Two wheel drive edge V8 options.

farmallranger · #1 01-01-2017, 04:08 PM

Rangers rock.
I've had a few good ones. Put a lot of miles on them.
Don't shoot me, my first hot rod was a v8 s10.
My first drag car was a 80 turbo mustang, with a 406 Chevy.
Only reason it got that way cause s10 body was gone, had the engine, n that was that. I had methods to my madness then, it was fun. Had a 69 maverick, transplanted a 88 t bird engine into, Efi swap.
That was educational. Built harness from scratch on kitchen table.
It ran and ran good.
So, now, I have a decent 2001 ranger edge, 2 wheel drive, torsion front suspension. 3.0, 5 speed, regular cab, short bed. On 235x15 tires.
Its a nice ride, runs fine, but,,,
Came across a 94 or 95 150, with a 351 Efi with aod. I'd be certain to say it's a speed density Efi. Not really an issue, being the harness I built is sd.
Its cheap, it's all there, ny thought be a swap candidate for my edge.
All be it, my harness is pretty much stand alone, meaning, power, ground n key switch power and it's functional with nothing from the rangers harness to chop.
When I swapped the 5.0 into the maverick, I got schooled on exhaust manifolds. My end result, was using the t bird cast manifolds, set em in a mill n cut till they fit with .375 clearance.
QUESTIONS: 351 with say maverick style manifolds fit inside rails?
I'd like to keep ac if possible.
Or, get a 01 5.0 explorer?
Anyone played with these year trucks?

stateranger · #2 01-01-2017, 08:15 PM

Best bet is get a is find an explorer with a 5.0 so you will have most everything you need.

http://www.v8-ranger.com/forum/viewt...=2451&start=15

farmallranger · #3 01-02-2017, 10:44 AM

Thank you Stateranger. Very good article.
My 3.0 runs good, 215k miles. I believe that it could use a freshen up on the bottom end. It doesn't knock or rattle, but I'm sympathetic tho.
I gather from the article, that not a lot of information is available on the torsion bar suspension and changes.
I can say, that the front crossmember is moved ahead quite a bit vs the coil spring style. I can see a double sump pan, may interfere in the front. Possible, not definite.
Got a lot of room between frame rails.
Its pretty much wide open space from back edge of front member.
I've always used trans mount location and then made what I needed up front. This trans tunnel seems to have a lot of space between cab floor and top of the mount.
This is just observations for conversation at the moment.
I can in frame overhaul the 3.0, then first thing going to happen is clutch goes out. Lol.
So it's a personal debate on which direction to take.
We all know for the money spent vs performance, is the v8 swap. Lol.
In reality, if I went thru the process of pulling out and fixing the stock drivetrain, the labor us bout same, I'd imagine that the 3.0 overhaul, clutch, flywheel, brgs etc, be a few hundred over a v8 swap.
I love this lil truck! The body n chassis is good, but ready for some new parts to freshen it up.

stateranger · #4 01-02-2017, 06:41 PM

I forgot edges have t bars. That makes it a lot simpler since explorers and rangers 4x4s have the same front suspension, an explorer 5.0 will more or less drop in with the explorer mounts.

farmallranger · #5 01-03-2017, 10:19 AM

Yea. I like the torsion bar setup.
Plug n play. Does the donor have to be 2001 specific, short question, what years can I use for plug n play?
I've always had to run 89-93 octane in my 3.0. It'll ping on 87. It has 180 psi cranking psi.
I think that's pretty healthy psi.
Anyways, I am leaning to pulling the pan and heads, see what I see.

win · #6 01-03-2017, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmallranger

Yea. I like the torsion bar setup.
Plug n play. Does the donor have to be 2001 specific, short question, what years can I use for plug n play?
I've always had to run 89-93 octane in my 3.0. It'll ping on 87. It has 180 psi cranking psi.
I think that's pretty healthy psi.
Anyways, I am leaning to pulling the pan and heads, see what I see.

Pinging, particularly with the 3.0 is often from carbon buildup. Ford fought for years to ease the 3.0's penchant for the carbon and resulting pinging.

There are no plug and play Expo 5.0's for the '01 Ranger. Only tricky bit is the a/c wiring and getting the speedo signal. The wiring is not rocket science, but time spent with both the '01 Ranger and doner Expo/Mounty wiring diagrams will pay off.

Probably easiest solution for the speed signal is to swap in and wire up a GEM from a similar year 4 cyl Ranger but grafting in chunks of the Expo/Mounty ABS is also a viable option.

farmallranger · #7 01-04-2017, 10:39 AM

Anyone ever hop up a 3.0?
Bored, stroked, cammed, why. Lol
I know it's a v8 forum. Thank you.