Hello, my name is Carl,

I just got a 1998 ranger extended cab stepside with a 3.0 stick 4x4 with a trashed motor, and after I picked it up I got a 1998 Explorer 5.0 Eddie Bauer AWD to swap the drivetrain and interior parts that fit (electronic climate, keyless entry, steering wheel controls, cruise, etc..)

I am building it as a smog legal 5.0 swap in Cali to be used to go offroading and pull my dirtbike around. I am heavily into bikes (went to school for it and work in the industry) with a decent background in car repair and mainly customization (specifically electronics - I have always been good with the wires haha)

From southern California, born and raised, and transplanted into the high desert and love anything gas powered that goes off road. We have 2 explorers currently (not including the donor explorer for my ranger swap) and have been working on these things for years. I am here because I am venturing into uncharted territory swapping engines and to share my knowledge of the whole experience.

All picture progress can be found here:



Here are some pictures:











edit: added photos after reply failed - maybe I am too new here? will delete if second post goes through. note to MOD> If second post goes through and you see pictures here, feel free to delete the post below.

 

Figured I would throw some pictures out there for you guys.

 

Welcome to the forum

Looks like a great start to the project

You can retro fit a Floor Shifter if you don't want to swap steering columns

Since engines are the same years, it follows Calif emissions law, same year or newer.
Keep documentation on the year of the V8

I grew up in Riverside, Calif, back when it was all orange groves, used to do desert motorcycle racing in my youth, 40+ years ago, lol, yes they had motorcycles back then and yes they had engines we didn't have to pedal them.
Did most of the Elsinore races, yes I am that old
I remember for the desert races they used to line every one up for the start and then off in the distance someone would light a tire on fire, to mark the start of the course, lol, head for the black smoke
I suppose they have a more civilized and less environmentally incorrect way to do it now

 

Here is a link to all the photos that I take when I work on it.

"https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10211860093922742.1073741832.1382402998&typ e=1&l=0226f32e16"

uhh - guess I am too new to post links.. Bah.

Remove the space in type, it will work.

 

I will be using the explorer steering column as well as key and door lock cylinders to keep it simple - the explorer has the chip key. Just pulled the motor apart, had a bit of a struggle with the timing cover, the top two bolts rusted on and required me to break the timing cover in half to remove it from the engine. Have to make a trip to the junk yard to get one of those.