Possible engine swap
 

So I have a friend, who's dad knows a guy with 4, count em, 4 DWI's. So the guy was sortof offering my friend his 87 Mustang supercharged 302. 87 Mustangs are butt ugly of course, and my friend was just thinkin of "rompin it around" for the summer.
But hes not that technical or mechanically inclined as me( he thinks its badass i was able to paint those door panels red, and that I installed all sorts of electronics myself). So, I told him "uhh see if he'll give it to you for free, I'd be willing to buy that engine from you." I told him that we could take it apart and possibly sell the other stuff. Pretty much, I could have a supercharged 302 for as low as 100 dollars if i wheel and deal right.
SO, My question is...

Is it feasible to put the 302 in my truck from a 87 Mustand!?!? And if so, how hard is it goin to be? I wasn't able to find the info on RangerStation.


Aaron

theyve got kits out now that give you everything you need to install a 5.0 in our trucks. its a bit of a challenge but can be done. good luck and keep us posted.

Umm, are there kits? Last i've heard, the kit for 83-97 rangers was still undecided if it will fit 98 and newer.

http://www.kaufmannproducts.com

It all depends if i can get the engine from my friend :) I'll hafta keep on buggin him for a while. But hes a good friend, so he might be up for it.

Aaron

yes it is possible and feasible too i believe... there is a wealth of knowledge on RPS about V8 swaps... it sounds like it would be easier since you have the whole donar car and you can take the tranny and PCM from it for your truck

Ahh yeah I forgot i could take everything I need. I just hope its auto, although i doubt it is. I'm a sissy when it comes to manual, altho i can drive it. Well, sounds like time to learn manual like a pro.


Aaron

It would be so sweet with the 4wd on your truck. It can get expensive because you are gonna have to have new drive safts made most likely and typically the oil pan won't fit around your crossmember. Or you guys could always stick a GT body kit on the stang and make it look real cool and sell it.

Hmm, how do i handle things like the ABS not on the mustang? And will 4WD show up in the computer? Or will I have a 5.0 with a lotta loose ends?
So would it be better to sell this engine on EBAY and find a crashed explorer?

Aaron

With the Mustang engine, you will have problems with clearance between the accessory drive and the radiator. The radiator will also be too small. There may be clearance issues between the oilpan and the crossmember. Same for the oil filter. Electrically, the Mustang and the Ranger are worlds apart. As far as I have been able to determine, there are no commercial kits to install a 5.0L into a 98+ Ranger.

The Explorer 5.0 was completely tailored to fit the Explorer/Ranger engine bay with reversed intake manifold, a new FEAD and bracketry, a different oil pan and new exhaust manifolds. The best way to do this swap is from a donor Explorer, so you can get all the bits and pieces. Even so, there are problems. Explorers and Rangers were both made with and without PATS and with and without a returnless fuel system. It would be very helpful if these items matched between the donor Ex and the Ranger.

Other considerations, too. The 5.0L Ex was made in either 2WD or full time AWD. Both were automatics. It was never offered with part time 4WD and a 2-speed transfer case like the Ranger. To get the electronics to work easily, you would need to swap in the engine, 4R70 auto trans and the AWD transfer case from the EX. Ranger 4x4's are usually 4.10 axles but the 5.0 Ex wasn't offered with a 4.10, meaning that the speedometer may be a problem - not sure on a 99, though.

Depending on the enforcement policy in your state, you could also run into legal problems with emission laws if you do the swap.

Six pages of pictures of a 98~00 Ranger 4x4 with a 5.0L Ex engine, with and without Kenne Bell supercharger:

http://groups.msn.com/MarlaTodd/ranger.msnw?Page=1


http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RAA1A...96856772520304

Thanks for that website :) I wan't my 4WD though ill hafta figure a new solution.

aaron

I believe there is alot of stuff that can be done with the right knowledge, but I have learned if I have to ask alot of questions, its probably not smart for me to attempt it in the first place.

Now there are things that can be done with a good walkthrough/how-to, but doing an engine swap isnt really one of those things I believe can be done, especially one of that caliber. I am NOT saying you cant do it, but before you destroy your truck and possibly the motor, i really think you need to maybe invest into some professional help, if its only paying the person 50 bucks to come out and take a peek at your progress.

I do think it would be a cool swap and alot of fun for you and your insurance company when youre done. >=) Just think it through.

Heck, even when you plan for everything and think you have everything covered, there will still be things that will go wrong. Be prepared.

Good luck.