Explorer - Ranger Frame Swap
#1
Explorer - Ranger Frame Swap
Okay just a curiosity. Can you persay take the body off an Explorer and put your ranger body on the Explorer frame? Was just curious. I currently have a 96 extended cab XLT witha 2.3L. Was wondering if I could do the swap with a AWD or 2wd 5.0 Explorer? I have used the search feature but it was not my friend so thought I would ask.
#8
Explorers have wider rear frame rails then rangers, ranger's rear leaf attach to the side of the frame rails, while explorers leaf attach UNDER the frame rail
96+ explorers had tbar front ends, so those would match a 98+ tbar ranger setup
you would have to splice the 2 frame ends together, or find a way to make new bed mounts
#13
#15
The ranger cab is held on the chassis using 6 mounting locations (4 bolts and 2 studs with nuts). The studs are only about 1/2" off on either side so what you can do is extend the mounting holes a bit (we choose to replace the core support from the explorer to ranger because we like the look better). The second row of mounting locations line right up ,and as far as the third row you can do several things. You can keep the explorer monuts where they are and just drill holes where those mounts are or move the mounts and basically create a pedstal mount towards the rear of the chassis. And as for as the bed ,with a swb ranger its might be easy to put on with minimal effort,we have a long wheelbase ranger so have to cut basically 8" out of the bed to make it fit.
#18
OK, non-believers, here it is.
The donor: 1998 Explorer XLT AWD 5.0L
The Recipient: 1995 Ranger XLT Super Cab (Oh yeah, we already put a 302 and C-4 in it, but anybody can do that.)
Here are the rolling chassis, side by side: (Skipped over all the disassembly)
Notice on the Explorer (foreground) that there is a body mount on either side, opposite the transfer case. These mounts do not line up with the Ranger mount points (see the chassis in the background.) We cut off these mounts (Explorer) and saved them for later.
We mounted the body on the Explorer chassis using only the front four mounts for now. Once we bolted it down, we modified and placed the rear mounts where they belonged under the Ranger and bolted them in. Once we were sure they were lined up correctly, we tacked them in place, loosened all the body bolts and jacked up the body so we could complete the welding of the mounts, then retightened the body bolts. We plan to do some more gusseting of the mounts and make them look a little nicer, but they are plenty strong the way they are.
Although the Ranger core support worked by extending the mounting holes, the A/C condenser didn't fit and here in Florida, no A/C is not an option. So we decided to cut out the Ranger core support and use the Explorer support.
Here is the Explorer core support ready to be installed.
And installed.
The Explorer core support slopes down on the ends, so there is a gap of about an inch or so.
Solution? Cut wedges out of the Ranger core and weld them in.
So there you have it up until now. We will be putting the Explorer wiring harness, all the optional equipment, Explorer interior and the paint and body work.
More pictures as things progress. Stay tuned.
By the way, those who said it can't be done, this was done by a 19 year old college student and his 64 year old grandfather, neither of which are in the automotive field.
The donor: 1998 Explorer XLT AWD 5.0L
The Recipient: 1995 Ranger XLT Super Cab (Oh yeah, we already put a 302 and C-4 in it, but anybody can do that.)
Here are the rolling chassis, side by side: (Skipped over all the disassembly)
Notice on the Explorer (foreground) that there is a body mount on either side, opposite the transfer case. These mounts do not line up with the Ranger mount points (see the chassis in the background.) We cut off these mounts (Explorer) and saved them for later.
We mounted the body on the Explorer chassis using only the front four mounts for now. Once we bolted it down, we modified and placed the rear mounts where they belonged under the Ranger and bolted them in. Once we were sure they were lined up correctly, we tacked them in place, loosened all the body bolts and jacked up the body so we could complete the welding of the mounts, then retightened the body bolts. We plan to do some more gusseting of the mounts and make them look a little nicer, but they are plenty strong the way they are.
Although the Ranger core support worked by extending the mounting holes, the A/C condenser didn't fit and here in Florida, no A/C is not an option. So we decided to cut out the Ranger core support and use the Explorer support.
Here is the Explorer core support ready to be installed.
And installed.
The Explorer core support slopes down on the ends, so there is a gap of about an inch or so.
Solution? Cut wedges out of the Ranger core and weld them in.
So there you have it up until now. We will be putting the Explorer wiring harness, all the optional equipment, Explorer interior and the paint and body work.
More pictures as things progress. Stay tuned.
By the way, those who said it can't be done, this was done by a 19 year old college student and his 64 year old grandfather, neither of which are in the automotive field.
#21
#23
Have you ever driven a subaru impreza? I already had the V8 but a three speed automatic and ttb front suspension , so why not? The explorer has everything I wanted including AWD independent front supsension 8.8 rear locker and of couse a V8. And plus this project is exclusive,how many people have one? Everybody said you couldn't and I knew I could. And AWD is different then 4WD just for those who forgot.
#25