98 ford ranger 2.5l to 302

jleed88 · #1 04-05-2015, 12:59 PM

Doing a 5.0 swap into a 98 ford ranger. Ive heard of the mountaneer/explorer swaps but i cant find an engine from those. I am looking at a 302 from a 93 mustang http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/pts/4955452735.html or a 302 out of an 85 http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/pts/4946673045.html I would like to know if either one of these would be a simpler swap or id have to go through any extra mods with either one of these. thanks.

win · #2 04-05-2015, 02:05 PM

Best answer is to find an 96 or 97 V8 Explorer or Mountaineer. A '98 would make a passible doner but adds some electrical complications, but might solve some emissions issues.

It's not just (or only) the engine. The doner Expo supplies the transmission, cruise control cable, throttle cable, radiator, oil filter adapter, complete FEAD, AC and Power Steering hoses, air filter/air intake.

In many cases, the Expo also supplies the drive shaft and rear disk brake, limited slip axle.

Trying to piece everything together from breakers yards can get expensive and time consuming.

In my case, I bought a crashed but running/driving Expo for $650. Sold a bunch of the interior bits out of it for $250 and scrapped the carcass for over $400. Made ALL of the Expo V8 bits I needed FREE. Engine, trans, axle, everything. FREE.

Use craigslist and hunt around withing reasonable driving distances, the Expo's and Mounties are out there and usually cheap.

jleed88 · #3 04-07-2015, 06:07 PM

Awesome. Thanks for the reply. My truck is a 5spd. Would I run into any complications? Ive only gone as far as rebuilding engines this is going to be my first ever sswap

win · #4 04-07-2015, 08:07 PM

Manual transmissions do add some challenges:

Don't think there's any one off the shelf clutch solution. A bunch of guys have found workable clutch solutions so there are paths to take.

If you go the Expo route, the PCM will be real unhappy without the transmission talking to it so a custom tune becomes necessary. ($$$)

Dropping down to the last of the 302 Mustang PCM's solves some of those issues, but the wiring is more involved and you loose the superior coil pack ignition and I think the sequential port fuel injection.