Did he have it tuned? Ill have to check it out. SCT has a program for my laptop that will allow me to go into the computer and tune everything. I should be able to adjust for the cam.

so i read through his thread and your right, the b cam gave him a lot of issues. Thanks for the heads up. I guess time to search for another one

 

just a few pictures from earlier

 

Judging by those cylinder walls, I would have run that motor. Probably would have freshened up the valves/seals and stuck a new oil pump on it, but that engine is not hurt. Curious, did you check the compression before you tore it down? I'll be following this swap.

 

Once I got into it I thought the same thing, but my buddy has me rethinking. I did not check compression since I was planning on sending it out anyway, but it ran very smoothly and started right up. I was even beating on it pretty good around the house spinning it up to redline and she loved it lol.

This is my first real rebuild and iv always thought you should bring it to the machine shop no matter what. Anyone else have opinions on this?

 

At this stage you may as well go through it, so it's moot now. Whether or not you would have wanted to run it as-is depends on what you're looking for... If bumping compression, HP, etc is the #1 goal, then go through it. If you want a basically stock motor, and it ran good, didn't smoke, had good compression, etc then there were still a lot of miles left on it most likely. Loose motors are happy motors... They run cooler, start easier, and get better mileage... as long as everything else is is right.

 

I was never going to run it as is. Its getting all new bearings, pistons, and seals. The question is do I bring it to the machine shop for honing and what not or should I just order stock sized bearings and pistions and throw it together. A loose motor is a happy motor until you run it near redline most of the time. I would think you would want all your tolerances to be on the smaller end for that right? This truck is a toy not a means of transportation. I have fun with it and don't hold back.

 

Like I said, it's a moot point anyway... you've already torn it all the way down, so now you'll have to go through it. As for your Q about honing, etc... by all means, have the shop do it up. No way would I rebuild it using stock size components. You'll need to go oversize on the bore at least. You'll have to mic the journals, etc, to see if standard size bearings will be ok.

When I said a loose motor is a happy motor, I meant that when a motor has some miles on it and is worn in (NOT worn out!), it runs good... runs cooler, better economy, stuff like that. Thats all I was saying. You said yourself that it ran good and seemed strong. It "loved it" as you said... that's a happy motor, and I'm betting there was a lot of life left in it. It sounds now like your best bet would be to drop your parts off at the rebuilders, don't scrimp, and go pick up your new motor when they're done with it.

 

Looks good. Im in the donor truck search stages myself.

That engine looks real clean for having 180k. But thats always good in the long run.

 

What headers do you plan on running? There are very few that work on the p heads and no longtubes that I know of will without modification.

 

im going to buy the flanges, collectors, and a bunch of bent piping and im going to make my own long tubes.

 

The blocks now at the machine shop. Ill find out tomorrow how it looks.

 

I just ordered the cam, I went with a trick flow stage 1. All the internals are getting ordered tomorrow. I have a new deadline, there's a mudbog sept 28, so I want to try to make it.

 

Nice! I haven't made it to a bog in like 4 years lol. I was about to ask what your timeframe was to complete this. Mind will be getting supercharged soon. Not as mean sounding as a v8 but it'll still be cool enough for me haha

 

Come to vermonster. If I get the block back by next week I should be able to make it. Thats going to be sick! Do you have to do injectors, fuel pump, intercooler all that good stuff?

 

I'm sure i can get the day off so If its done, I'll probably go.

For what i'm gonna run, i won't need any different injectors, fuel pump, or intercooler which is cool. Its a stock-friendly set up wiith 5.5lbs of boost so its reliable, efficient, and gives the truck around 70-80 more horse power. I'll be happy

 

that would be cool, get the supercharger on first so i can check it out. 70-80 gain is going to feel real nice haha. sounds like a nice little setup

 

Ill have it on before the winter but probably mid October :(

 

you are moving right along! have you started with wiring?

 

That's not that far out that's pretty good. Im going to have to check it out. I was thinking about slapping a charger on mine instead but for the money I might as well go v8 and have a lot more potential.

 

Ya I keep making progress every day. While the blocks out iv been cleaning up the heads and intake. I haven't touched any wiring yet. I won't be doing much to the ranger until the motors ready to go in.

 

You need new valve springs with that trick flow cam. I ran that same cam in my old Mustang. Its a rwal nice cam.

 

Yes I know. I'm also getting hardened push rods. That's what iv been seeing, most people love them. It should work with the explorer computer too

 

Should be awesome Craig! keep it up, I might have to follow your rebuild when i do mine.

 

I would get started on the wiring ASAP! It took me some time to wire, although I know the ranger and explorer share a lot of similarities. Not so much for the Navigator/Ranger. LOL

 

Thanks Andy! Do it up haha. Just remember this is more of a mustang setup then truck. I'm hoping with the 5.14 gears I should have enough torque down low until the cam kicks in. the cams designed for 2000-5500.

Lol I don't think you can compare these two swaps. The explorer 5.0 is almost a complete plug in and go, plus all the information out there on it. Your probably the only one with a 5.4 ranger I would expect a headache haha