10 days and counting!!! i cant wait

 

OK so i did some extra work and got a bunch of the Ranger/Starter harness labeled up so i can figure out where to splice (and others)

Ranger Alternator


Fusable links



12 Pin Connector


12 Pin Connector Pinout
2. Red / Yellow - AC Condensor Switch
3. Black - AC Compressor
5. Black / White - AC Condensor Switch
6. Grey / White - AC Compressor
9. Yellow / Blue - Starter
11. Green / Red - Alternator

 

As shown in the picture, your V6 Ranger alternator has the external white/black that loops out of the alternator from the stator and back in to the regulator. The Ex V8 alternator that I used must have the equivalent of the WH/BK wire routed internally, so I just cut that unneeded wire off of the Ranger harness connector. It plugged right in and works fine.

 

that explains alot!

 

Ok, looks like your starter harness is from a 96-97. Anyways, what i did with it is kept the power wire to the starter, which i merged with the ranger's main power wire at the battery connection, The main ground, which i also merged with the ranger's main ground wire. Also, the starter signal wire, #2 on your top pic, merges at the battery tray with the yellow/blue (believe was yellow/white in my truck, but whatever) wire from the 12 pin connecter. The extraneous connectors, mainly #6 solenoid connection, can be traced back and deleted.

The second harness you show is the explorer charging harness, and i discarded that completely. It has the two alt control wires, the ac condenser, the ac compressor, and the main alt charging wire.
EDIT, on second thought, i believe the explorer ac condenser plug is part of its headlight harness, not on this cable. Irrelevant though, below procedure still works.
I used the ranger main charging wire, (i believe its integrated in the ranger main battery cable, but its been awhile), and the ranger's ac condenser and compressor plugs down harness from the 12 pin plug. I had to extend one or both, but they plugged right in.
That leaves just the small alternator wires. In mine, i made a custom harness using the ranger plug (as i have the ranger alt still, but i believe the plug is the same) and a yellow and a green wire. In my truck, both were integrated into the main chassis plug up by the computer, but it may be different in yours judging by the green wire in the 12 pin (i didnt have that).

So other than changes to the custom alternator harness, that should give you a good start.

 

I did something similar.

5.0 Explorer positive battery cables to starter positive and the Distribution Box
5.0 Explorer negative battery cable grounded to front of engine block and radiator core support
Ranger alternator cable and wires
IIRC, I used most of the original Ranger subharness from the 12-pin on the DS inner fender to the AC compressor clutch, AC high pressure cutout switch and the LG/RD charge light wire and merged the Ranger YE/BU to the Ex YE/BU starter solenoid wire. Then bundled the whole mess into one harness.

 

^ thats exactly whay im doing! Chris, thanks man! I knew the harness i had didnt seem right. Basically you use 90% of the original ranger plugs/harness and 10% Explorer starter wires, ground cables.

 

This is what I ended up with:

 

Dude ur awesome. thats exactly what i had in my head.

One question. is the "?" where it connects to the distribution fuse block?

 

Two things bolt down at the front of the Distribution Box:

The original double bolt terminal from the factory Ranger cables is mounted in its original location on both of the two lugs.
The terminal on the end of the positive battery cable from the 5.0 Ex. mounts on one of the lugs.

It was just a convenient place that avoided splicing or adding a dedicated junction terminal lug somewhere else. A little trimming was necessary on the Explorer terminal to make it all fit together.

 

ok so run the starter wire from the ranger harness directly from the starter to the double lug? or is that one of the wires that gets tied into those fuseable links?

 

Um emergency.. .i dont think i have the spacer plate to mate the trans to the block!!!!

Anyone got a spare??

 

OK, I've been digging into my harness to see how I actually did this three years ago.

First correction: I used the Explorer positive battery cable and starter cable, all one assembly joined at the positive battery terminal as in the original Ex. The short Explorer battery cable is the one that goes to the single lug bolted to the distribution box. I don't remember if the terminal was originally double bolt or single bolt but it has been trimmed somewhat and is a single bolt now. The 5.0 Ex starter harness assembly also contains the negative battery cable that grounds at the front of the engine and at the radiator core support. The negative part appears to be unmodified.

The double Ranger lug at the distribution block ORIGINALLY had two red cables attached, one that went to the battery positive post (and then to the starter) and one that went to the alternator by way of the fusible links. The Ranger cable from the double lug to the battery positive has been cut off and the short stub is heavily insulated with multiple layers of shrink tubing and then convolute and tape. That part is no longer needed because I'm using the Explorer positive battery cable instead.

As far as I can tell, the rest of the Ranger alternator branch with the cable, 2 wires and fusible links is unmodified (except for cutting off the white/black as discussed earlier).

So, the remaining Ranger positive red alternator cable and the Explorer positive red battery cable are joined by bolting down their terminals at the distribution box lugs because it was a convenient place to do so.

 

I might, I'll check the shop in the morning. Not sure if my parts motor has one or not. If so, i can ship it out to ya for, i dunno, hows $10 plus the ride sound?
Chris

 

holllly hella tech!

great job so far......dont know how i never saw this haha

but when ur done im shipping you my truck so you can do mine just as clean as urs!

 

Bob, Awesome! thanks man again. that makes absolutely perfect sense.


Dude, you are like the 5th person to say that so I might just do that. I would be happy to build anyone an engine in any configuration they want and help out. for a nominal fee of course. lol

 

As always…


Do you deliver ? LoL

 

possibly depending on how far. I actually enjoy building engines and teardown etc. but If anyone is serious I would look into crating and shipping for those too far to drive or meet.

I would do custom paint scheme, parts, build it however anyone would want, create a parts list, breakdown of prices, invoice etc. Im looking for a lil side business anyway.

 

R U tlkg an install package, say everything less the engine, all set up with instructions and a list of stuff to buy if necessary ????
THINKING HERE ! that could be worth soemthing.

 

actually im talking i build everything and deliver to you or whoever to just drop right in. basically like "custom" entire v8 swap kit. charge a build fee instead of hrly labor to keep cost down.

 

how much mark?

 

Cost would depend on what people wanted ya know parts/ paint, gaskets etc.

 

I like the idea but I have my engine already, need wiring, sensors, and anything that changes except the engine.

 

I feel ya. but hey its a good idea for someone wholl want it lol

 

Even without the engine it is a great idea.
It would take some work to get it together.
Luck on the Swap...