1989 302 into a 1999 Ranger - wiring harness issues

[NORCAL306Ranger]

Anyone have any ideas on how to connect the harness from a 1989 Ford Mustang GT to a 1999 Ranger harness??? How do I connect the '89 stang harness to the 1999 harness? In the engine swap section in this site, they go into really good detail on the Explorer 5.0 Swap into a 1998 and newer Ranger or swapping a 5.0L EFI into an older Ranger Bronco II but how about a 5.0 L Mass Air [mustang 5.0L] into a newer 1999 Ranger, ANY IDEAS? Don't really want to buy a new harness, computer, keys and PATS if I don't have to. Please help

 

[TomB1269]

You will need the 5.0 harness and computer most likely from an explorer that has the pats, etc, at min. and convert to a new intake system...... PS: Is this off-road only? Or do you need to pass emissions????? If you need to pass emissions, check out your requirements before spending to much!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mac]

Yep, think you are going have to "Bite the Bullet" on this one. There is a good reason it's not covered in the swap section in the Tech section. Get the harness and computer and all the sensors required to match the year of the '99' Explorer computer. If this is going to be a trail/off-road truck, that's a different story. Nothing wrong with the Mustang motor but it's the wiring choice/computer that will really cause problems.
Dave

 

[RedRanger1991]

Im gonna ask a dumb question but what exactly has to be hooked into the Ranger harness(dash panel gauges?)I'm about to do the swap myself and would really like to know.Ive done alot of swaps in cars and a couple of trucks and I always did away with most of the reciepients harness all together and used the donar vehicles harness with some minor mods.

Never mind,I didn't look before I typed. I said it was a dumb question didnt I.Dont be to harsh on me.

 

[Ozwynn]

well the gauges won't work. the pats won't work.

 

[Mac]

Im gonna ask a dumb question but what exactly has to be hooked into the Ranger harness(dash panel gauges?)I'm about to do the swap myself and would really like to know.Ive done alot of swaps in cars and a couple of trucks and I always did away with most of the reciepients harness all together and used the donar vehicles harness with some minor mods.

Never mind,I didn't look before I typed. I said it was a dumb question didnt I.Dont be to harsh on me.

No problem here, It's just people have to start realizing all the differences between the '98' and newer swaps and the older ones. Lots have swaped the Explorer motor into the early years but had to convert to the Mustang wiring and ignition/computer. Really doesn't work the other way around. Too much feeds thru the computer in the later years. The 2001 swaps get harder with the wiring.
Dave

 

[NORCAL306Ranger]

makes sense '89 Mass Air Harness and computer no go for 1999 Ranger

It makes sense, we got as far as hooking up the computer and engine harness through out the engine bay but when it came to figuring out how to connect the engine bay harness [a 42 Pin monster] in the 1999 Ranger to the 1989 Mass Air, its seems like more trouble then its worth. Even though the 1989 EEC-IV doesn't care about PATS, according to the tech library its the PCM that ultimately decides to send the signal to fire and the 89 EEC doesn't care...so as long as the computer and and ignition get juice it will fire...and I'm sure with enough throwing tools and swearing we could eventually figure out how to make it run but all the other stuff [i.e speedo and other gauges, AC, gauge panel lighting, radio, etc.] seems to turn into a nightmare.

So I've decided I will buy a 1999-2000 Explorer/Mountaineer Computer and wiring harness with the cooresponding PATS module and transceiver.

My next question is will the newer harness be compatible with my:
MAF Sensor and 1989 Injector Harness?

What differences do I need to adjust for between the 1989 Mass Air and the 2000 Explorer Mass Air?

I already noticed the distributors look completely different.

I have a few bolts on for the 302 - Edelbrock Performer RPM Intake, Edelbrock Performer Heads [2.02 Intake and 1.60 Exhaust], E 303 Cam, 306 with flat top pistons 10:1 Compression, 24lb/hr injectors with Pro M MAF; 65mm Throttle Body

AOD with shift kit - not AODE

WILL THESE BOLT ONS WORK WITH THE 2000 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER HARNESS AND COMP???????

What about adjusting for timing? That distributor looks very different...

This is off-road so, not worried about smog.

Thanks all!

