98 ranger swap

Bowz · #1 12-01-2010, 04:28 PM

Hello all, looks like the 98 ranger is getting the swap i was planning on doing further down the road is going to happen sooner then i thought.
Was helping my dad move some stuff and we started noticing a leak coming from around my engine. well i thought maybe it was the seal around my oil filter so i just shrugged it off till i got home. (it wasn't leaking that bad) well turns out it wasn't the filter. I went and took my friend home and noticed the ranger was smoking a little more then usual and started smelling alot like antifreeze was in the exhaust. dropped her off and quickly tried to get home taking it easy to see if the truck was going to over heat. the truck didn't over heat till i got in the driveway. come to find out that leak wasn't my filter there is a crack in the block right about where my oil filter was.

i was hoping to do this swap further down the road but it turns out i still have a DD vehicle so i can take my time and do the 302 swap after all. Am i happy i have to spend the money now, no. So my quick couple questions to you guys are very simple ones and im sure i could do the research and find them myself. I just felt it would be easier to get ya'lls input on this. I am currently looking for a 302 and i was told that the explorer one was better for the truck cam. I am not really worried about what 302 i get as long as it runs. i can swap parts out later. my real question is that its a 98 ranger manual trans. I know my transmission now wont hold up to the 302. what other transmissions are out there besides the T5 will work on the 302 and fit without trying to change the driveshaft out. Im trying not to break my wallet right now. I just want the 302 to run and drive so i can get the truck back up before some of the real ice and snow may fall in GA. granted we have like a 15% chance but i'd rather not run the risk. I'll try and keep this one updated with what i go through and pictures. I want this build to work and any input from others are a great plus. the less snags i hit the faster and easier this will go. BTW im not going Carb 302 i'd like to stay FI.

Post what you know and like i said i'll try and keep this updated when i get something in or am working on something.

Airtruksrus · #2 12-03-2010, 05:12 AM

Shame to hear about the cracked block. Expo 5.0 are great for swaps, better to get a donor vehicle. Robbed mine from a mustang and made it work but still took close to 7 months with limited funding. I'm just now getting the last important items swapped out. The driveshaft will probably have to be resized. As for tranny's, plenty of choices - C4, T5, T56, AOD(better choice for versatility and gas mileage) . Do plenty of research before taking the plunge, electronics and wiring will be fairly challenging unless you eventually get frustrated and go with a carb. Document everything...

Bowz · #3 12-04-2010, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airtruksrus

Shame to hear about the cracked block. Expo 5.0 are great for swaps, better to get a donor vehicle. Robbed mine from a mustang and made it work but still took close to 7 months with limited funding. I'm just now getting the last important items swapped out. The driveshaft will probably have to be resized. As for tranny's, plenty of choices - C4, T5, T56, AOD(better choice for versatility and gas mileage) . Do plenty of research before taking the plunge, electronics and wiring will be fairly challenging unless you eventually get frustrated and go with a carb. Document everything...

I went to school to be a mechanic so I will see it as a learning experience. Wiring I don't this I'll have a problem with I aced that class with flying colors. I won't be doing this alone so it should go by fairly well I hope. The guy that is helping said he has done a lot of s10 projects like that and his neighbor is a ford mechanic so hopefully it should go fairly smooth. (crosses fingers) like I said I'll keep this one updated I got a feeling it's goint to be more then one weekend.

Airtruksrus · #4 12-06-2010, 07:00 AM

It could take a while unless you got everything ready to go, most of the down time was for just waiting for parts and lots of fabrication. The wiring was a small part of it, yours will probably have the anti-theft, not sure but involves much more than just the engine wiring, see if you can get a hold of the OEM shematics. Get all the help you can get unless they hinder your progress. Either way you'll have a blast when it gets done.

