I have a '91XLT, std. cab with a 7 foot bed, 4.0 and auto trans. I want to install a 5.0 with manual trans. I've built quite a few bow-tie motors and done extensive builds on various Chevy vehicles; but until now, I never owned a Ford product and my knowledge base-relative to "what works and what doesn't"- is very limited. I am looking for anyone, who has the knowledge that I lack, to look at the information I posted below and give your comments relative to "Is this a workable, useable, combination to use for my project". I believe the motor and trans are in good condition. The ECM and engine harness listed are probably removed from a Mustang (don't know what year). My interest in the driveshaft is to get the correct yoke to mate with the transmission. Thanks in advance for your input
.The engine is from a 1991 Ford Mustang
- it’s a rear sump Foxbody mustang pan
-it’s a trick flow top end kit on the engine. Heads, cam, and intake. It has Ford replacement lifters and trick flow rockers.
- has a 70mm throttle body
- I do have a ecm and engine harness you could buy for extra.
- it doesn’t have any headers or manifolds with the engine.
- it has a factory style clutch. I have a spec stage 1 I could sell with it for extra.
- the transmission is a 1995 v6 mustang t5 that I made work for a Foxbody mustang. Different input shaft. The shifter is top mounted.
- I have a drive shaft I can sell from a 1990 mustang.
It will not come with that AC compressor. Or Ac brackets. And it will come with a stock alternator.

 

No not really a good combination for Ranger V8 swap

Look for a 1996 to 2001 Explorer with V8, 2wd or 4x4 either will work, since you will be swapping trans in any case, get the whole vehicle, one with a BAD transmission would be great since you don't want a working automatic

Manual trans you want is the M5OD-R2 from a 1996 to 2003 F-150 with 4.2l V6, 2wd
4.2l V6 in those years has same bolt pattern as 302/5.0l V8
Rangers used the smaller M5OD-R1 and the R2 has shifter in the same place as Rangers

The T5 trans shifter will come up at the front of Rangers seats, so its doable but have to get a custom bent shifter arm
I have read you can swap T5 mustang tail shaft shifter for an S10(small truck) shifter to get it close to Rangers current shifter hole

The motor is not as important as the bits an pieces that will come with the whole explorer
Explorer has a low intake because engine sits high like in a Ranger, in a Mustang the engine sits lower and its intake is higher
Dual exhaust
accessories with brackets
starter
Computer with wiring harness that uses same relay setup as Ranger, Mustangs are different

Read thru this article: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...r_ranger.shtml

You have an earlier Ranger but 95% of this applies to your build