5.4 swap... it can be done!

[james t]

this has been around for a while, but i just found it. this is a Ranger with a 5.4 Lightning motor. seems the only thing it took besides custom-made headers was custom upper control arms to clear the steering.

so trick you will wet your pants

if this can be done to a ranger, i assume it can be done to an explo. i really like how he had the Lightning wheels narrowed to an 18x8 in front and widened to an 18x12.5 in rear... 345/35/18's are friggin' huge.

 

[Alec]

Looks like all the bottles, etc, on the sides of the motor are custom, and the brake booster, power steering, etc had to be wedged in there. Didn't see the battery, must be in the bed.

So yes, it can be done without extensive firewall or frontend modifications, but you'll need to be really trick with all the other under-the-hood residents.

 

[james t]

another link: Dead Link Removed
why am i just now finding this stuff?

who's gonna be the first to drop one in their X?

 

[410Fortune]

I have seen a 400ci in a BII, so anything can be done.........its just a matter of what bolts up and what has to be customized..........

 

[Alec]

13.5 @ 101? Should be quicker than that.....

 

[james t]

with the ungodly low end torque of that motor combined with the super light ranger rear, there is no possible way that thing could hook up without tubbing/4 link/slicks. i would imagine it would fry those 345's like they were stockers.

 

[RFR2212]

Seen that before... as I posted... but all the links on mine have now gone dead. I think the truck looks pretty cool
Dead Link Removed

More or less useless, since nothin in it works

 

[james t]

dammit, i should have done a search. how did i miss your thread? i really need to start paying attention more...

More or less useless, since nothin in it works

please clarify. none of the gauges work? or A/C? etc. etc?

 

[RFR2212]

I was talkin about my old thread... the links and photos all being dead... kinda a useless thread....

 

[Black Magic]

Originally posted by Black Magic
Damn, that is one sick truck. I bet the tourque and low weight is awesome in that truck!

 

[tmsoko]

I spoke to the roush mechanics who built this truck and it was ALOT more than custom headers and upper A-Arms. They basically custom grafted the F150 front suspension onto the ranger frame, so they could use the Lightning wheels AND so any header could be put on. The 5.4L exhaust ports dump right onto the frame and therefore, the a-arms has to come off the side of the frame, rather than the top. Also, notice the HVAC air box has been custom made and moved to the side of the engine bay, rather than off the wall below the EECV.

As for the qtr mile time. One word - Traction. It has none. Even with those tires, it just frys them in all gears. I hope to get a ride this spring, when it is done with its autoshow/autorama trips.

This is not a simple project. Sure, you could fit a 5.4L in there, but in order to get it right, you will have 100's of hours and 1000's of dollars in custom fab (and re-fab) work.

 

[DocVijay]

I'll go first... maybe.

Originally posted by james t
who's gonna be the first to drop one in their X?

I was actually thinking of this. On corral.net they have new Ford crate motors (4.6, 5.4, etc...). I was going to post a thread about the possibility, but I don't need to now.

Unless no one else is itching to do it right away, I may be the first. I just need to get another vehicle first, so I won't have to walk everywhere (sharing one car with my wife is a bit inconvenient).

Over at corral.net they have new 5.4L SOHC for $2900 and the 5.4L Navigator DOHC engine for $3675. This price does not include: Starter, Wiring Harness, Lower Intake Manifold, Injectors, Supercharger, A/C Compressor, or Alternator. Anyhow, we'll see. This would be great.

The thought of having a Explorer Sport with a Lightning engine...

 

[tmsoko]

If you are looking to do something unique and powerful, why not be the first to put a 351W in their personal Explorer (95+)? The only one out there was the SVE explorer with a 351W Lightning engine. It was a powerhouse and fit in with only minor alterations from the factory 302 parts. (Headers, a dent in the dash panel, A/C line are the primary pieces.)

Well ,the SVE Explorer 5.8L was sent to the scrap yard abotu a year ago (without me knowing it - I would have found it and bought the headers had I known). So, you would be the only one with a Windsor Explorer. You can build a 373, 396, 408, 410, 427, or even 454 Windsor, so you would have plenty of power...

 

[DocVijay]

Another good idea. The owner of the shop I take my X to also suggested a 351 also. It's almost he same size as the 302, so size wouldn't be an issue. The only hting is that I'd like to keep it street legal, and for many states it has to have an engine of the same model year or newer to be emissions compliant.