ok i have a 98 ranger 4cyl and i know everyone is putting in explorer v8s in it but is that because everyone wants like the AC and all the stuff that makes a car nice? or is it because thats pretty much the only thing that fits. ive been doin alot of research on this swap because its going to happen when i get everything pulled together for it but i was wondering if you didnt want ac or anything really nice just an all out V8 ranger thats pretty much a play toy that i wouldnt care for much just power. i was thinkin it would be easier to do a carb setup so you wouldnt have to go with all the electronics. or maybe a fuel injected early fox body 5.0 and goin with a piggy back on the ECU to make it work with a explorer oil pan. any advice given would be awesome. also just wondering how did they install that 5.4 lightning motor in the ranger for the SVT lightningbolt when people are sayin a modular 4.6 motor wont fit into a ranger?

 

You last question, about the 4.6, is answered by "if there's enough money, it can be done".

As to the 5.0, what is the benefit of ruining a perfectly good newer gen ranger by throwing in some old beaten 5.0? An explorer setup will "retain the value"(altho sortof not really) of your ranger, and that mustan 5.0 will make it worth a few thousand.

I dunno, it's a hard question to answer because the reason should be obvious.

 

I am doing the swap right now and, having seen how everything fits into the engine bay, I wouldn't use anything else except a 5.0L 99~2001 Explorer engine.

The Ex V8 has a bunch of special parts that are tailored to make it slot easily into the Explorer/Ranger engine bay. It also has a decent set of heads and a GT40 intake manifold that is a clone of the one on the 5.0 Mustang Cobra. IMO, the only negative for this engine is the set of restrictive stock exhaust manifolds.

The Explorer electrics are the most compatible with 98~2000 Rangers, so that's a plus for your swap. EFI is not all that hard to wire up because the PCM connector is part of the engine wire harness which gets swapped in with the engine. I believe that 98 Rangers didn't have PATS, so you would need to add PATS or get a custom PCM tune that disables it.

Since your truck is a coil spring model, you would also need a set of custom engine plates but they are fairly simple to make and the design work has already been done by BrianB31. He has a 98 coil spring Ranger with a 5.0L.

Recommended reading:

1998+ 5.0L Ranger swap discussion:
http://www.rangerpowersports.com/for...d.php?t=170886

PATS info:
http://www.rangerpowersports.com/for...d.php?t=186450

My 2003 swap in progress:
https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=44326
https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=46004

Don't be scared off by my experiences. Mine is a 4x4 with an F150 transfer case and also a 2003. This combination makes the swap considerably more difficult than it would be in a truck like yours.

 

the whole thing of the value i really dont care what its worth its a 98 ranger with 166K mi its really not worth much already but im just goin to use it for a toy so i could care less if it even had powersteering

 

When SVT put the Lightning 5.4 in a Ranger it was more of a complete truck make-over, not something easily done in one's garage. A 4.6 on the other hand, will fit in a '98-up 2wd Ranger with a little work. Building a pair of headers is the hardest part. Here's my '98 2wd (was a 2.5/5 spd) with a 4.6 dohc swapped in. It wasn't nearly as difficult, or expensive, to do as people said it would be.



Greg

 

that looks good man what all did you have to change if you dont mind me askin some details about it. also mines a white 2.5 98 lol

 

Here is some detail on greg's truck:

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/for...d.php?t=142933

 

Thanks alot for posting that.

 

Since we've already got this topic open. I'm planning on going with a Carb 302, because I'm going with an old school theme for my build and EFI won't work. I've thought about going with a 289 and just punching it out a little bit. What year engine would you guys suggest going with?

 

I have a 69 302 with a c4 tranny that i'm puttin in my 98 ranger this summer I was wondering if you guys new wut all i would need i heard that im gonna have to custom make the motor mounts n do something with the tranny crossmember if you guys could give me some info that would be awesome

 

oh crap i got scared for a second there and thought I had flown back in time.

I don't know how, but I can only assume heavy drug use.

