94 Ranger- 2005+ nose swap, and 5.0l swap

dogboy · Apr 3, 2014

I figure I'll start a thread for this truck, instead of having three build threads in one, in my crew can thread.
It's a 94 4.0l 5spd 4wd with a 4" lift that I picked up for $500.
It started out as an ugly truck, that I was just going to throw a clutch at, clean it up, and sell it.

After cleaning it up, I decided it needed the nose painted due to so many rock chips. I also started to like it, and decided to keep this Ranger, and sell my daily driver 3.0l swapped Contour SVT

Instead of repairing the sheet metal that was on the truck, which had been painted a few times, I decided to just get new 2005+ sheet metal (it's an 05 grille), and 2006+ tail lights.

dogboy · Apr 3, 2014

I found a nice set of grey leather, full power Explorer seats at the wrecking yard for cheap, so I snagged those, and installed them. I started to do the full length explorer console, but that's better left for a '95+ dash. It fits like socks on a chicken with the '94 and older dash.

Next came a rear bumper, to help clean up the back of the truck.

I built it to be PLENTY strong as a bumper as well as a hitch. 2 pieces of 1/4" 2" box, and a bunch gussets for the hitch.

Now comes the fun part, which is still in progress.
5.0l!!
I'm doing the complete explorer running gear for the time being, but I'll be swapping the awd case for a normal case in the future.
I'll also be using all of the Explorer's wiring, and dash. In other words, it will have the newer style dash as well.

The Explorer's transmission had lost 3rd and 4th, so I'll be rebuilding that myself as well.
It'll be the 5th RBV transmission I've rebuilt, and they're all still going strong, so I'm not worried about attempting a v8 tranny.

That about wraps it up for now. I'll keep updates on the 5.0l swap as I get the transmission rebuilt.

dogboy · Apr 9, 2014

After borrowing a buddy's canopy this past weekend for a camping trip, I've decided the truck would look even better with a fiberglass conopy.
Now the search is on for a cheap, or free canopy, probably a high top, for camping.

Downey · Apr 13, 2014

nice truck. i like my fiberglass cap. but its only on maybe 2-3 weeks a year

dogboy · Apr 17, 2014

Downey said:
nice truck. i like my fiberglass cap. but its only on maybe 2-3 weeks a year

That's how it'll be if I get one. Just throw it on for camping trips and things.
It almost makes me lean towards just snagging the first canopy I can find for free, whether it's fiberglass, or aluminum.

dogboy · May 23, 2014

This is the weekend, the 4.0l is coming out and the 5.0l is going in. I probably won't get much for pictures, but we'll see.
Hopefully the 95+ dash swap goes smooth.

racer1044 · May 23, 2014

Man the nose swap looks good. Like a whole new truck.

adsm08 · May 23, 2014

Is that trans a 4R70 or a 5R series?

dogboy · May 24, 2014

The tranny is a 4r70w.
The tranny is now all rebuilt and back together, and the cab is off the Ranger, dash is pulled out, and motor and tranny are out. Tomorrow the 5.0l and tranny should be in the frame, and if I'm lucky, the dash will be swapped, but my hopes aren't too high for the dash going smooth.

dogboy · May 26, 2014

I've done a good job of learning how NOT to do a 5.0l swap.
1) get the right oil filter relocation kit.
2) a 70's f150 rear sump pan won't work without being heavily modified. I should have listened and used a dual sump pan.
3) Never again attempt a dash conversion from 95-present into a pre 95. The firewalls are no where near the same in how the dash mounts. No, this is not my first dash conversion, either.
4) don't do a v8 swap without a body lift.

I'm now stuck, with a dash that won't bolt up, a mass of wiring to make work with the fuel pump/ rear lights, and a body that is hitting the motor, tranny, and transfer case, and a bunch of under good wiring brackets without homes.

Rowdy Fitzgerald · May 26, 2014

Don't get discouraged! It's just gonna take a little longer than you expected but keep at it!!! Are you going to put the stock dash back in?

dogboy · May 27, 2014

If love to put the stock dash back in, but I don't know that I can make the 94 dash work with the Explorer's OBD2, and cluster.

RockRanger · May 27, 2014

Nice build.

dogboy · May 28, 2014

Thanks!
It looks like I'll be cutting into the ranger underwood harness and the explorer underhood harness, and making the 5.0l harness essentially stand alone.
That will allow me to use the old style dash, which frankly I like better than the 95+ dash anyway! That will be a learning experience in itself, I might do a write up on that, we'll see.

Anyway, here's some pictures
5.0l sitting in the frame, one of the dozen times it was set down.

The firewall modifications for the heater core and everything that passes through the firewall. I now get to reverse all that.

Setting the body back on. I need to do at least a 1" body lift, but I'll probably do a 2" just to be safe. It's a street truck after all, an extra inch won't hurt anything (I would have rather not lifted more at all)

I found some emblems on Amazon.

Rowdy Fitzgerald · May 28, 2014

That emblem looks damn good! That's a bummer you have to do all that wiring mess. Are you going to clean and paint your frame since you have the cab off?

94 Ranger- 2005+ nose swap, and 5.0l swap

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