Bowz · #5 12-06-2010, 11:56 PM

My only down time right now is finding everything. I haven't found me a motor or a good cheap manual transmission with a computer yet. My main thing is i can find the motor and find the transmission.. just with no truck its like... i can't go pick them up. i found a motor a trans and a computer w/ the FI kit all for around 900 bucks. if i can get it lower i would be on them like a mad man.. i just can't go crazy right now though on upgrades or anything outrageous on this motor. I just want it to be back up and running. waiting to hear back from a couple of my buddies if i can barrow their cherry picker and their engine stand and i'll go grab them.. i have the tools to tear it down and everything. Exhaust wont be a problem either i hope i figure whats on the truck now i'll pull off move everything around and weld it all back together and get it ready for the V8.

jfive · #6 12-07-2010, 12:30 AM

L and L makes the best engine mounts in my opinion, but advanced has stuff for cheaper. L and L also has the heavy duty relocation kit for the filter I believe. Since its a 4x4 you have a few options for trannys but less than mentioned above. C4,baby C6, M50D-R2, AOD, AODE, 4RW70 not sure if its the same bellhousing, ect. Explorer manifolds are suppose to clear. Need a dual sump oil pan, and I got one from a 302 that came out of a 80 ford fairmont. What year motor and computer did you get.

Bowz · #7 12-08-2010, 04:00 AM

Haven't gotten a computer or a motor yet. Still in the process of looking for one. As soon as i have bought the engine and trans and computer I'll fill everything in and more details and pictures till then I can't really say I've done alot other then surfing craigslist and stuff.

Bowz · #8 12-15-2010, 01:30 PM

ok so i have a motor and a transmission (well getting one this sunday for around 600 bucks and i gotta rebuild the transmission)-good thing im a mechanic- my problem is now the guy im buying the motor from is telling me some things i didn't even think about which is well screwing me up a bit.. gotta hate when a wrench gets thrown into your plans.

so what he said is im getting a T5 trans from him. he said though the T5 is not a 4wd transmission its only 2 wheel drive. i would like to keep 4wd if i can keep it but it is sounding like its not possible to do so...

So my question is without having to go Automatic how can i keep my 4x4 intact and not lose it? I really don't want to go Awd if i was gonna do that i would of gone Diesal engine. so has anyone kept a manual transmission with a 4wd? its a 98 and its electronic 4wd... please someone tell me there is a way to keep this 4wd i really don't want to lose it but if i have to, to get my truck up and running again i will... atleast until i find more money to find another route to get it back.

Anyone?

Psychopete · #9 12-16-2010, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowz

what other transmissions are out there besides the T5 will work on the 302 and fit without trying to change the driveshaft out. Im trying not to break my wallet right now.

Sounds like you're going to end up with a lot of regrets on this. If you simply don't have the money to do it, should wait until you do and just find a used low mileage replacement engine to swap in. A brand new custom made drive shaft tailered to your truck usually runs under $300; that isn't "much" compared to the other things you will need to buy.

Need to research more; any small block 4WD manual would work, but need to research what fits best as far as transfer case. Hear there's a M5OD-R2 from a later F-150 that keeps the shifter close to stock. Keep in mind that auto PCM will not work so well w/ manual with out some tweaking to the software (more $$). Just some things to look for; I didn't research 4WD stuff much since my swap was 2WD - this is stuff I only remember reading about on various swap threads.

Bowz · #10 02-08-2011, 03:33 PM

Ok let me Update this a little more seeing as its been awhile and im slow at returning replys.

I bought a used 97 mountaineer 5.0 and im in the process of moving everything over... as of today both motors are out and the 5.0 is going back in. Wiring and everything has been moved over and the fuel lines and ABS are even moved over... right now it looks like a bare truck with just a engine sticking out of it... everything right now is working so far. no mods to the engine mounts or anything. it also looks like the drive shaft will also fit to the AWD from the mountaineer. So all in all im moving from a run down beat up truck to get some luxury.. getting cruise and tilt wheel and PDL and maybe PW if i feel up to the challenge. other then that everything is moving pretty smoothly as it can is this freezing as weather Georgia is having... global warming is killer especially in the shade.

zymmer4 · #11 02-09-2011, 05:51 AM

you don't want to know what it feels like crawling under the frontend when it is 9 degrees in the sun..hehe

edgeman4.0 · #12 02-09-2011, 06:11 AM

glad to see some progress

Bowz · #13 02-19-2011, 07:42 PM

*Update* the ranger has the 5.0L in in and has been started sorry i haven't recorded it yet still doing minor things so i don't break my speakers recording it.. right now still open headers and by tuesday she will be up and rolling.. but not AWD at that time i gotta get a new front DS or a rebuilt one because the one we took out of the mountaineer and the ranger were horrible.. will post what pictures i do have and what video i record when i get around to it.