 

[Mac]

Do you have the PAT system in your truck? If you have a 4 cyl you don't. If no PATs, you might be able to use the '97' Explorer computer and wiring/coil packs and senors. The Explorer harness has the injector harness with it. Your bolt ones should work but you had best retard the timing 2-4 degs if using the E-303 cam. The trans functions can be programed out, just like using a manual trans. No distrubutor but what is there is the cam postion sensor. You'll need the Explorer harmonic dampener with the toothed wheel that is the crankshaft position sensor. Got the wiring diagrams? That's just a start. I know you'll have questions, got a couple of harness laying around I can take pictures and lable. You might need the Explorer TB also, they pull opposite of teh Mustang ones.
Dave

 

[NORCAL306Ranger]

Its was a 6 cylinder 3.0 L flex fuel so I have the PATS system. It seems like if I stay with the existing set up I'll need to figure out how to get around that engine bay harness and get everything running [whatever ran through the PCM]. If I go with the 1998-2001 Explorer/Mountaineer swap I'll also need the crankshaft position sensor and the harmonic balancer [or is it the same?], and camshaft postion sensor.

Will the injector harness, MAF sensor, accessories from 89 Mustang [i.e alternator, AC, power-steering] work with the newer harness?

Could I just get the dash and engine bay harness from an earlier Ranger [1990??]and wire it? Either way it seems I run into complications...trying to find the cheapest and easiest way to fire it up. Thanks!

 

[Mac]

Boy, it's just a bad combonation with the motor and everyting you have one it going into that year truck. If you had a '97', it would be simple, just use the Mustang as is. Going with the Explorer stuff means changing a lot of things: like I said you'd need the harmonic balancer with the built in crank sensor but then you would need the front dress from the Explorer so all the belts line up, the coil packs and list gets longer. Since this is off-road, might just be easier to rip the dash apart and go with mechanical gauges and speedo and a custom dash.

I don't know really other than throwing out options.
Dave

 

[NORCAL306Ranger]

Yeah, I know I said I would go with the 2000 Explorer/Mountaineer harness but the chain reaction to that means I have to replace all the other stuff I already bought for the 302.

I spoke with friends who have been assisting me with this swap and we all agree I'm better off biting the bullet and going with aftermarket gauges and wiring all the internal accessories [ac, radio, dash lights, dome lights etc.] manually. Luckily the speedo for AOD won't be too tough I'll just need to program the aftermarket gauge I get. And this is if i can't find a 95-97 Ranger gauge console.

Soo.. when all is said and done. The plan after all the smoke clears and after much research is this:

1.) Bite bullet
2.) Keep existing harness and computer for 1989 Mustang GT [A9L for AOD].
3.) Use 95-97 Gauge cluster for Ranger from wrecking yard OR aftermarket gauges.
4.) Wire all other electronics manually [AC, radio, headlights, hi-beams, etc]

What I have discovered

1989 EEC-IV Mass Air Comp does not care about PATS from Ranger and will fire regardless as long as it gets juice. ECM in Ranger receives input from PATS and either decides to let engine start or not...EEC-IV from Mustang does not care and signal from PATS will never get to computer anyways.

All other electronics need to be wired manually and I will update all on how the '95-'97 Ranger gauge cluster works with '99 Ranger's dash...if it doesn't work then aftermarket gauges and manually rewire everything else

Probably only worth going through all this if you already have 1989-1992 Mustang 5.0 or got one really cheap...otherwise just get a 1998-2001 Explorer/Mountaineer engine and harness. I will document and take photos as best I can.

Thanks Mac

 

[Mac]

That's the conclusion I finially came to also since you're not really too much about a DD. Lots of work either way but good luck. Let us know how it's going.
Dave

 

[281Ranger]

I changed my '98 Ranger's EEC-V system to the Mark VIII's EEC-IV system. I had to replace the guages and the sending unit in the tank with the ones from the Mark VIII. You'll need the wiring diagrams for both the Ranger and the Mustang, and a large bottle of asprin. Figuring out which wire from the EEC-IV harness matches to what wire in the Ranger is a pain in the neck (really). If you do it correctly most everything else in the truck should work except maybe the ABS/RABS (I ditched mine). The GEM module works fine with the EEC-IV stuff.

I believe the Ranger went EEC-V in '95 so those guages won't work with the EEC-IV Mustang stuff.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.