- Joined
- Aug 22, 2017
- Messages
- 68
- Reaction score
- 67
- Points
- 18
- Location
- SE WI
- Vehicle Year
- 2000?
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- V8
- Engine Size
- 5.0
- Transmission
- Automatic
- 2WD / 4WD
- 2WD
- Total Drop
- 4/5
I've always liked Rangers, but I've always lifted and wheeled them. My last Ranger was 93 on d60's, spooled, and 38" SX's. I used to spend a lot of time on the RRORC forums.
I haven't grown out of that, but I don't have anyone with land, and I'm tired of having to travel hours to wheel. So, I decided to build a street machine.
It started out with a Texas sourced 2000 SuperCab 2wd, which I somehow found locally with no effort. The 3.0L did seize up 5 minutes from the guy's house after buying it, but I bought it knowing the 3.0L was history as soon as I got it home. Got it for $600.
Next, I found a 2001 5.0L Explorer, again, $600. Yanked the engine, trans, rear end.
I got the 5.0L installed using Rickz plates. Then, I started mocking up the turbo, and that's where it stalled for 5 years. I didn't realize how much it was going to absolutely SUCK to deal with the hotside. About a year ago, I finally got the bug in me after years of looking at it in the garage that whole time, so I said F it, and just started doing things. Right or wrong, at least it was progress. After the initial hesitation, I ended up actually having fun making the headers. Yes, they're ugly, no, they're not perfect. Yes, they work great!
So the basic gist of the build is:
2001 Expo 5.0
-200k miles
-sn95 used cam
-Alex Springs beehive lifters for boost
-new timing set
-replaced the rear main and oil pan gaskets
2001 v6 Mustang 4R70W
-untouched. Even used the mustang's torque converter
-the trans from the expo is 4wd, and buying the mustang trans was cheaper than converting it. Now I have some spare parts I guess.
Fuel system is:
-aeromotive stealth 340lph pump in the stock module
-aeromotive #12345 10 micron post filter, for e85
-(dash)6 PTFE lines from the tank to the engine
-sn95 fuel rails
- 202? GT500 62# fuel injectors
-ethanol sensor
-10GA power wire to the module
-new upgrade for this year is a Kirban FPR
Turbo is a chinese job. Rev9 t72/68. T4 flange. If (when) I destroy it, they're $300. NBD. I hurt it within a couple days of having the truck running, so I say good call. Pro tip, if you see anyone say to run a restrictor with a journal bearing turbo, DON'T! After some consulting, I was told to put all the oil to it, and if it's not leaking, run it! So I did, it doesn't leak and it hasn't crashed yet. It's got a 3/16" feed now.
VSR blow off and wastegate.
Electronics are
Engine
-microsquirt (megasquirt, basically a condensed MS2)
-quadspark
-batch fire, wasted spark
-Ford EDIS coils
-Mac 3-port valve for boost control
-14Point7 Spartan3 lite wideband
Trans
-microsquirt again, linked to engine management via CAN.
Suspension
-DJM 4/5 drop
-shocks are... Gabriel something or other. Fronts are stock length and mount, the rears I just sized to fit the new mount locations
3.73 gear, which I am somewhat regretting currently. WAY too low, IMO, with a 25" tire. I've got to get the final tires size on before I finalize that though.
Tires in the pics are all some garbage I grabbed out of a pile that matched for now. 205 something or others. I plan on getting wheels/tires figured out this winter before driving season comes back.
I'm running this exclusively on pump E85, which is why I haven't put in an intercooler. And I kind of went e85 because I didn't want to put one in anyways.
Anyways, that was last year's setup. I identified a lot of issues, and I am spending this winter fixing as much as I can.
issues were:
-Ranger motor mounts do not like this at all, WAY too much engine movement
-ethanol sensor was flaking out randomly (haven't looked into it yet)
-fuel pressure sensor has been a giant headache. Completely un-calibrate-able for some reason. I'm not sure yet if it's another bad sensor (LowDollerMotorsports) or I suspect I have a VREF voltage issue.
-fuel injectors already in the high 80's DC, 39psi base fuel pressure (stock)
-persistent OSS/VSS signal spikes, pretty minor though
-driveline angles were GARBAGE. I broke the tailhousing off the trans once. I just didn't notice it in the mad dash to get it running.
