I'm wanting to swap a 302 into my Ranger, but i have a lot of questions. My truck is a bone stock 98' 3.0L V6 4x4 with a Mazda M50D-R1 tranny. The 302 engin is out of a bone stock 96' full size 4x4 302 FI Bronco with an automatic.

I would like to keep my truck fully functional, as far as ABS, Air bags and so forth. I would also like to use the same tranny and t/c if at all posible. I know i will need to get a new radiator and hoses, motor mounts, new custom alternator, power steering, and A/C brackets, stiffer front suspension, and tranny adapter plate.

The area I have most questions is the wiring harnes and PCM. I know i Will need the PCM out of the Bronco. But aren't the ABS, Air bags, and other functons controlled by it as well?

I know there is more to it but i'm not sure.

Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

pretty sure your going to have to get a tranny that would hold up to a 302! but talk to rwenzing good luck and welcome to RF

 

Thats what i thought but i wasn't sure.

 

and there is no way your tranny will bolt up to a 302

 

you don't have to get a new tranny advanced adapters makes a kit go to there web sight and look at it.

 

Are you sure my tranny will hold up? If not i was told i might be able to make one out of a mustang work.

 

There is no adapter made for a 5.0 to the Ranger's M50D-R1 manual. As noted above, the trans is not strong enough for a V8 anyway. Advance used to make a T-5 manual to Ranger t-case adapter but it has been discontinued.

So, it seems that you would need a full size transmission and a full size transfer case. Easiest swap would probably be an M5OD-R2 from a 97~03 4.2L F150 4x4. The 4.2L bell pattern is the same as a 5.0L and both use a similar type of hydraulic clutch actuation.

Obviously, the BW4406 transfer case from the same 4.2L truck will bolt right up to the R2 as would the 1356 t-case from the Bronco. IMO, a manual t-case is the way to go - the shift motors used in Ford's Borg Warner electric cases ae notoriously unreliable. Whichever F/S case you use will be a tight fit to the left frame rail and fuel tank. You will need different length driveshafts than you have now.

The Bronco 302 physically will not fit in a 98 Ranger 4x4 without several mods. The oil pan will hit the crossmember and the diff, the exh manifolds and engine plates won't fit and the oil filter location will probably be wrong. Besides all that, the accessory drive is too large and won't fit behind the stock radiator. You would need parts from a 96~2001 Explorer 5.0L to allow you to bolt it in.

There will also be major incompatibilities in the electrical system and fuel system. Using a 99~2001 Ex engine (or at least its PCM, harnesses, sensors, induction system, fuel system and accessory drive) would eliminate almost all compatiblity issues with a 98~2000 Ranger. Although you might be able to do without it, a custom tune with the auto trans controls turned off would be a good idea.

 

So with the tranny change i would obviously need a different tranny and T/C crossarm. Do you know what i could use or what would come close? Do you know what drive lines would fit with out having some made?

Another consern i have, is i don't know if the intake from the Bronco will fit under the hood of my truck. i haven't messured it yet but it looks too tall. if so would parts off a 5.0 explorer bolt up to mine?