Thee Gherkin build, 5.0

JAMMANICA · #1 08-08-2016, 07:48 PM

Been wanting to do a 5.0 swap for let's say... over 25 years.

This is going to be the first of 2 trucks I want to put 5.0's in, it is the practice run LOL.

Starting with a 2000 Amazon green single cab short bed ranger, originally with a 2.5 and auto. Previous owner attempted a head gasket change and locked the cam up after 30 miles on the new gasket. I trailered the truck with the partially disassembled motor to the place I work. I'm blessed in that respect we do fuel systems ant turbos for diesels there and have bays and lifts and all kinds of helpful tools.

Donor is a 1997 Mountaineer. Neither Monty or Gherkin came with PATS so that isn't an issue.

Some initial pics:

Trailered it to the shop. Pulled it with my Dodge.

Found an open bay:

Previous owner quit while he was behind:

Monty, the donor:

Monty's powerplant:

Out comes the 2.5:

Empty for now...

Isaacc44 · #2 08-08-2016, 08:03 PM

I wanna see moree. Post lots of pics. This build us gonna be awesome

JAMMANICA · #3 08-08-2016, 08:16 PM

The donor vehicle is turning out somewhat of a pain. It was so rusty that a lot of the bolts were difficult to deal with. I didn't want to pull the trans since I didn't need it, would have probably been easier to yank everything.

Nice thing was I have no plans for the rest of the mountaineer except to scavenge the mirrors, rear end and possibly front seats then it is going to the squisher.

So here is how that part went:

Radiator and condenser out. Lots of other stuff disconnected:

Circumstances... no options to get the left mount un done except for the 2 top studs. Don't try this at home, we are hacks.
Don't need no stinkin shock tower anyway:

Don't tell Fred we borrowed his sawzall:

Aaahhh can see the rusty little boogers now:

Pull! Pull! Every inch there seemed to be another wire or tube to remove. The dowel pin between the bell housing and the motor was rusted in the motor... we shook this thing for 5 minutes before we saw enough light to put a pry bar in.

Just a few more wires, hoses and brackets left.... and that pesky oil cooler or water heater thingy:

Took us WAY too long but it eventually did pop out:

Houston, we have liftoff:

Both bolts holding the mounting plate on passenger side are snapped off in the block. Have some drilling and tapping ahead of me:

One bolt was missing from the driver side plate, one was still there but could not be removed from under:

So I drove this thing over 100 miles with one bolt holding the motor down. Yay.

uncle · #4 08-08-2016, 10:32 PM

Good luck with your install.

JAMMANICA · #5 08-09-2016, 10:00 AM

Whoever designed this just didn't care.

These early expo/mountaineer motors now scream at me as I pass them "Help me, I'm choking!!"

I hope the later cast manifolds are much more open than this:

horizon94 · #6 08-10-2016, 06:00 AM

This build somehow gets me excited, keep it going!

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BlueOvalGuy92 · #7 08-11-2016, 09:26 AM

Good luck with this! Excited to see your build!!! Need more 5.0 Swap threads on here!

JAMMANICA · #8 08-12-2016, 11:22 AM

Drained oil, flipped motor upside down.

Proof it is GT40 and not P heads:

Funny thing... entire project has been 100% metric.

I get to the bolts holding the mount plate to the motor and pull the last remaining good bolt..... 7/16-14! Inbreeding?

Time to start drilling:

JAMMANICA · #9 08-17-2016, 04:21 PM

This part may seem boring, but it had to happen in order to continue. If for some reason this didn't work out the project would have shifted gears drastically.

Drilling the snapped screws. I don't know what scared me and kept me from doing this for a week.

First of all easy outs simply do not work most of the time. I don't even try it any more, the way I get broken bolts out is center punch, drill 1/8, then drill the tap drill size. It walks a little always but usually plenty of threads left to sufficiently torque a screw.

Drilling first holes:

The effect after second drill/tap drill size:

Running a tap in there to clean things up:

Testing with grade 8 bolts:

YAY it worked, now I can order some stuff for the motor and order the transmission. Whew.

JAMMANICA · #10 08-23-2016, 03:05 PM

Got the trans today. Starting to wish I had just done a 4WD ror.

Got wet in transit, someone removed a sensor and didn't plug the hole:

The other side:

Front:

JAMMANICA · #11 08-24-2016, 12:25 PM

Got me some new bearings, made a tool, removed old junk, replaced with new junk. Not going to blast and paint this project just going for function.

JAMMANICA · #12 08-25-2016, 10:09 AM

WOOOHHHOOOO!! SCORE!

Motorsports headers. Only one of the 4 header companies I e-mailed actually got back with me, and it was a "I would try these" giving me an off the shelf JBA 1627S. It has to work the first time, I can't be grinding and welding frame.

Found these on facebook. Mine now.

Isaacc44 · #13 08-25-2016, 10:26 AM

Sweet man! Can't wait to see them on

shotgunjake12 · #14 08-25-2016, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAMMANICA

WOOOHHHOOOO!! SCORE!

Motorsports headers. Only one of the 4 header companies I e-mailed actually got back with me, and it was a "I would try these" giving me an off the shelf JBA 1627S. It has to work the first time, I can't be grinding and welding frame.

Found these on facebook. Mine now.

What Facebook page did you find these headers on? I'm in the process of doing a 5.0 swap and need some headers. What exact brand are they and if you know the model number?

JAMMANICA · #15 08-25-2016, 02:54 PM

Just one set, sorry. Turns out to be a member on one of the explorer forums, he has OBX headers he bought, I can only assume he replaced these with the OBX.

No idea the part number, I do know they are Ford Motorsport headers, they were made for explorers 98 to 2001 with a 5.0 and GT40P heads (will fit regular GT40 heads also), they were discontinued by Ford, and it is very hard to find a set. I bet they are not nearly as good as the OBX (which I can't get an answer from OBX if they still make them) nor as good as the Torque monsters (good luck finding a set) but I'm convinced they are better than the stock manifolds of any year.

I did find a guy in Minnesota that has an explorer with torque monsters and a tru trak rear end that only wants 1500 for the truck (currently not road worthy) but he wouldn't answer my calls or messages.

So for anyone looking for bolt on headers for their 5.0 ranger just keep on the search daily and you will need more luck than money.