A cheap donor 4.6 or 5.0 for a swap? I'm dying to replace my pitiful 2.3 but I can't seem to find a donor car for cheapcheap. I'm a high school student with an extremely limited budget, so cheaper is of course better. Any help for an aspiring v8 ranger owner?

 

Try a junkyard, duh. And a 4.6 doesn't swap easily.

 

Ya.... the words cheap and 4.6 swap do not going the same sentence when you are thinking about putting one in a ranger.

Hit the junk yard and get a 5.0 from there.

 

Try and find an explorer with the harness and everything else intact

 

The 5.0L makes the best swap but if your State DMV Rules say the same year or newer engine then there may be a problem.
I think the 5.0L came in Explorers/Mountaineers up to '02 so I do not know how you would handle that in an ’03.
Probably more Mountaineers out there and I think they were all V8s.
I have been told in MA that although you input the engine size the compters talk between themselves about “Yes” and “No’s” only so in MA you might get away with it.

From what I have read on this and other sites the big problem is mating the electronics of the Explorer’s Computer to the Ranger’s Systems, while not impossible it takes some determination to get’r done.

Search on 5.0L Swaps and read all of the info and then make a determination on which way to go.

Search the local JYs or find a decent Explorer or Mountaineer and buy the whole thing, just in case you need a little part.
There are JYs on line that will ship their engines but not sure how that works, it has been done by a guy on this site.

Again, search the site for 5.0 or 4.6 Swaps.

Good Luck,

 

so why is the 4.6 a hard swap

 

You sound like my friends 5 year old daughter.

It is cause we said so....
We could take our time explaining but...
Ford Ranger Forum - The Ultimate Ford Ranger Resource - Search Forums Because I'm grumpy. The 4.6 doesn't fit.

 

No really why is the 4.6 so much harder than a 5.0? Id rather have a 5.0 anyway but I'm just wondering. And would a 5.0 and wiring harness from a crown vic work about as easily? Crown vics seem way easier to find and cheaper too

 

i mean a 4.0 would be really easy to swap, but id rather have a 5.0 and a "where to find a 4.0" thread doesnt belong here

 

Eh why not just drive it untill you get out of high school enjoy the great mpg while you have it!

 

Biggest thing, check out all dimension first.
Check out the motor mount, trans and wire harness requirements.
Check out compatibility to electronics.

Just to name a few.

Good Luck.

 

The 4.6 fits but you may need to lose ac and parts of the firewall for clearance. If you find DOHC 4.6 then the problem becomes worse.

If you have time money and fab skills a 4.6 5.4 6.8 7.3 6.0 are all doable.


You asked for the easy route. Thats the 5.0. FWIW I picked up a 98 Ex for 650. Sold the extra parts off of it and made my money back. I now have a free 5.0.


Also Trucks did this swap check out what they did to get a dohc to fit. Called project rolling thunder.

Trucks
Trucks
Trucks
Trucks

 

I'd check Craigslist for a donor 5.0 Explorer. I've seen a few in my local area for under $1000k some for as little as $500. If you can find one with leather and some options for cheap you can part the rest out and get the swap done for very little as Blhde did.