INFO Body swap!

[DDOSSON]

Gentlemen,
I am new to posting in this forum. I am making preparations to do a body swap. I have a 1995 2wd ranger extended cab w/3.0l and 5 speed tranny. I also have a 1997 4x4 chassis with a blown engine. I would like to put my 95 body onto the 97 chassis. The main question that I have is concerning the GEM modules. I need a 4x4 GEM and my question is would it be better to find a 95 GEM, or can I make the 97 work via switching the wires around in the plugs? I have Ford wiring diagrams for both years. If I am barking down the wrong road please straighten me out.

 

[superj]

welcome!!

i don't know the answer but you will for sure get help once the other dudes show up. they are the smart guys, i am here more for comic relief

 

[19Walt93]

If you swap the cab you're swapping the VIN, too. At least in NH, that would be a major problem, as would installing your 95 VIN tag on the 97 Cab. Check the rules in your state before spending money and doing a alot of work.
By the way, Ford never built an extended cab, the truck is a Supercab.

 

[JoshT]

If you swap the cab you're swapping the VIN, too. At least in NH, that would be a major problem, as would installing your 95 VIN tag on the 97 Cab. Check the rules in your state before spending money and doing a alot of work.

I see nowhere that he asked about or suggested doing any of that.

Essentially he's converting the 95 into a 4wd using parts from the 97, to include the frame. It would still be titled and registered as the 95.

Is the 97 manual or push button for the 4wd? If it's manual you don't need to worry about the wiring.

If it is push button, it may be easier to swap the entire harness out of the 97 into the 95. That way you get the GEM, all the wiring, and controls. The wiring may be in the 95 2wd harness for 4wd stuff, and if it is you may be able to swap gem and re-pin, but don't know about that.

 

[tinman_72]

...By the way, Ford never built an extended cab, the truck is a Supercab.

Extended cab is the generic name for a cab that is... extended. Just because Ford calls their extended cab a SuperCab doesn't mean it isn't an extended cab.

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome to the site.

 

[19Walt93]

I see nowhere that he asked about or suggested doing any of that.

Essentially he's converting the 95 into a 4wd using parts from the 97, to include the frame. It would still be titled and registered as the 95.

Is the 97 manual or push button for the 4wd? If it's manual you don't need to worry about the wiring.

If it is push button, it may be easier to swap the entire harness out of the 97 into the 95. That way you get the GEM, all the wiring, and controls. The wiring may be in the 95 2wd harness for 4wd stuff, and if it is you may be able to swap gem and re-pin, but don't know about that.

As long as he's registering it as a 95 it should be fine.

 

[DDOSSON]

If you swap the cab you're swapping the VIN, too. At least in NH, that would be a major problem, as would installing your 95 VIN tag on the 97 Cab. Check the rules in your state before spending money and doing a alot of work.
By the way, Ford never built an extended cab, the truck is a Supercab.

Cab will be the same, I am swapping out the frame and drivetrain.

 

[DDOSSON]

I see nowhere that he asked about or suggested doing any of that.

Essentially he's converting the 95 into a 4wd using parts from the 97, to include the frame. It would still be titled and registered as the 95.

Is the 97 manual or push button for the 4wd? If it's manual you don't need to worry about the wiring.

If it is push button, it may be easier to swap the entire harness out of the 97 into the 95. That way you get the GEM, all the wiring, and controls. The wiring may be in the 95 2wd harness for 4wd stuff, and if it is you may be able to swap gem and re-pin, but don't know about that.

The 4x4 switches via a selector switch on the dash.
I thought about swapping the wiring harness, but the concern that I have is that the 95 cab has A/C, electric windows and such. I didn't know which way would end up easier.

 

[DDOSSON]

Cab will be the same, I am swapping out the frame and drivetrain.

Exactly.

Welcome to the site.

Thanks

 

[DDOSSON]

If you swap the cab you're swapping the VIN, too. At least in NH, that would be a major problem, as would installing your 95 VIN tag on the 97 Cab. Check the rules in your state before spending money and doing a alot of work.
By the way, Ford never built an extended cab, the truck is a Supercab.

19Walt93
I was looking at your profile, did you put the 351 in your Ranger? How did it fit? Did it take a lot of modification?

 

[JoshT]

The 4x4 switches via a selector switch on the dash.
I thought about swapping the wiring harness, but the concern that I have is that the 95 cab has A/C, electric windows and such. I didn't know which way would end up easier.

That might be a tough decision to make and I really have no idea how to advise in your situation.

I think, but I've never looked at the schematics, that those earlier Rangers were fairly simple on the wiring and controls. It looks complex, but I want to say that most of the systems like windows, locks, and such can be stripped out of the harness and wired to function standalone. Meaning give the system 12v and it'll work without the rest of the wiring in place. I don't really know how that applies to A/C and the 4wd controls.

AC can definitely be done, but it may lose the wide open throttle cutout due to not being connected to the ECU. I have no idea how the 4x4 controls are integrated.

In you position, I think I'd be getting EVTMs (wire diagram manuals) for both trucks to start studying and comparing.

 

[DDOSSON]

I have the Ford wiring manuals for both years and I was thinking I could just remind the 95 plug to work with the 97 GEM module.

 

[JoshT]

I have the Ford wiring manuals for both years and I was thinking I could just remind the 95 plug to work with the 97 GEM module.

Dig in and see. No guarantee that everything will work after you repin. It's kind of going to be a trial by fire, unless someone here is really familiar with the GEMs and can chime in.

The question will be how much the functions like windows and AC are tied into the GEM and if the GEM has the proper code for those functions. May work perfectly, but as time went on these systems got more and more integrated. Keep a record of what ever changes you do make right down to the pin, that way if it doesn't work, you can reverse course and find another way.

 

[19Walt93]

19Walt93
I was looking at your profile, did you put the 351 in your Ranger? How did it fit? Did it take a lot of modification?

When I bought the truck it was a gutted out former drag truck, no engine, transmission, heater box, interior, gas tank, or gas tank crossmember. The whole build was a modification. With the missing heater box the firewall was flat so the 351 fit. I installed a Vintage Air heat/defrost/a-c unit to keep the flat firewall. One of my former techs gave me the 351 out of his 95 F150. I converted it to Duraspark with a carb after rebuilding it, other than the pistons, ported heads, and 1.7 roller rockers it's basically stock. I rebuilt a C4 I had using Mustang II drums to gain an additional disc in each clutch pack. The shifter from the 74 Mustang looks right at home on the floor. I hollowed out the core support and mounted a Griffin radiator inside it. The rear end came out of a 74 Mustang II I scrapped out decades ago, I bought some 5 lug axles and a pair of 65-6 Mustang spring pads from Currie and a bearing kit from Summit, then built it using a Yukon limited slip diff that was intended for my Mustang. The 10" Ranger backing plates bolted right on. The Ford EVTM(electric and vacuum troubleshooting manual) I bought at Carlisle for $39 was worth every penny.