Greetings all,

I have a 2004 Ranger Flareside Edge 2WD with the 3.0 V6 and a 5 speed manual. It has 108,000 miles and I'm thinking of doing a little customization; I'd like to drop a 302 in it. There seems to be a ton of stuff here about engine swap-outs, but to get me started, can someone just tell me the best engine to use in this effort? I want to keep a manual transmission in it, but assume the one that came on the truck will not be strong enough for the V8. So, which transmission do I use with the V8? I guess I need the model designations for those items. Lastly, who has done this and how difficult was it. I'm not a do-it-yourselfer, so a pro will do it. Just wanting to know what to expect.

Thank you,

SM

 

You will use a 5.0l V8 from a 1997 to 2001 Explorer or Mountaineer, with its computer and engine wiring harness

The 5.0l(302) engine is narrow so can fit in Ranger engine bay, other V8s are just too wide, have to move steering shaft and Heater.

The 1997 to 2003 M5OD-R2(M5R2) manual transmission from an F-150 with 4.2L V6 will bolt to the 5.0l engine, M5R2 was made for modular V8s so can handle the power.
And in these years the M5R2 shifter was in the same place as your current M5R1
And yes you are right no Ranger transmission will bolt to any V8 engine, 2.3l, 3.0l or 4.0l

V8 computer will be for an automatic trans, so you will need to have it programmed for manual trans, you can also have it "tuned" at the same time, and if you want PATS(passive anti theft system) can be removed.
Computer will still work, but CEL(check engine light) will stay on all the time because there is no automatic trans connected to it
Computer will not work unless you use the PATS key that came in/with the Explorer or Mountaineer

This is a starter page: Ford Ranger V-8 Engine Swap
The adapters they mention are no longer available

This as well, this is for newer Rangers: TRS Magazine - CD Player installation In 1995 Ranger
(Its not a CD Player install, lol)

And not for nothin', if you are going to have someone else do the work then why not just look for one thats already done.
There are often V8 Rangers For Sale, and I have seen some pretty good work and finishing on them.
Your Stock Ranger is worth XX amount of money, you NEVER get your money back on custom work, its done for pleasure, and since you are not doing the work then I would look around and see if you can find one you like and then spend a bit more on making it YOURS.
Then sell the stock Ranger

 

RonD... Please clairify..... The "PATS key.. Do you use just the key or do you need parts from the steering column?... I'm thinking of this same swap and emissions compliance (AZ.)

 

Welcome to the forum

The "ring" or "wand" around the key slot is called the Transceiver, it uses 4 wires, 12v and ground for power, and then 2 signal wires, it is just an antenna so not part of the PATS authentication system, so can be swapped if broken or for whatever reason

So if vehicle getting the V8 has PATS then you can use its transceiver, and just change the key cylinder to use the PATS keys from the donor vehicle

Transceivers were wired in two ways
12v and ground to key on circuit, this was used if there was no separate PATS module, PATS was inside PCM(computer)
12v and ground to the separate PATS module, if so equipped, have to do this or PATS won't work, it will set a "no transceiver detected code" in most cases

other 2 wires always run to PATS, to module or computer

 

Welcome to the forum

Yes, PATS can be deleted from the PCM(engine computer)
On most you also need to Ground the Starter Relay in the engine fuse box when you do this, not at all hard to do

 

This is probably ignorance but will the m5od r2 from a 2006 4.2l Ford F-150 mate with any Ford V8 engine?

 

The 1997 and up Ford 4.2l V6 engine used the "later small block" Ford bolt pattern, so a transmission from a 4.2l will bolt to any Ford V8 that used the small block pattern

Ford Bell housing patterns seen here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...using_patterns

Scroll down to "later small block pattern", it was used on V8s but also V6 and I6 engines

Just a heads up
4.2l did use Metric size bolts, which were slightly smaller diameter than SAE bolts used on the earlier V8s, so you will need to drill out the 6 bell housing bolt holes 1/16" to put in the SAE V8 bolts