2001 Ranger 3.0 to 4.6 Swap
 

I just bought a 2001 Ranger with a 3.0 V-6(dog) and wondered if a 4.6 Mustang GT V-8 &AOD would be a difficult swap.

As far as I know, the mod motors are humongus, I have doubts as to if it would fit.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the 4.6 been available in Explorers since about '96 or 97? I thought the Ranger and Explorer were a very similar platform....

Nope. They quit that when the sploder went to unibody in 98.

Yes you can stuff a 4.6 in the Ranger, nobody makes anything for it, and you'll need to be a fairly good welder to accomplish this.

If you do it and take pictures and do a write up, I'll give you $50.

Thanks for the reply, doesn't sound like the finest of ideas.... Are there any successful V-8 swaps for 2001+ Rangers without an engineering degree and or a monster garage crew? :-huh

The 5.0 is still good for 2001 as far as emissions with the feds and was in the Exploders until the most recent sissyfying in 02 when the 4.6 came in.

The 4.6L can be put in a Ranger, IF you call the Lightning Bolt a Ranger (it IS in NAME ONLY in that case) and you get Ford's blueprints for that.

The F150s have to have the cab pulled from the frame to service the heads (well, the factory recommends that) so I doubt the Ranger would fit that engine too easily.

Are you implying the 4.9L or the 5.0L? What year's V8s with the most HP would fit in what year Ranger? '98 and up?

The best I've seen so far is the 4.9L (215 HP) from the Explorer or 4.9L (235HP) from the '93 Mustang. Are these compatable?

Thanks

The only 4.9 that Ford made was the 300 six. Yes, technically the 302 is 4.9L but Ford wanted to distinguish it from their strait six.

Engines out of 1989-1993 Mustangs and Explorers with the 302 are the most commonly used but any year 302 would work. For a '98 and up Ranger I personally would dig one out a 'sploder.

i've got an 88 5.0 from a mustang in my ranger.

to put the question to rest:
you will never be able to fit a 4.6 under your hood unless you plan on re-doing almost everything including moving the firewall back. ford (it might not have even been ford. i believe it was SLP) did produce one lightning bolt with a supercharged 4.6 in it but redid everything including widening the frame and a whack load of other stuff. it was pretty much a ranger body on a lightning frame

Would you dig it out of a 'sploder because it would be easier to install, or because of the computer? Would the fact that my truck is a 5-spd make a difference? I don't think the 4.9L Explorers came with manual transmissions.

Also, wouldn't the older engines be easier to find parts for? Exhuast, etc... I suppose after the swap most anything would be custom fit.

Thanks for the help.

For what I have seen so far swaping any mod motor into a ranger is going to be a quit a chore the mod motors (4.6/5.4 sohc or dohc) are just shy of 31 inches wide at the valve covers. Which puts the left (drivers side) head on the wrong side of the power booster/master cylinder not to mention steering linkage headers should not be a problem just route them to the outside of the frame rail (fenderwell headers) steering should be an easy fix by switch to a mustang style rack and pinion behind the front suspension instead of infront of it. That leaves the master cylinder problem still working on that issue since my 5.4 dohc is going into a 94 ranger with drive by wire hydraulic steering (4x4 on 49 iroc's with custom 3 link front and rear) I am considering an under the cab setup like they used in older jeep cj's. I'll keep you posted now that my life is somewhat back to normal after all these damm hurricanes.

it been done
 

I know this post was some time ago. but just to let u know I have put a 4.6 32 valve. out of a 96 Lincoln. witch we all know is a dual over head cam engine. it fits like a glove. the only thing a had to remake was the a/c box. so let me tell u it can be done.

Pictures or it didn't happen^^^^^^^^