I am still working out a few bugs here and there..but when its running good it has a very quick take off and plenty of power! I am waiting for a few parts that will hopefully clear up a few issues...I will be posting video ASAP when I get it running perfect. The wheels are perfect! No issues with rubbing left or right..Its very very close though...the truck is lowered 3" front and 4" rear...I actually had to put 1/2" spring jackers on the front coils because at high speed if I hit a dip the tires would bounce off the plastic fender well on both sides just a little. I wish I had gone with a little lower profile tire....But the ride is rough when you get to the 40 or 35 series...Mine are 275/45/20

 

Hey I noticed that the Ranger was originally a standard. How hard was it to convert to an Automatic? Second did you have to cut the drive shaft because your truck is a regular cab? I have an extended cab and was curious. Finally if I wanted to stick with a manual would a T-5 Transmission work or what would you recommend? I know full of questions, but I am trying to find out which path I want to take. I have contemplated getting a used full size truck and putting in a 5.7 or to buy a beater and convert this one to a 5.0. I have a 1996 Extended Cab with the monster 2.3L with a manual 5 speed.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ront-truck.jpg

I want to have something to pull utility trailers with that does not require a tow truck to get up hill. Any how just trying to do some cost analysis and total work load invovled. Got to weigh things and then come up with a plan of attack to convince my wife with....lol. Thanks again.

Paul

 

The conversion is very simple..remove the clutch, add bypass plug from an automatic(or jump the 4 wires), swap in an auto column and cover the hole in the floor. I did have to shorten the Mountaineer driveshaft 3 1/2 inches. I think a t-5 would work on an Expo but I am not 100% and you would have to flash the computer or use a Mustang harness and computer possibly. If your pulling utility trailers I would probably go the route of a full size truck...Even with the V8 you can only haul so much weight with the little Ranger.

 

Thanks for the speedy reply. I would only be hauling motorcycles and that size items nothing too big. But that 4 banger is the little engine that could when it comes to hills as it is. I was thinking of trying to do a full mustange swap. Figured if I could do that I would have the wiring harness too. Just not sure if it would plug strait into the ranger. I may take your advice though and get the bigger truck. Keep this one and keep using it as my daily driver. I like the ford Rangers but when it comes to big trucks I like the old 85 Scotsdales/silverados. Been a fan of those for decades. Thought it would be nice though to have some major ponies under the hood of the ranger though. But as my wife says one project at a time and i would need a car to get to work if the truck drug out too long. Motorcycle not so much fun to ride in New England rain and snow. Thanks again.

 

The Mustang harness would have to be integrated into the Ranger harness..which would rewire both EVTMS. I would plan on the truck being down for a little while...seems like from what I have read and what happened to me personally you will run into issues no doubt while doing the swap.

 

I have a question about the oil pan you used .I noticed that you used the stock merc pan which looks to be a rear sump . I have read that most guys recommend a dual sump .MY question is did you have any problems with it .I have a stock exploder pan I would like to use and would like to head off any problems before install

 

Their might be a picture with it still on the motor when I first pulled it....But I went with a dual sump pan from summit for a 88-93 302. The original will not work...it makes the Engine sit up too high.

 

I take it you used a 88-93 oil pump was it dual sump pump I priced some and they asked was it high pressure or high volume does that sound familiar

 

I went with a new high volume Mountaineer pump.

 

still runnin strong??

 

So far so good......for the most part. I have logged a little over 1,300 miles on her. I am still having some issues with my Maf I believe. It starts and runs fine until say you go to a drive thru and you have to wait in line after 3 or 4 minutes of idling it starts acting funny but as soon as I Rev it up a time or two its fine again for 3 or 4 minutes. Its crazy....

 

My 5.0 does something very funny like that as well, a bit of an idle surge from sitting. Have you tried clocking you MAF to see if it changes its behavior at all? I know that's what alot of the mustang guys do to get calibrated MAF's to work better, but I haven't had a chance to mess with it on my truck.

 

No I havent tried that....I did go buy a whole new Maf sensor and it didnt change anything. I may try and go back to the factory air setup just to see if it works.

 

Try clocking the MAF like Rob said first. Depending on what kind of bends are before and after the MAF the MAF element might not even be in the air stream going thru it. You can really change the idle quality by where you have that elelment in the air stream going thru the meter.

 

Here are some up to date pictures with 2009 Mirrors added and 2011 5.0 emblems.

 

niiiiiiice

 

I was just curious. I am planing on doing a swap like this in the future and was wondering if the AC is fully functional? I live in Arizona and really need working AC.

 

Wirelessly posted

I have never hooked it up.....but I do have everything in place other than the a/c lines and the compressor......and I do plan on installing it in the Spring. So yes It will be fully functional

 

Good to know. With triple digits the common in the summer here AC is a must!! I may be hitting you up for some knowledge in the near future when my project gets under way. My biggest concern is the wiring.. By the way Truck looks great!! Excellent job. :-)

 

No problem, let me know what I can help you with..if your swap is within the same years as mine(96 Ranger 97 Expo/mountaineer) there are very few wiring concerns. Its basically plug and play.

 

DROOOOOOOL!

 

hey man were you able to use factory bumper mounts for that moutaineer bumper or did you have to modify them?

 

I took the brackets off my Ranger bumper, drilled a couple of new holes and mounted it up. I did have to go back and make some supports for the sides so the bumper didn't droop

 

Ok cool sounds good, thanks

 

I am the new owner of this bad *** Ranger.....the quality of the work is what sold it for me....after finding this build thread on here, I truly appreciate what I have! Some things I'm gonna change that are just not my personal taste may be the tailights, side mirrors, and the HID headlights. If you would like to purchase these after I remove them, hit me up........Great work Roger!