Get your Sunday morning eyes ready for some candy
Engine is ready to drop in. I will be measuring for the correct push rod length today
Then clean the trucks engine bay, clean the transmission, stab it to the engine then drop the whole she bang into the 07
The good stuff:
Header install bits
Autolite plugs gapped to 0.054" installed with copper anti seize on the threads then the headers go on.
Get your 3/8" wrench out, installing TMH is difficult, even on the engine stand.
There are 3-4 places where wrench to bolt clearance is very tight, you must be patient, tighten the header down a little at a time on each bolt. There are 3 places where I had to use the 6 sided bolts provided by Robert, there is no other way to fit the 12 point wrench on the bolt head.
Again each bolt and bolt hole is chased with a tap and dye, all parts cleaned thoroughly before painted/ installed
Each bolt gets a healthy dose of loctite, again provided by Robert (TMH).
I use Percy's or Mr Gasket soft stacked aluminum gaskets here they really seal up the TMH well, worth the extra $$$ (took me 3-4 attempts to seal them up on my BII back in 05)
Live and learn
The real Eddie Money (musician) just died last week, he was 70 (RIP)
Our Eddie Money (Ford Ranger enthusiast) is alive and well and he does not mind a "stock look" to his engine bay so no Seattle Seahawks themed engine here with tons of blue and green, just a classic good looking 302
I will add some custom touches as we go along, many of these parts look really nice in black satin.
Ordered 2001 Explorer flow matched set of bosch injectors from Ebay.
Have a 2001 5.0 fuel rail, pulse damper, and engine feed line sitting on the bench in front of me.
Removed the engine oil cooler and replaced with a 98-01 style filter mount
I will be using a late 97/98 PCM / sensors GT40p (external EGR) with the 01 (returnless) style fuel rail. the coolant and oil pressure sensors will come from the 07 engine.
The 98 transmission will get new shift solenoids, refreshed updated sonnax valve body (Thanks Brett!) it already has the updated internal hard wiring harness.
This is what I call a "REFRESHED" low mile 302 ready to motivate this Ranger for years to come.
Once the engine /trans are bolted down it is time to begin the wiring
Wiring the drivetrain, 4406e shift system, seats, keyless entry, stereo, camera's, etc will all happen together.
Plan is to integrate any new wiring into the factory 07 power distribution and body harness.