Ordered the V8 swap book
 

I ordered the V8 swap book from MRE books. Some of you are already familar with it. For now i'm just kickin around the idea of swapping a 5.0 into my truck.
So i'm just gaining knowledge and kickin tires for now. If anyone else is wondering about this book, here's a link to it. Looks like it's loaded with good stuff and i've read a few members on here who say they like it. -Mike-

http://www.mre-books.com/ranger.html

sweet

get on it...lol

Keep in mind that 95% of the information in the MRE book does not apply to 98 and newer Rangers. It is geared toward 97-back.

Yeah. I got that one. It's a pretty good little book.

cool, nice link

i could see on the title of the book it applied towards 83-96 Rangers so my thinking is if the 92-96 body style rangers shares some things that of the 98-00 body styles then i could pick up a few pointers. the only way i'll keep this truck a few more years is if i swap a V8 into it, otherwise i'm selling it or trading. -Mike-

The Ranger engine compartment, front frame and front suspension layout changed completely from 97 to 98. This changes so much about a 302 swap that it might as well be a different vehicle line. The MRE swap manual is a pretty good book but the installation and part information just doesn't apply to a 98+ Ranger.

Hmm... looks like a good reference. Might have to order one for myself as well.
I saw that Advance Adapters has one as well. Anybody have an opinion about theirs?

The AA conversion manual is also geared to 97 and earlier like the MRE book. From what I've heard, it is pretty good. There is an overview of 83~97 V8 Ranger swaps in their catalog with some good info, pages 50~53.

http://advanceadapters.dirxion.com/d...een=800&os=win

just seems the aftermarket went to hell after the 98 body styles came out. -Mike-

Get a 98~2001 Explorer 5.0L engine and transmission. It's as close to a bolt in swap as you will find for a 98+ Ranger.

98+ swap info

what about the driveshaft? will i need to swap that out or will the explorers tranny bolt up to my stock driveshaft? -Mike-

I think that you can use your driveshaft provided that you get the 4R70W out of a 2WD Ex. The output shaft and extension housing are different on the Ranger/Explorer 4x4 transmissions and won't work with any Ranger 2WD shaft. If you are truly interested, take a few minutes and read the thread in the link I posted above. It will give you a good idea of the parts that you would need from the Explorer donor.