i have a 98 3.0 2wd 5 speed what is the best option for a v8 engine swap while maintaining the obd-II capabilities and have everything functional also will my tranny hold up... truck has 97000 miles

 

98~01 Explorer 5.0L and 4R70W transmission is easiest. If you want a manual, then a T5 or M5ODR2 will probably be your best bet. The M5ODR1 in your truck will not bolt up and it would not hold up to the torque of a 5.0L.

 

in other words be prepared to kick out some money and time

 

go for the t-5 if manual with the world class kit

 

for that explorer swap, is that an automatic or no

 

4R70w is 4 speed auto. The T-5 or M5ODR2 are 5-speed manuals. You will need to have explorer PCM custom flashed to delete auto trans controls if you opt ofr manual.

 

If you use the stock 5.0L Explorer transmission, it is a 4-speed 4R70W automatic.

5.0L Ex's were available in rear wheel drive or all wheel drive. Both use the 4R70W but the tailhousings and output shafts are different between the 2 versions.

 

When my 4.0L goes for sure...a 5.0L will be in the works. I'm a manny tranny 4 life sorta guy....

I was already thinking T5, and adapt it to a mid 90s manual ranger case or something similar. Do I have to use a 5.0 from an Ex?? Why not a stang?? Do I have to use a exploder brain and then reflash it? What about the brain from a mustang w/ manual??

But, if t5 and making the engine run get in the way of eachother, I might just go with a exploder auto. Even kicking around the idea of a 700r4.

 

98+ Rangers have a tighter engine bay than earlier Rangers and it is almost identical to the 95~2001 Explorer. When Ford decided to stuff the 5.0 in the Ex, they had to change a bunch of stuff to make it more compact - oil pan and pickup, timing cover/sprockets/chain, water pump, fan clutch, accessory drive layout, oil filter mount, exhaust manifolds, etc.

I would say that you're way ahead starting with the Ex engine. Physically, it drops right into the 98+ Ranger engine bay. Besides that, it comes with better heads and intake manifolds than most Mustang 5.0s.

The PCM would need to be based on the Explorer calibration because the Ex uses a different ignition and different sensors than most Mustangs. The auto trans functions can be cal'd out with a reflash.

You can get a T5 that will bolt to a 5.0 but the shifter position is farther back than a stock Ranger. For whatever reason, Advance Adapters has discontinued their kit that adapted the T5 to the 1354 Ranger T-case.

AFAIK, Fords haven't used the T-5 in 4x4 apps, so, you would need to come up with a T-5 extension housing from some other brand and a matching t-case that would bolt to it.

 

Crap, sounds like an automatic after-all...

Bob what are you going to do about your manual transfer case/shifter bezel once you delete the manual transmission?

 

Can you make the T-5 tranny work in a ranger though? Also, what kind of gas mileage does the 5.0 from an explorer get?