hi there this is my first post and im not sure if im in the right place but im looking for a forum site that is about doing v8 swaps in rangers. maybe someone can help me out

 

Hi and Welcome to FTE! Please take moment to check out the Guidelines as they contain important info that you'll need when posting on the site:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html

We don't have a specific forum for Ranger V8 swaps, but we do have sevral members (myself included) who have done or are currently doing Ranger V8 swaps and can help you out with just about anything you need to know. Whatever questions you have, fire away...

 

There are two V8 Ranger sites that come to mind, but the Mods here don't allow me to tell . I've had a V8 in my 89 for 5 years now.

 

hm fire away eh? well first question i guess whats the best year ranger? wait let me start by telling you what im looking to do. EFI for sure..something fast for sure..motor wise..hm like to get a little aftermarket but nothing outrageous, prolly got for an auto also. now keep in mind i know just about nothing on fords so prolly ANY info about a ford i will be happy to learn.

 

Kind of hard to pick any one year or style and say it's the best, that's more a matter of personal preference. If you want to go with EFI it's probably easiest to start with a truck that's already EFI as it has pretty much all the systems you'll need already in place. My truck is an '89 and that's my favorite body style, '89-'92. EFI was offered in the earlier trucks as well, starting in '86. Almost the same truck, just a different front end and interior. Then in '93 they changed them up quite a bit, made them more rounded. I'm a bit fuzzy as to what exact years changes came down in the later Rangers, but at some point in the mid-'90s they went from OBD-I to OBD-II which is a bit more difficult to work with. On the other hand, if you were to start with a '97-up, it can be a bolt-in swap using components from a V8 Explorer.

If you like, I have several links to sites with more info.

 

sure i love info

 

Okay, digging into my archives here...

Harwood Perfomance. He's got a swap manual that's well worth the money, but he gives year-specific wiring instructions in the back so it's best to decide what year Ranger you want to use ahead of time and get the appropriate manual:

http://www.harwoodperformance.bizland.com/97Ranger.html

MercuRanger. Good swap page with lots of good info and links if you can get past the annoying flames on the site that make everything in your browser jump:

http://www.mercuranger.com/

James Duff. Parts and some basic swap info:

http://www.jamesduff.com/broncoII/v8conversion.html

L&L. Swap parts:

http://www.jamesduff.com/broncoII/v8conversion.html

MRE. He's got a book too, but the info is sketchy. It's more of a forum to show off his 460 Ranger swap:

http://www.mre-books.com/ranger.html

Speedfreak's Explorer swap page:

http://groups.msn.com/Explorer50LConversions

Pinella's V8 Ranger page:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/519188/1

Jason's Ranger swap page:

http://sleepinranger.com/Home/home.htm

And last (and maybe least) some pics of my own swap, still in the works and very incomplete at this point, with no real info, just pics:

http://rides.webshots.com/album/344645657dMpWey

Hope this is of some help.

 

ooo lots to read i checked out your pics first. that first motor..eh wow just a LITTLE rusty huh? lol the other motor thats going in it looks really good ill glady take it for an xmas present. hehe thanks for all the info

 

Easiest swap is a 98-up using a V8 Explorer/Mountaineer for a donor. Easiest engine over all others is the 302/5.0. Headers are off the shelf, several that work from other applications. As for the swap company links, everything they sell, you can source cheaper on your own. The only swap company item I'd recommend is the James Duff radiator.

 

The first motor pics were just an old rusty block I used for a mockup...heck, even the truck in those pics was a mockup, as it was an '83, not my '89.

 

I was the one who schooled Pinellas50 on how and where to place the engine/transmission in his truck. I posted the instructions on the TRS forums (engine swap stickys)

 

i have a 2005 ranger edge 4x4 manual transmission with the 4.0. What years of the mountaineer/explorers do i need to find to do the 5.0 swap?
also will i need to find one thats 4x4 with manual transmission?
im such a noob so go easy on me for the stupid questions. Ive never done a swap before. So if you could tell me everything i need id appreciate it.

 

There were no v8 Explorers or Mountaineers that came with manual transmissions. You can get their v8 engines, and install a manual transmission of your choice, with a transfer case, and adapt the rest of the drive train.

 

What is the Best manual transmission to put in the ranger with the 302?

 

It depends on what you mean by "best". There are probably many choices that will fit behind a small block Ford v8, so it won't be hard to find one that you thin is the "best"