-severely warped passenger side header flange
-column shifter is horrible
-huge oil leaks
-absolutely no traction until 3rd gear
-only 6psi
I haven't grown out of that, but I don't have anyone with land, and I'm tired of having to travel hours to wheel. So, I decided to build a street machine.
It started out with a Texas sourced 2000 SuperCab 2wd, which I somehow found locally with no effort. The 3.0L did seize up 5 minutes from the guy's house after buying it, but I bought it knowing the 3.0L was history as soon as I got it home. Got it for $600.
Next, I found a 2001 5.0L Explorer, again, $600. Yanked the engine, trans, rear end.
I got the 5.0L installed using Rickz plates. Then, I started mocking up the turbo, and that's where it stalled for 5 years. I didn't realize how much it was going to absolutely SUCK to deal with the hotside. About a year ago, I finally got the bug in me after years of looking at it in the garage that whole time, so I said F it, and just started doing things. Right or wrong, at least it was progress. After the initial hesitation, I ended up actually having fun making the headers. Yes, they're ugly, no, they're not perfect. Yes, they work great!
So the basic gist of the build is:
2001 Expo 5.0
-200k miles
-sn95 used cam
-Alex Springs beehive lifters for boost
-new timing set
-replaced the rear main and oil pan gaskets
2001 v6 Mustang 4R70W
-untouched. Even used the mustang's torque converter
-the trans from the expo is 4wd, and buying the mustang trans was cheaper than converting it. Now I have some spare parts I guess.
Fuel system is:
-aeromotive stealth 340lph pump in the stock module
-aeromotive #12345 10 micron post filter, for e85
-(dash)6 PTFE lines from the tank to the engine
-sn95 fuel rails
- 202? GT500 62# fuel injectors
-ethanol sensor
-10GA power wire to the module
-new upgrade for this year is a Kirban FPR
Turbo is a chinese job. Rev9 t72/68. T4 flange. If (when) I destroy it, they're $300. NBD. I hurt it within a couple days of having the truck running, so I say good call. Pro tip, if you see anyone say to run a restrictor with a journal bearing turbo, DON'T! After some consulting, I was told to put all the oil to it, and if it's not leaking, run it! So I did, it doesn't leak and it hasn't crashed yet. It's got a 3/16" feed now.
VSR blow off and wastegate.
Electronics are
Engine
-microsquirt (megasquirt, basically a condensed MS2)
-quadspark
-batch fire, wasted spark
-Ford EDIS coils
-Mac 3-port valve for boost control
-14Point7 Spartan3 lite wideband
Trans
-microsquirt again, linked to engine management via CAN.
Suspension
-DJM 4/5 drop
-shocks are... Gabriel something or other. Fronts are stock length and mount, the rears I just sized to fit the new mount locations
3.73 gear, which I am somewhat regretting currently. WAY too low, IMO, with a 25" tire. I've got to get the final tires size on before I finalize that though.
Tires in the pics are all some garbage I grabbed out of a pile that matched for now. 205 something or others. I plan on getting wheels/tires figured out this winter before driving season comes back.
I'm running this exclusively on pump E85, which is why I haven't put in an intercooler. And I kind of went e85 because I didn't want to put one in anyways.
Anyways, that was last year's setup. I identified a lot of issues, and I am spending this winter fixing as much as I can.
issues were:
-Ranger motor mounts do not like this at all, WAY too much engine movement
-ethanol sensor was flaking out randomly (haven't looked into it yet)
-fuel pressure sensor has been a giant headache. Completely un-calibrate-able for some reason. I'm not sure yet if it's another bad sensor (LowDollerMotorsports) or I suspect I have a VREF voltage issue.
-fuel injectors already in the high 80's DC, 39psi base fuel pressure (stock)
-persistent OSS/VSS signal spikes, pretty minor though
-driveline angles were GARBAGE. I broke the tailhousing off the trans once. I just didn't notice it in the mad dash to get it running.
-severely warped passenger side header flange
-column shifter is horrible
-huge oil leaks
-absolutely no traction until 3rd gear
-only 6psi
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