hello everyone my name is Ryan i just joined this form, i have a project/daily driver im working on its a 2001 ford ranger xl with 200,000 miles, manual transmission and its 2 wheel drive with a 3.0. Heres my question my friend has a 98 ford explorer 2 wheel drive with a 4.0 in it that he no longer drives, i was wondering if it would be a simple swap i could do relatively quick or if id have to change everything. my biggest concern is if i can keep my manual transmission.

Thank you!

 

Welcome to the forum

No for the manual trans, Ford started using the M5OD-R1 manual transmissions in 1988 in Rangers and used these to 2011, these all have a one piece case so bell housing is not detachable, this means your 3.0l manual transmission will only fit a 3.0l Vulcan engine, it had a unique bolt pattern

Engine SIZE swaps require alot of work, engine/trans, computer and wiring all needs to be swapped over, so benefit needs to out weigh all that work
This is why V8 swap into a Ranger was worthwhile to some, same exact work as swapping in the 4.0l, but you end up with something unique, a V8 Ranger

You can go out and buy a factory 4.0l manual trans Ranger, so IMO if you want a 4.0l Ranger with manual trans, buy one, and sell the 3.0l manual trans Ranger.
If you can find a 4.0l manual trans Ranger with a bad engine..............so get it for cheap, you could then swap in the explorer 4.0l engine

But just a heads up, in 1997 Explorers had TWO 4.0l engines available, 4.0l OHV and the 4.0l SOHC these used same transmission bolt patterns but different computers and wiring
Ranger used the 4.0l OHV from 1990-2000, then used the 4.0l SOHC from 2001 to 2011

So find out which 4.0l is in the 1998 Explorer then go from there

 

thank you for the information, the reason im just trying to put the 98 4.0 in the ranger is 1. i live in Hawaii currently for the Army and the ranger has a 4in lift with 32s as tires and the engine just doesnt have enough power to move the truck up the mountains and hills so i figured if the 4.0 could swap over pretty easily then it would be a good start, the other reason im not trying for a 5.0 if because i just dont have the resources to do a 5.0 swap like id love to do, i havent been about to find a 5.0 explorer on this island

 

Then you would need to check wrecking yards for 4.0l OHV or SOHC manual transmission, either will work for either engine, same bolt pattern
Not sure if your 2001 speedometer is run by 4WABS or OSS sensor on manual trans tail shaft, have a look at drivers side of tail shaft, if you see a sensor there then you will need the same on a 2001-2011 4.0l manual trans

You will need to change some of the exhaust system, I think diameters were the same but hook up to manifolds is not

Fuel systems on 1998 and 2001 should be the same, 55psi returnless system

swap radiator and engine mounts, transmission mounts should be the same

Wiring will be tedious but doable, mostly 12v and grounds for new computer tied in
You will also need to find some one to delete the automatic transmission software from the explorer computer, CEL will come on and stay on because computer doesn't "see" the automatics solenoids any more

Or pull the manual trans computer from the vehicle that had the manual trans, make sure it matches 4.0l OHV or 4.0l SOHC engine that was in the explorer