Thread: 5.0 motor swap

Ok, i'm sure this has been asked 1000 times but i'm asking anyway.

I have a 99 ford ranger 2wd with a 2.5 4banger, what year 5.0 motor can i use and still pass emissions (az) and what is all needed to be done to do this?

in california the motor has to be newer than the truck and have all the smog equipment

get a painless 5.0 wiring kit, motor mounts hardest part is gonna be exhust

Ok, sounds too easy! lol

Originally Posted by speed king

in california the motor has to be newer than the truck and have all the smog equipment

close, it can be the same year or newer.

Originally Posted by White94OneFiDDy

get a painless 5.0 wiring kit, motor mounts hardest part is gonna be exhust

the exhaust wont be to hard. there are several companies out there that make swap kits for this. advance adapter is one. not sure on the quality.
jegs sells a kit also. they all have the header manifolds for sale. there is a certain year headers that bolt right up. it depends on the motor mounts you get.
when i was looking into it, i got a how to Manuel from james duff that had a bunch of useful things in it. not sure if they still have it. get a remote oil filter.
i went with the 4.0 SOHC swap. i think being in cali that it would be easier to get through the ref.

now some one hire me or refer me to your HR so I can get this motor swap done.

Charlie, How is the power on the 4.0?

Originally Posted by azpimpdaddy

Charlie, How is the power on the 4.0?

i have not done it yet. the guy helping me (using his tools/garage since all my stuff is in storage) wife is pregnant now and they just move into there new house last year. so he has all kinds of home projects to do before the baby comes and my motor swap was not one of them.
i found another place but it is to close to baja to get it all done so the week after baja it is on.
yours is a 99. not sure when they stop making the 302 so you may be to late. is 99 a OBII? if so and if you cant do the 302 then the SOHC would be a good option for you.

just did a search and it looks like 95 was the last year for a 5.0. if anybody knows different??

if that is true, you might have to go with the 4.6 v8. i have heard of a few in rangers but don’t know much about them. have one in my Tbird. smooth power and runs nice. it is a lot wider and that can create some problems with suspension and headers. to do a legal easy swap for more power, its looking like the 4.0 SOHC.
Check out rangerstation. They may have more info.

Originally Posted by charlie_brown

just did a search and it looks like 95 was the last year for a 5.0. if anybody knows different??

Sorry for bringing this back, but...

I just picked up a 1980 Bronco with a re-man 302 in it from 2003... I'm going to be putting it in a 85 Ranger.

Would they consider the age of the motor or the truck that it was installed in?

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/for...splay.php?f=12
check that site out, they have a ton of useful info on v8 swaps, the 4.6 isnt quite as easy a swap as the 5.0 is from what ive read.

1980 with a 2003 302? What's the firing order on the 302? Is it an h.o. I just ask because you wouldn't be able to run the 302 out of anything newer then 1994 in a 1980 without changing the computer on the bronco or changing the cam on the 302 because after 1994 the firing order changed from what the 1980 bronco would have if it originally came with a 302

Originally Posted by f150drivingkido

1980 with a 2003 302? What's the firing order on the 302? Is it an h.o. I just ask because you wouldn't be able to run the 302 out of anything newer then 1994 in a 1980 without changing the computer on the bronco or changing the cam on the 302 because after 1994 the firing order changed from what the 1980 bronco would have if it originally came with a 302

Sorry, it is a 2003 crate 302 non-efi (no computer)

the broncos original motor went in 03 and this was installed as a brand new unit with 0 miles. Technically speaking this is an old style 302 mfg. in 2003.

