bracket question

[painterdude923]

I have 1997 ranger,ext cab 2wd. 4.0 with the power steering, air conditioning. put together a nice 302 with all new everything. gonna be daily driver still just with carb and distributor. what I want to know is what brackets do I need to use to still use my original power steering and A/C? looked at explorer and its different. anyone know what would work best? what year car, model?

[carvinmark]

Wish I could help but mine only has an alternator and thats it. Someone will be along soon to help ya out.

[cgrey8]

I don't know either. My 97 Explorer engine was from a newer era than the 89 Ranger I put it in. None of the accessories were even close to being compatible since the Explorer is a serpentine setup and the V6 was V-belt. But my gut feeling is there aren't going to be a bracket setup to allow what you are trying to do. Most of us that want to run AC run the donor engine's AC compressor and have custom tubing made up to make it work. However there may very well be a 5.0L bracket setup out there that'll reuse your stock Ranger accessories. It'll be interesting to hear what that setup would be.

[painterdude923]

what about brackets from 95 mustang 302?

[MalcolmV8]

On both my 92 & 94 Rangers I reused the Ranger a/c compressor with the Explorer brackets. It's basically the exact same a/c compressor and bolts right in. Power steering was a different story. I picked up an Explorer power steering pump and plumbed it in.

[Teddyzee]

Basically, your Ranger PS pump will bolt into any bracket EXCEPT the Explorer one.
And, the Ranger AC compressor will only bolt into an Explorer bracket- the mount holes go in the opposite direction.

A '95 Mustang FEAD will work for your ps, but not your AC- and requires the specific sn95/Explorer timing cover.

The '95 Mustang or Explorer accessory brackets are ideal, and swap whichever piece you choose. Alt is different, too- Ranger fits Ex, but not Mustang. I used a '92ish Taurus 130amp alt in a Mustang bracket.

The Ex and '95 Stang FEAD are not the same depth, you cannot mix them. Both much shorter than a Fox body Mustang FEAD.

[MalcolmV8]

The Ex and '95 Stang FEAD are not the same depth, you cannot mix them. Both much shorter than a Fox body Mustang FEAD.

I mixed them on my 92 Ranger. You just have to shim the Explorer bracket away from the block/head to align with the other bracket. I started with 95 Stang brackets but they put the a/c compressor right into the frame rail so I swapped out the one side for the Explorer bracket and shimmed to match. Worked like a charm.

On the 94 I went with full Explorer brackets.

[fordmike]

I have 1997 ranger,ext cab 2wd. 4.0 with the power steering, air conditioning. put together a nice 302 with all new everything. gonna be daily driver still just with carb and distributor. what I want to know is what brackets do I need to use to still use my original power steering and A/C? looked at explorer and its different. anyone know what would work best? what year car, model?

Use all of the FEAD from a V8 Explorer as they are a easy fit. Like Teddy and Malcom said your a/c compressor will swap right over and then you just use all of the Explorer stuff from there. What I did on my power steering was I used the Explorer pressure hose and cut the rubber part at the end where it went back to a steel line and bought a fitting from NAPA auto to connect the rubber part to a new piece of steel line and bent it to fit into my steering gear box. I used the Explorer alt. and wiring harness and hook it right up to the Ranger with no problem there.

[v8ranger]

I used the brakets off a 90 crown vic and the p/s pump also.. Then I got a 1 wire Alt and it bolted right up..