I pulled the trigger and bought a 2000 Eddie Bauer Explorer with a V-8. I plan to swap the engine into my 2000 Ranger Trailhead. I was thinking I will need to swap all the wiring in the engine bay and cab for the ECS to work and to finally have power widows and locks. I already know I will need to swap the column, or at least the key cylinder so there won't be any issues with the ECM and key coding. If anyone has any suggestions, hints, things to look out for, please feel free to share. I'll be reading the other posts, but I still appreciate anything anyone can provide. I already changed the front end to a 2003 grill and lights thanks to help from Scrambler82. I'll update this as I go. I hope to be able to get it all done this fall. I live in Arizona and it's starting to get too hot to work in a garage.

 

Good luck you will love it. Check out my build thread in this section for lots of info.

 

I took the plunge and got a 2001 Explorer limited with a V8. I have to wait until the fall to tear it apart. Its starting to get hot here in AZ and I don't want to be working in my garage when it hits 90+.

 

The wheelbase on my Ranger is the same as the explorer I just got. Does anyone know if the frame is the same or similar enough to just swap the bodies? I'm still going to swap all the wiring, but this would save me an engine swap and moving the rear axle, lines, etc...

 

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The front clip is the same wideth, but right at the front doors the frame widens out all the way to the rear. That's why Explorer's rear springs are under the frame, while Ranger's are outside of the frame, and why Expo rearends are a complete swap other than the shock mounts.