Hope that makes more sense.

you may want to call a ref. on this one.
my take from talking to others about this is: they stopped putting 5.0 in mustangs in about 97 i think. they were still putting them in explores for a few years longer. your donor vehicle has to be the same year or newer. you have to put all the new motor stuff in your truck. just because it is a 03 create motor, the ref is going to look at it as a 1980 motor with a rebuild of 2003.

like on my swap from a 88 2.9 to a 01 4.0 SOHC. i got the dash, computer, wiring, cats, trans, gauge cluster from the donor truck and putting it in my truck. since i have a fuel cell, i got a small 10 gal stock 2nd tank out of a ranger that i will have to hook up to get it through the smog ref.

this way when the ref smog test my truck or any motor swap car, it needs to pass the test for the year make and model for where the motor came from.

wow really a smog ref wont let you pass with a fuel cell? Has to be all stock components huh?

Originally Posted by AAAlovesME

wow really a smog ref wont let you pass with a fuel cell? Has to be all stock components huh?

You need all of the stock equipment from the vehicle you're taking stuff from.

California Engine Swap Guidelines - Import Tuner Magazine (Has to do with a Civic, but I'm 99% sure it still applies to trucks.)

302 went in f1s til 96, 97 new gen and they started using the modulars,
expo 302s up til like 00 or 01
idk about broncos or cars

but the casting no on the block is under the intake manifold so nobody would kno what block ur using, they would only go off what their comp says when they plug into the ecu

any more info is appreciated, i have 2 302s in my garage, one is going in my ranger haha

V-8 Tech - Ford Ranger Forum - The Ultimate Ford Ranger Resource
I would read through this forum theres more then enough info to do a 5.0 swap in here, and alot of the things in this thread are wrong just fyi.

Originally Posted by ford rules

V-8 Tech - Ford Ranger Forum - The Ultimate Ford Ranger Resource
I would read through this forum theres more then enough info to do a 5.0 swap in here, and alot of the things in this thread are wrong just fyi.

Care to elaborate oh wise one?

Originally Posted by Brandon_Charley

Care to elaborate oh wise one?

Im not trying to argue or start a fight here there is alot of good tech in that fiorum read it and i wont have to elaborate.
Alot has to do with what year 5.0 you use. I used a 96 in my 5.0 because it was basically a plug and play thing only had to change the charging wiring harness for the 5.0 alt.
You would have to research but im pretty sure if you have a 99 ranger you should use the new 5.0 out of an expo its more of a plug and play thing. Headers are only 2 options torque monsters.$700 or stock manifolds you can use regular 5.0 headers cause of the gt40-p heads reangled plugs and tight fit in the a-arm ranger.
Motor mounts i believe once again you can use a stock mount out of either the expo or ranger.
Your prollay gonna want to swap in a bigger radiator dont buy the james duff swap in one there junk.
I dont think you will need the oil filter relocation but not 100% sure.
I think 01 was the last year for the 5.0 expos there the easiest to swap in as they have a shorter front pulley and water pump assembly than other 5.0's there just packaged tighter.
What tranny are you going to run and computer?
Drive shafts will need to be shortened i believe.
You may need to swap the column for the PATS and use the keys from the expo.
Like i said i did my research for the older body style rangers 95-97 OBD II trucks, From what i recall from reading and researching most of this is correct but read through that forums you will have plenty of info. Rwenzing is a member on there he knows his shit on the newer truck 5.0 swaps he has on with a 5.0 in it.

I'm seeing a lot of "I think" "I believe" "I'm pretty sure" in your post, don't come on here saying people are wrong when you don't actually know what you're talking about.

Read the thread alot of the shit i said is a lot more better info then the other stuff in the thread. I dont see you bringing any info either.

Just completed a 1997 Explorer 5.0 to 1991 Ranger swap relatively easy swap. You need to use at least a 99 engine and all its smog but will be simple as that year Ranger has the same frame up front as the Explorer I suggest buying a donor car or you will be held hostage for small parts. Get past smog then modify.

Originally Posted by Alpineblue

Just completed a 1997 Explorer 5.0 to 1991 Ranger swap relatively easy swap. You need to use at least a 99 engine and all its smog but will be simple as that year Ranger has the same frame up front as the Explorer I suggest buying a donor car or you will be held hostage for small parts. Get past smog then modify.

The newer ranger swaps are a little more dificult from what i have read and yes get the whole donor vehicle if possible