 

 

Hi, I have a 98 ranger that I put a 302 in because its got 2 lifts and 33x12.50 tires and the 3.0 couldn't get her moving real good. I found a 97 mountaineer and took everything, motor, trans, awd transfer case, pcm, wiring and yes the a/c too. the a/c was nice but the compressor went bad so I put a bypass pulley in to avoid paying for new comp at the time. my real need was power not luxury so I got what I need. she runs good but had to be tweaked once on the road, I had to put a new 02 sen on and then a new egr and I still get a code for running too lean, not sure if its a electrical thing or a leak at intake? it doesn't like to run when started cold but after a minute it idles and then runs well, with daul glass packs she sounds like a 70s hot rod lol..best of luck with your swap, hope to hear from you

 

I have a 2004 ranger edge that going to install a 1999 explorer V8 in can
Can some help me out with some information with the speedometer my is Digital And I would like to know wil I have swap it to a older speedometer
For it to work??? If you have any information on that please let me know
Thanks.

 

I didn't know they made them with digital speedometer? Not sure how that would work, u may have to go with cluster from ur donor or a standard dash from ranger, luke from salvage yard?

 

Made to fit.... I'm honesty not sure about the 4.6 swap because I just acquired a 98 2wd 4cyl ranger that I want to put a 4.6 in I know about 5 or 6 years ago a friend and I put a 557 stroker in a 4×4 98 an other than raising the motor mounts it fit like a glove like it was ment to be and it's a factory frame an body

 

To the guy with 98 ranger with 4 cyl. from what ive read about swaps online the explorer/mountaineer 302 is easier to do because the mustang motor has some different mounts and tranny and if your ranger is 4x4 it tranny in expl will bolt in easier? going carb might be easier for some that don't want to snip a wire or ten but I did efi to save $. I was also told going carb would lose me about 20 hp? I didn't feel like doing cams and headers and all that stuff. I did have a/c til the compressor went. I put a pulley on it to fix that. mine has 2 lifts and 33x12.50 tires so she isn't a racer or every day ride. I needed lots more power to turns the tires. she can light them up if I hit it hard. the cel stays on but she idles nice, sounds good, and has ***** so I'm happy.

 

also, the mustang motor has less factory hp/torque because it doesn't need them for the car like the truck motor does. ive looked up specs and ive got 215 hp as the mustang motor has 195 I think

 

My reason, aside from having a 302 V8 and A/C, All-wheel drive and other associated goodies, is because most of the swap is relatively straightforward.

I've learned over the years that doing piecemeal swaps bring one issue after another to solve. It's a headache, and costs time you don't have, and more $$$ in the long run. Much better/easier to do what works straightforwardly, than to be driven crazy with issues.

 

[QUOTE=V8 Level II;708950]I am doing the swap right now and, having seen how everything fits into the engine bay, I wouldn't use anything else except a 5.0L 99~2001 Explorer engine.

The Ex V8 has a bunch of special parts that are tailored to make it slot easily into the Explorer/Ranger engine bay. It also has a decent set of heads and a GT40 intake manifold that is a clone of the one on the 5.0 Mustang Cobra. IMO, the only negative for this engine is the set of restrictive stock exhaust manifolds.

The Explorer electrics are the most compatible with 98~2000 Rangers, so that's a plus for your swap. EFI is not all that hard to wire up because the PCM connector is part of the engine wire harness which gets swapped in with the engine. I believe that 98 Rangers didn't have PATS, so you would need to add PATS or get a custom PCM tune that disables it.

Since your truck is a coil spring model, you would also need a set of custom engine plates but they are fairly simple to make and the design work has already been done by BrianB31. He has a 98 coil spring Ranger with a 5.0L.

Recommended reading:

1998+ 5.0L Ranger swap discussion:
http://www.rangerpowersports.com/for...d.php?t=170886

PATS info:
http://www.rangerpowersports.com/for...d.php?t=186450

My 2003 swap in progress:
https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=44326
https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=46004
98 1/2 5.0 changed to a gt40p head