1995 Ford ranger 2wd 5 speed. Torsion bar suspension. It has 250k on 3.0 and the slave cylinder just took a ****.
2wd ford explorers are impossible to find in my area. I don't want an AOD. Must be AODE or 4R70W. Dont want to deal with PATS with newer setups.

Is a 1993 E series van a good donor? Looking to buy it whole for around 1k. Good start or keep looking? Definitely has the 5.0 302.

 

Unless you plan on going with a carburetor, keep looking. You can't really use anything but the long block out of that. An Explorer is going to be your best bet. If you can't find one local, try expanding your search area.

Also, a 1995 does not have torsion bars. You have twin I-beams which are something different.

 

**** I confused I beam and torsion.

Crap is the intake on the van 302 not usable?

I can find 2WD F150's but not explorers.

 

Couldn't you use an AWD Explorer as a donor, then add in a 4R70W transmission from a 2wd F150 5.0?

 

Trying to keep build cost down. I want to buy a running donor for cheap and swap. I also don't want to deal with any reprogramming of the ECU. Trying to keep it as simple as possible, "drive train runs in this vehicle make it run in that one" I dont even care about gauges. I'll be happy with an RPM gauge and the cheapo water and oil pressure gauges.
I've had the Ranger for over 6 years now and its paid for itself a few times over. Literally. I bought it for 1700 put on about 60k miles. I had an old dude side swipe me 2 years ago. His insurance paid me 1200 which I pocketed.
So basically I have a free truck with good suspension, interior and body already registered and titled. I cant imagine giving it away for $500.

Something like this might be better https://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/c...315730941.html

 

Don't limit yourself to a RWD 5.0 Expo. Either swap out the Xfer case 4R70W for a 2WD one, or replace the tail cone and output shaft to make it a 2WD. Not easy, but shoot, toss in fresh bands, clutches and check the accumulator piston springs and you'll have a heavily refreshed trans to go with the 5.0

A '96 or '97 Expo won't have pats and uses the same low pressure fuel sys as your Ranger. A '98 adds PATS, keeps the low pressure fuel. '99 - 01 moves to a higher pressure fuel system that would require additional mods to work.

Late '97 and newer 5.0 Expo's got different eletrics/wiring at the 4R70W so if you look to swap an AWD trans out for a 2wd, you'll need to watch out for those differences as well.

 

I don't have the skills for that type of trans work. Would end up having to pay a shop to do it. I could shop for a 2wd 4r70w but that take dollars from the project. How about the 96 F150?

 

It would take some dollars, but you'd also have a 4wd 4R70W to sell in its place.

 

I have a rebuilt 4r70w (with receipts to prove it) as well as a 4406 manual transfer case with all of the connections and the rear driveshaft I used with it if you are motivated to make a haul from Fl to SC. I swapped over to a manual (m5r2) and went back to awd, because I like the way it drives as a street truck in inclement weather, and don't need the stuff sitting around anymore. I tuned via SCT to get the tranny codes and stuff removed. I should probably take the time to post up in the classifieds actually, but this is the first time I have been back on the site in a while.

 

The Van and the F150 will use the same engine. The problem with them is that the upper intake plenum is massive and likely will hit the hood on the Ranger. Let's not forget that the exhaust manifolds could make contact with the frame of your Ranger, and maybe even the steering linkage. Neither of which is a good thing. The Explorer 5.0 was designed to work around all of that. That's why it's the best option for your swap.

 

I'm searching for an Explorer. I'll have to find a 2wd 4r70w. Will I have computer or wiring issues swapping a 4wd to a 2WD. Hopefully its plug and play.

 

For what it's worth, there's a 2wd 4R70W in the Explorer I just bought as a parts donor for my own V8 swap. No idea what it would cost to get it to you, but I'm installing a 4wd transmission in the Ranger. Drove the Explorer home about an hour and it shifted great. I'd let it go for $150 plus shipping since that would cover the cost of my 4wd trans.