dasfinc's 1998 5.0 ranger build thread

[dasfinc]

Not sure where to put this, so here we go:

Well, the back story is pretty easy, I bought a 1998 Ford Ranger XLT reg cab, flareside, of its ORIGINAL owner last November, Drove it through winter, then sold it to a close friend... Friend Enlisted before he finished paying it off, and the transmission started to let go, so I bought it back off of him *Obviously at this stage, From him paying me, and the original purchase price, I probably only had $500 into buying this truck...

I also have a few other cars/trucks, but more importantly I had a 98 ranger, with a slipping transmission taking up space in my drive way, that isn't really worth **** with the trans grasping at straws, so I decided to do the only rational thing... And Swap it :rotfl:

Here's my girl: *Pardon the frost on the hood, and its the Factory Metallic orange flake color whatever that is, Gorgeous in sunlight*

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/cars%20of%20mine/PIC-0200.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/cars%20of%20mine/PIC-0199.jpg

Then I needed to buy a motor, and a bunch of other nick nacks... So I started shopping for a motor and found one:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/PIC_0296.jpg

Oddly enough it came in with 4 wheels, and alot of scrap steel that managed to hobble its way home from the inner city front differential and bearing SCREAMING the whole way, but, I could not complain for a 5.0, harness, ECU, Transmission, and a 3.73 Posi 31 spline disk brake rear end :)

So I also needed some custom engine brackets for my ranger since it is a 4 cylinder 2WD, So I called up my bud and he whipped these up for me:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/motor20mount20003.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/motor20mount20001.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/motor20mount20002.jpg

Then of course, I also had some very ugly worn out bench seats in the ranger, along with the baller 14 inch rims, so I picked up something to take care of that as well:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/PIC_0267.jpg

And the money shot from late last week:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/a55ffb69.jpg

Just gotta pull the Differential out of the Explorer donor truck, and off to the crushers it goes, and under the knife the ranger goes :)

Out came the Diff, and out went the exploder

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/023.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/005-1.jpg

And as of Today *1/27* I ended up buying ANOTHER motor, found a low mile 98 Explorer to toss into her instead of rebuilding the one I snagged out of the donor truck, also picked up a 2wd Transmission since the 4x4 is no good for me!!!

Coming together fast!!!

[ScreamingMach46]

Cool project. I knew a guy from Indiana that put a 347 and C4 into a 98 Ranger, was a bad ass truck. When your done you want to swap a 4v into my 98 Ranger :cool2: :biglaugh:

[mike1284]

cant wait to see the finished product

[Juanizzle]

sweet ranger, ive been wanting to do one, let me know how it turns out.

[Chris91LX]

Nice project. I know a guy who swapped a built 306 into his Ranger and had everything from a tunnel ram to a 6:71 blower on it.

Where are you located. I'm not used to seeing yards without snow on the ground.

[LTDmasta GT]

awesome project! gotta love these explorer engines.. so much potential, and they are screamers with just a cam swap!

[dasfinc]

Nice project. I know a guy who swapped a built 306 into his Ranger and had everything from a tunnel ram to a 6:71 blower on it.

Where are you located. I'm not used to seeing yards without snow on the ground.

Warrenville IL, its snowing right now, Lol.

I've only seen maybe 4-5 other rangers in the US like mine *2wd, EFI 5.0, 98+* Being a 2wd its coil-sprung and instantly becomes unpopular with most people due to the extra work involved.

Thanks for all the interest guys!!! I can't wait to have it done either, I'll be terrorizing the streets in no time :word:

[dasfinc]

Cool project. I knew a guy from Indiana that put a 347 and C4 into a 98 Ranger, was a bad ass truck. When your done you want to swap a 4v into my 98 Ranger :cool2: :biglaugh:

Modular swaps are a PPPAAAAIINNNNNNNN In the ass in rangers, motors are TOO wide

[dasfinc]

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/032.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/033.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/034.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/036.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/038.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/040.jpg

[Shade]

Will it fit?

[dasfinc]

Will it fit?

yup, it is a fucking squeeze, gotta pull the fan and intake Man to fit it

[UWISHU1]

for realz looks tight :o

[Juanizzle]

oh they fit in there, ive seen it quitea few times :)

[dasfinc]

oh they fit in there, ive seen it quitea few times :)

Everyone says that, but again, the 98+ 2wd is a coil-sprung front end, its a different kind of animal all together. I'm one of probably only a dozen in the US :).

[dasfinc]

Teaser :)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/GetAttachmentaspx.jpg

[mike1284]

gonna look sick

[PURE EVIL]

I want to do this to my 93 so bad.

[dasfinc]

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/IMG_0312.jpg

[BLAZE]

Oh snap!

[dasfinc]

Finally got around to the rear suspension also.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/photo-1.jpg

[mike1284]

did you chop the front bumper?

[dasfinc]

did you chop the front bumper?

Broke off the lower valence by mistake, I'll fix it later. :-p

[dasfinc]

http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/?action=view&current=IMG_0332.flv

[5.0eric]

nice!

[Ponyxpress]

do yo uhave any tips If I was to do this on my 1993 Ranger same set-up 2 wheel drive witbh a 4 banger 310,000 mile all original and the trans went out on it I would love to do this to it. ANy Advice?

[dasfinc]

And we are rolling!!!

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/th_IMG_0179.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/dasfinc/?action=view&current=IMG_0179.flv)

Unfortunatly the 93 is a COMPLETELY different animal from my 98...

My tips would be: "Do it Do it Do it Do it"

But My advice would be "Research Research Research"

I think with a 93 2wd, you'd need to use 5.0 mustang convertible mounts? NO idea what motor either, probably want a 89-95 motor if you are sticking with EFI like me... Good luck!!!