stretchstick
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2024
- Messages
- 11
- Reaction score
- 13
- Points
- 3
- Location
- Colorado Springs
- Vehicle Year
- 1999
- Make / Model
- Ford Ranger
Hello, and thank you for any assistance you may be able to provide.
I have researched the snot out of the V8 swap, reading as many threads on here (and elsewhere), as I could find. I also purchased the online V8 swap manual from Harwood Performance, but it appears to be geared more toward earlier models and 2 wheel drive versions. The '99 4X4 seems to be straight forward, but there are some questions I have that I have not come across as of yet, and a couple of questions just for reassurance.
For starters, this is what I have to work with -
The recipient -
1999 Ford Ranger XLT 4X4, extended cab, 4.0 OHV, M5R1 5 speed manual, BW1354 t-case, approx. 141k miles
The donor -
1999 Mercury Mountaineer AWD, 5.0 (302), 4R70W automatic, approx. 220k miles
I spent the better part of a year searching for the most appropriate donor for this swap. The Mountaineer is high mileage, but the engine and transmission will both be sent out for thorough inspection and rebuild. No work has been started on either vehicle. I plan on disassembling the Mountaineer later this month and following through with the transplant in July.
I will be retaining the Rangers BW1354 t-case and have already acquired the adapter from Advance. The 1354 vs. 4406 was a major area of debate between me and myself, but I don't intend on off roading the Ranger. It will be a daily driver and the only time it will see 4 wheel drive is in the snow. From the research I have done, the 1354 seems to be capable of standing up to a mild 302.
Converting from manual to automatic, needing a shifter, I plan on swapping the steering column and ignition lockset from the Mountaineer along with the pats module for simplicity. The door locks eventually to keep it down to one key.
My questions -
With the Ranger currently being a manual transmission, the clutch pedal must be depressed to start the truck, I assume this is akin to a neutral safety switch. How will this play out when converting from manual to auto?
The Ranger does not currently have cruise control where the Mountaineer does. This is something that I would like to eventually have in the Ranger. The Mountaineer cruise controls are on the steering wheel, and the Ranger has no wheel controls whatsoever. I really don't want to reuse the Mountaineer steering wheel (it's in pretty bad shape) so is there a Ranger/Explorer wheel out there that would be compatible? And how is the wiring going to work out here?
Can the Mountaineer fluid lines from the 4r70w to the radiator be used in the Ranger?
I could not help but notice the power brake booster on the Mountaineer is tagged with '5.0'. Is the booster something that needs to/should be swapped over?
The battery tray in the Ranger is pretty small. Will the Mountaineer tray fit in place of the Rangers? I have some decent welding abilities and could tack it back in place, or would it be easier to just fab up a new tray altogether?
It appears as though I am on my own with the exhaust manifold situation. I've attempted to contact Torque Monster, but from what I've read they are not easy to get ahold of and the production delay does not fit into my schedule. Will the factory Mountaineer tubular headers fit without issue, at least long enough for the rebuilt engine break in and to get it to the exhaust shop for a custom set?
Will the air intake filter box from the Mountaineer fit in place of the Rangers? Or at least will the intake tube match up to the Ranger filter box?
Will everything fit under there without a body lift?
Off topic now, will the e-brake cables in the Ranger match up to the Mountaineer e-brakes when swapping the rear end?
Just some reassurance here -
From what I understand, the heater box was re-located sometime in the '94 models and should not need to be 'modified'?
Will the oil pan from the Mountaineer in fact, fit with no clearance issues on the steering rack/steering cooler, crossmember and front diff?
...And a bonus question - How hard would it be to adapt the power sunroof from the Mountaineer into the Ranger?
Thanks for reading through my hodge podge of ramblings. I appreciate any and all assistance and advice.
David
I have researched the snot out of the V8 swap, reading as many threads on here (and elsewhere), as I could find. I also purchased the online V8 swap manual from Harwood Performance, but it appears to be geared more toward earlier models and 2 wheel drive versions. The '99 4X4 seems to be straight forward, but there are some questions I have that I have not come across as of yet, and a couple of questions just for reassurance.
For starters, this is what I have to work with -
The recipient -
1999 Ford Ranger XLT 4X4, extended cab, 4.0 OHV, M5R1 5 speed manual, BW1354 t-case, approx. 141k miles
The donor -
1999 Mercury Mountaineer AWD, 5.0 (302), 4R70W automatic, approx. 220k miles
I spent the better part of a year searching for the most appropriate donor for this swap. The Mountaineer is high mileage, but the engine and transmission will both be sent out for thorough inspection and rebuild. No work has been started on either vehicle. I plan on disassembling the Mountaineer later this month and following through with the transplant in July.
I will be retaining the Rangers BW1354 t-case and have already acquired the adapter from Advance. The 1354 vs. 4406 was a major area of debate between me and myself, but I don't intend on off roading the Ranger. It will be a daily driver and the only time it will see 4 wheel drive is in the snow. From the research I have done, the 1354 seems to be capable of standing up to a mild 302.
Converting from manual to automatic, needing a shifter, I plan on swapping the steering column and ignition lockset from the Mountaineer along with the pats module for simplicity. The door locks eventually to keep it down to one key.
My questions -
With the Ranger currently being a manual transmission, the clutch pedal must be depressed to start the truck, I assume this is akin to a neutral safety switch. How will this play out when converting from manual to auto?
The Ranger does not currently have cruise control where the Mountaineer does. This is something that I would like to eventually have in the Ranger. The Mountaineer cruise controls are on the steering wheel, and the Ranger has no wheel controls whatsoever. I really don't want to reuse the Mountaineer steering wheel (it's in pretty bad shape) so is there a Ranger/Explorer wheel out there that would be compatible? And how is the wiring going to work out here?
Can the Mountaineer fluid lines from the 4r70w to the radiator be used in the Ranger?
I could not help but notice the power brake booster on the Mountaineer is tagged with '5.0'. Is the booster something that needs to/should be swapped over?
The battery tray in the Ranger is pretty small. Will the Mountaineer tray fit in place of the Rangers? I have some decent welding abilities and could tack it back in place, or would it be easier to just fab up a new tray altogether?
It appears as though I am on my own with the exhaust manifold situation. I've attempted to contact Torque Monster, but from what I've read they are not easy to get ahold of and the production delay does not fit into my schedule. Will the factory Mountaineer tubular headers fit without issue, at least long enough for the rebuilt engine break in and to get it to the exhaust shop for a custom set?
Will the air intake filter box from the Mountaineer fit in place of the Rangers? Or at least will the intake tube match up to the Ranger filter box?
Will everything fit under there without a body lift?
Off topic now, will the e-brake cables in the Ranger match up to the Mountaineer e-brakes when swapping the rear end?
Just some reassurance here -
From what I understand, the heater box was re-located sometime in the '94 models and should not need to be 'modified'?
Will the oil pan from the Mountaineer in fact, fit with no clearance issues on the steering rack/steering cooler, crossmember and front diff?
...And a bonus question - How hard would it be to adapt the power sunroof from the Mountaineer into the Ranger?
Thanks for reading through my hodge podge of ramblings. I appreciate any and all assistance and advice.
David
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