i have a 1996 ford ranger. i bought the truck with a 3.0L v6, 5 speed transmission. i bought a 98 ford explorer 5.0L engine from a salvage yard and wanting to swap my engine, my question is, on the 3.0L wiring harness there was a connector going into the computer in the firewall and a block looking connector plugging into wires running through the firewall to my inside fuse box, but on the wiring harness that came with the 5.0L it has 2 of them square block looking connectors, how do i go about that when my ranger only has 1 coming out of the firewall and when i buy a standard transmission to go along with this motor, what computer will i need to put in this truck?

 

Welcome to the forum

You will need to go thru the wires one at a time and splice them as needed
You could look for your exact swap, 1996 Ranger to 1998 Explorer and find wire connections there but unless it is same swap it will just be general information.

Ford Explorers got PATS(passive anti-theft system) in 1998, this is in the computer and requires PATS key to allow engine start up, turns off fuel pump and fuel injectors if right key isn't used.
Since you are not going to swap steering column to use automatic and want a manual trans computer, then best bet is to send the explorer v8 computer to a programmer.
He can remove the PATS test and automatic trans check, also there are other things that can be changed, users choice, to get best power and MPG

For a manual trans you want an M5OD-R2(M5R2) from a 1997-2006 F-150 with a 4.2l V6, yes V6, it has same Windsor bolt pattern as the V8(5.0l)
And in 1997 the M5OD-R2 shifter was moved farther back so matches Ranger shifter hole in the floor.
And obviously if you have a 4WD you need 4WD trans and transfer case from the F-150, or 2WD if you have 2WD Ranger

 

i read that for the engine to sit low enough for the hood to shut i need different motor mounts.. what kind of motor mounts can i get that do not require modifications to mount

 

Read this swap page, similar to your swap: http://www.therangerstation.com/Maga...7_ranger.shtml

And here: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...nversions.html

 

is there a certain wiring harness and ECM i can buy from a salvage yard to go with this and plug up perfectly

 

No, Rangers never came with V8s.
You need the 1998 explorer v8 engine wiring harness and computer, most of it will be plug and play since it attaches to the engine sensors and controls.

The power interface won't be plug and play
You could get EVTM's for BOTH years of vehicles, this will help you ID the wires that need to be spliced.
EVTM = electrical and vacuum troubleshooting manual, Ford made these for EACH model, and EACH year, it was ONE PART of a Shop Manual set, it tells you exactly where and what color every wire is in that model vehicle of that year, very detailed

You can switch V8 over to carb and distributor setup and eliminate computer and wiring
5.0l is a 302ci engine, so those parts are readily available