Sport trac 5.0 plans

aeaglenfitch · October 5, 2007

i fell in love with the sport trac all of a sudden today and haven't been able to get it off my mind. with all the thoughts in my head i want to write them all down here goes.

01-05 Sport trac. (black)
5.0 swap maybe rebuilt with cams and some other things
maybe super/turbo charged
4x4 x-fer case(manual if possible)
manual transmission (if possible with the 5.0)
dual flowmaster 40 deltas
8in. lift
35x12.5x18 toyo open country m/t's
not sure on the rims
custom tuning
cold air intake

here's my inspirations:

i have to admit these pictures get my blood churning...

John_Rock · October 5, 2007

All you need is money and time.

: I was planning on putting a 5.8L into my Sport Trac. I had gotten the donor Bronco. But, something more important came up in my life and I sold the Bronco. Maybe someday I will do the 5.8L, but for now I am more happy with my life.

aeaglenfitch · October 5, 2007

yep, time and money. a 351 in a sport trac would be a lot of work too.

so anyways im wondering if this setup is possible. 5.0 w/ manual tranny and manual x-fer case.

N2FORD · October 5, 2007

Those pictures and a few like them is one of the main reasons I bought my ST. They look so good lifted!!! In response to your V-8 question, someone on here was going to swap in a Explorer V-8 and put his V-6 back in the donor Explorer. I have not seen anymore post from him so I wonder if he did it. If I remember correctly he said it would be easy. I would like to know, I know of several V-8 Explorers in the salvage yard.

aeaglenfitch · October 5, 2007

well what i want is a 5.0 sport trac with manual transmission and manual x-fer case. i want to choose between 2x4, 4x4, 4x4lo. it has to be possible. i'll give up the manual transmission if i have to to get the manual xfer case.

410Fortune · October 5, 2007

Okay check this out

You have alot of research to do

To put a 5.0L into a Sport trac you start witht he explorer 5.0L because it bolts in, the entire drivetrain will bolt directly into your sport trac since they are the same from the doors forward

KNow this:
the 96-2001 Explorer 5.0L came with an auto transmission only
IT came in 2wd or AWD, no 4x4 option

To remove the auto transmission and use a 5 speed is possible, but it requires tuning of the computer, the engine computer also controls the transmission.

I suggest keeping the auto trans (its a great transmission! Especially for daily driving and 4x4ing)

removing the awd t case can be done easily using a BW4406 t case from a 4.6 or 5.4 F-150 with manual t case

this could be done on a tight budget and in 3-5 days of work if you have all the parts you need (donor) ahead of time.

I would try to find a 98-01 Explorer 5.0L with low miles AWD for the donor
forget about using a 5 speed, and search for the correct 4406 manual t case.

But before all that do a bunch of research on this site

the 5.8L can be done, 4.6 can be done, the 5 speed trans can be done, it can all be done its just a matter of how much $$$ you want to spend and how much time you can invest into the project.

Cheapest and least headaches with excellent results:
98-01 GT-40p 5.0L and AWD 4r70w donor
+
Add TM headers, a cam of your choice, CAI, intake spacer, roller rockers, and 2.5-2.75-3" single exhaust of your choice, then computer tune
+
Shift kit in the transmission
+
BW4460 manual t case

= *****in Sport Track

aeaglenfitch · October 5, 2007

oh i'll be doing a lot of research, try not to get annoyed i'll be asking a lot of questions. i know hardly anything about the 5.0, im very familiar with the 4.0 in my mounty though. so i'll be asking a lot of questions about the 5.0 and what not.

i'll settle for an automatic transmission but 4x4 xfer case is a must. so here''s what i've got so far

-01-05 Explorer Sport trac
-5.0 from a 98-01 ex.
-manual transfer case from a f-150
-4in. Superlift
-3in. body lift
-35x12.5 TOYO Open Country M/T's

what are some internal fairly cheep mods you guys may suggest on the 5.0 i'll probably be rebuilding it when i get it.

how come you specifically suggested single exhaust? i'd like a dual with flowmasted 40's. is it a back pressure issue?

i thought i read somewhere that the 5.0 explorer engine is the same as the mustang 5.0, is that true? can i get a mustang intake and use it on the sport trac with the 5.0?

410Fortune · October 5, 2007

yes back pressure issue

internal mods = cam and roller rockers

external TM headers

F-150 t case is Borg Warner 4406 97-2001 trucks, careful here you need the correct year for your 5.0L computers speed sensor

Skip the Superlift IMO and Go RCD or Dixon Brothers

Or solid axle even...

