Hello fellow enthusiasts. My name is Steve and I am currently working on a 5.0 AWD Ranger. There are a million ways to do it, but this is how I am doing it. I am putting the regular cab 97 ranger body on the 97 Explorer chassis. I have it running now with a few items to go, but i would like to share a few issues. I used the explorer engine harness. It plugs directly to the ranger body harness. I used it because I did not disconnect the 4 wheel abs or the control unit. You have to switch the wiper motor over to the explorer motor or rewire the ranger as they are different connectors. I found that just swapping the motor was easier. Keep the a/c accumulater/dryer from the ranger. It fits better. You will need the w/s washer pump from the explorer as the connector is different (it fits right in). The radiator, condenser and fan shroud does fit perfectly with no mods.

Now for the rear harness. I was able to keep the ranger rear harness, however you do need to rewire the fuel pump. The connector is different, but the wire colors are the same. Just splice the corresponding colors. This is where I am at up till now. The front 4 body mounts line up but the rear dont. The rear bed mounts line up but the front dont. I find it easier to make body mounts versus trying to swap the powertrain. There are some guages not working so I may have to swap the cluster or dash harness. The front bumper leans down and two of the bolts dont line up. I will shim it somehow. I will update with images this weekend if anyone wants to see the progress.

 

What...Not pictures? Mean it didn't happen. LOL

 

I am in Jacksonville Florida on vacation. I will post pics on return to North Georgia!

 

Thats not an engine swap, thats a body swap. I knew what you encountered with the cab mounts, but I'm surprised to hear that the bed is that close to fitting.

 

I was wrong. Even though the regular cab ranger and the explorer are both 112" wheelbase, the bed requires modifications to fit. I used two brackets in the rear to go from the bed to the wider frame of the explorer. In the middle I drilled 2 holes and used spacers to line up the body lines. I haven't gotten to the front of the bed yet. I had to trim one of the cross supports of the bed so it would sit center over the rear axle. I also had to move the emissions canister and bracket from where the spare tire mounts.

 

Pictures

 

Pictures

 

I'm still surprise that it fit that well. I assumed that the frame would be high enough towards the back on the explorer that the bed would sit higher as well.

 

The rear cross brace on the bed has to be clearanced, as well as the rear of frame, but it does fit.