AWD Ranger.
 

A guy that I work with had his transmission and transfer case fail in his 2002 FX4. He has the SOHC engine, torsion bar suspension.

Hes considering buying an 08 Eddie Bauer Explorer that was destroyed on our lot this past week by a snowplow. The Explorer has less then 20,000 miles, SOHC engine and an auto tranny.

What I'm wondering.. How much of a difference is there between a 2002 PATS/GEM Ranger and an 08 Exploder thats AWD. I'm sure everything will be a bolt in process.. what concerns I have are about things behind the dash as the newer Explorers have NAV and features that weren't thought of in 02. I also know the whole dash is NOT a ' bolt in ' ( I wish it were! ).

Bob? Anyone?

I have no schematics for the 08 Ex but I'm sure that it has the newer PowerPC PCM, electronic cluster microprocessor and drive-by-wire throttle control. It may also have a standalone transmission control module. I don't know if the Ex T-case is controlled by the GEM or another module but it is for sure not directly compatible with the 2002 Ranger which uses either a manual case or a standalone 4x4 control module. As always, anything is possible but this sounds like a serious can of worms.

Im going to pick whats left of the rear of that exploder up and crawl under it. See what the X-fer case looks like.. wiring harness wise. The Maintenance shop there might have the Factory Ford manuals on it as well.

I was talking with Chris ( Gumby ) about this and he believes the dash might be too wide for a direct swap. I think the drivetrain itself should be close to ' bolt in ' outside of the driveshafts.

The instrument clusters are different but it would be nice to have a Ranger with Nav and the Audiophile system that came in the EB Explorers ;)