You can never ask enough questions, I asked plenty before I ever did any conversions...I just like to point you to the answers if they have been typed already (usually like 100 times

I plan to do similar to a Sport Trac someday.....

CDW6212R · October 5, 2007

The speed sensor is in the rear diff after 1998. It happened in 97 Explorers, like the change to GT40P heads.

The Explorer 302 intake is the best for performance, choose one of the Mustang Cobra types if you want different looks. The Explorer is better than all of the Ford intakes.

Hunt a 99-01 302 donor engine, the pre 98 Ford's have return fuel systems. You need a returnless fuel rail, injectors, and PCM, (99-01).

You can install dual exhaust, but the area around the left rear shock and brake line is tight. Moving the brake line a bit is the best way to do it. Keep the tailpipe sizes to about 2.25" for truck use. Regards,

MountaineerGreen · October 5, 2007

I have been talking about the very same thing- I could be a pretty much bolt in deal. I actually thought about buying a ST, parking the Mounty, rebuilding the motor, possibly the trans. Once that is complete, swap my lift, tires, drivetrain to the ST, put the 4.0 in the Mounty and sell it to recoup some of my money. I could work, the only custom parts for the swap would be a rear driveshaft for the 4406 and longer wheelbase of the ST.

aeaglenfitch · October 5, 2007

i have to admit i hated the sport tracs, i thought they were so ugly, im still not a fan of stock ones but once you lift them. wow.

ok so can someone lay out my drive train for me with years and part numbers? im confused.

can i run a cat back system with like 2in. pipes to retain back pressure so i can do duals?

CDW6212R · October 5, 2007

I would actually recommend 2" tail pipes, most people want to go too big.

You can use any 96-01 302 engine, but you must have the PCM, injectors and rail, from a 99-01 Explorer 302. The EGR is a bit different on 96/97's, but those are minor deals. Find the best deal versus mileage.

The 99-01 4R70W is better than the 96-98's, just slightly though. If you insist on a manual, you will have to spend about $400 just for a flasher and program to eliminate the auto control in the PCM.

Find out what that supercharged 302 would cost out of that wrecked Saleen Explorer. If it's under $1500 complete that wouldn't be a bad place to start.

aeaglenfitch · October 5, 2007

that would be nice, how much does a regular 302 cost about, im not toooooo worried about miles because i'll probably be rebuild.

CDW6212R · October 5, 2007

You should find an entire Explorer 302 for under $600, that's with a PCm and all front dress. You need the entire set of parts attached to the engine. Your radiator should be the same, my SOHC and 302 radiator look identical. Get engine mounts, the headers and cat pipes, plus the whole wiring harness.

I don't know how close the engine bay harness is for the engine harness connector. Look at that very closely, it may be desirable to cut(if possible) some of the donor bay harness to the engine, down to the master cylinder area. Hopefully the differences are nothing, or a couple of wires.

CDW6212R · October 5, 2007

If rebuilding an engine was in the soup, I'd try to luck into a dirt cheap 99-01 donor. If you don't have much in the basic engine, then a low cost stroker could be almost feasible. I know of a short block that a company builds for $1500, that is a 331 or 347. You could stick the right heads on it to gain compression(no supercharging), and not spend a ton more than a rebuild. Rebuild parts and machining is far higher than it used to be. Figure $1000 minimum for a bone stock rebuild.

aeaglenfitch · October 5, 2007

1000 in parts?

CDW6212R · October 5, 2007

No, I'm speaking of machining and parts, with gaskets, seals, pistons, rod bolts, and valve job, valve springs, etc. I think $1000 would be cheap, but of course you start looking at different cams, roller rockers, etc. The high performance stuff adds up very fast.

That's why I hinted at a budget stroker delivered for not a whole lot more than rebuilding one. The stock compression is low at near 9:1, if you get that up to 10:1 with a good matching camshaft, the power goes up too. Ask Jon about his 347 in his Mounty, it is very impressive in power and mileage.

Like all other projects, do set a budget first. Then you can cross out options or rethink the plans. Do you need a manual trans, I don't know what would be good choices for that? Regards,

aeaglenfitch · October 13, 2007

is the sport trac spring over or spring under?

Flounder · October 13, 2007

That one ST above has an absolutely wicked front bumper. Awesome.

CDW6212R · October 13, 2007

Normal Explorers have the leaf springs under, those above are all spring under as well.

Sport trac 5.0 plans

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