'm lost is the 4x4 end of it.

If I end up putting this 99 Explorer V8 2WD drive train into my 99 Ranger 4.0 4WD, what will I need to keep the 4WD functional? Obviously I would need a transfer case for starters.

So I guess the first obvious question would be... Can I attach the Ranger's transfer case to the explorer transmission?

The second would probably be... Did the V8 Explorers come with 4WD or just AWD? From my research it appears that they were all AWD.

The third question would probably be... What other 4WD vehicle transmissions would work with the 99 engine and ECU? I want to keep auto and electronic 4WD, it'd also be nice if it played well with the ECU's transmission controls.

What gear ratios would I want with all this? I've got 4.10s in the truck now, it'd be nice if that stayed the same.

Anything else I need to know that isn't covered by those questions?

 

You need a 4x4 trans and your going to need a t-case all expo's are awd. Im pretty sure you can run a 302 f150 case though..

 

for you to keep your 4x4, you'll either need to pick up an explorer tranny 4x4 or swap the tail housing? idk about that, but almost easier to swap trannys

you can get an adapter to put on the expo tranny, to fit your ranger electronic shift tcase, but remember the tcase was the rangers, so if you mod the 5.0 its not gonna hold up to a ton of power.

otherwise like stated you can use a f150 tcase which can come electric (i think some custom wiring to make it work with the ranger system) otherwise the manual tcase which is way better anyway.

you'd just need to pick up the expo ecu, i'm not sure if it would have to be out of a awd one or 2wd one or not.

 

All the 5.0s are AWD. To have selectable 4x4 you will either need a BW1354M Ranger T-case case with the adapter to fit the 5.0 or you will need the F-150 T-case (BW4406M). The 4406 is HUGE so if you have a standard cab it won't clear your gas tank.

 

This is my hunting truck so Selectable 4x4 would be preferred. As far as I know mt Transfer case is in excellent shape. While I do have an extended cab I don't know if I want to install the "huge" 4406, and have to custom wire it. I also do not want a manual transfer case in this truck. If the engine goes into this truck the only mod I can see making to it performance wise would be the Torque monster headers, and only because it'd be the easiest time to do it. I think my best bet will be to use my stock transfer case. So where can I get this adapter?

Will I need an AWD ECU or special programming on the 2wd ECU since it's going into a 4wd set-up?

 

Check out this swap by Mudslanger https://www.ranger-forums.com/f34/my...attempt-90426/

 

The adapter I believe is made by advanced adapters....
There is tons of information at your finger tips! Thumb through the past v8 4x4 swaps. You will need to have the Ecu custom programmed for the transmission and any changes you make to the engine.