• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

4.0 cleanup


Bray D

2012 UA Ranger
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
2,144
Age
38
City
Manito, IL
Vehicle Year
1996
Transmission
Manual
Alright guys, I've got the 4.0 out of my donor. It came out of a 94 explorer with an auto, and is going into my 96 ranger with an m5od.

I want the swap to go as smooth as possible (duh) so I'd like to remove as much unnecessary crap as possible. What sensors/etc. can toss in the trash without worrying about it effecting the engine operation?

The less electronics the better.

Once I get the engine down to the bare necessities electronics wise, I'll figure out what I want to do as far as which harness to use, which PCM, etc.
 
Use the harness, sensors and computer from the Chassis your putting it in. i.e. 96 Ranger. Explorer/Ranger are diffrent and you need the one for manual if using manual trans. Have to use all the sensors etc. else it ain't gonna run right... The computer needs them all....
 
Last edited:
you can get rid of the oil level sensor in the pan, if your running a mechanical gauge for oil pressure pull that sensor off too.
 
**BUMP**



I haven't done this first hand with Rangers, but I have with other vehicles that were either carb'd or OBD1.

I wonder what you could get away with regarding emissions, charcoal canisters, etc...?



Pete
 
**BUMP**



I haven't done this first hand with Rangers, but I have with other vehicles that were either carb'd or OBD1.

I wonder what you could get away with regarding emissions, charcoal canisters, etc...?



Pete

i'm sure you can cap off the carbon canister hoses and all with no issues, maybe a c.e.l. at worst
 
I haven't done this first hand with Rangers, but I have with other vehicles that were either carb'd or OBD1.

The 4.0 out of the explorer is OBD 1.

I wonder what you could get away with regarding emissions, charcoal canisters, etc...?


This is essentially what I was getting at. I didn't want to come out and say it in case there were any emissions nazi's around.
 
Use the harness, sensors and computer from the Chassis your putting it in. i.e. 96 Ranger. Explorer/Ranger are diffrent and you need the one for manual if using manual trans. Have to use all the sensors etc. else it ain't gonna run right... The computer needs them all....

I know the ranger and ex. are different - if anything because the ex is an OBD 1 4.0L and the ranger is an OBD 2 3.0L.

Since they ARE different, why do you recommend I use the ranger harness/PCM with the ex. engine?

I've got schematics for both vehicles. If I can make the ranger harness work that'd be awesome, but I'm thinking I'm going to have to use a 4.0L PCM. I don't have any real reasons why, just what my intuition tells me.

Also - I'm not so sure the PCM requires feedback from ALL of the sensors. I did some re-routing of my exhaust a couple years ago and removed one of the O2 sensors. It had zero effect on the operation of the engine or its performance.
 
Sorry assumed the Ranger was 4.0l also, so your correct that the harness & 2.3L PCM will not work. On the 4.0 ranger the Harness connects on the driver side and the ex connects opposite side (not sure about the 2.3Ls). Your going to have to use a 4.0L PCM, but I do know there is a difference between 4.0l Ranger/Ex PCMs (what exactly I don't know). Guess you will have to make a custom harness from the two or see if you can get a harness, sensors, & PCM from a OBDII ranger 4.0 which might be plug & Play.
Hopefully someone here knows more than me (that should be easy).

ON EDIT: I think the only addition to OBD1 to OBDII on engine sensors is the CPS & maybe EGR if non CA(OBDI). So maybe find a OBDI 4.0L ranger harness & PCM to use.
 
Last edited:
I tried this with an 86 manual, no a/c, Ranger with the 2.9l. I took out everything I thought I didn't need, even took about a third of the wires out of the harness. The engine ran, not too good though, I probably needed to make some adjustments. But I must have took out a wire that supplied some option that I didn't have that also lit up part of the gauge cluster, because after, it didn't light up. It sounds like a nice idea, but it will take a lot of effort and know how.
 
The wiring has to be matched for a 96, the donor motor is only the mechanicals that your swapping over. However if your swapping from a 4 cyl to a 6 cyl, then get the 4.0l wiring harness for the 94 ranger. This way you can choose catted or catless without worrying about the mil sensors. But you pretty much need to maintain what came from the factory, You can do an EGR delete and trash that sensor. I cant think of anything else off top of my head.
 
I know the ranger and ex. are different - if anything because the ex is an OBD 1 4.0L and the ranger is an OBD 2 3.0L.

Sorry assumed the Ranger was 4.0l also, so your correct that the harness & 2.3L PCM will not work.

its not a 2.3 its an OBD 2 3.0L V-6 :icon_thumby:
 
its not a 2.3 its an OBD 2 3.0L V-6 :icon_thumby:

Thanks you. I was getting tired of reading where guys were assuming I had a 4cyl when I stated it was a 3.0 haha.

Sounds like I'll be keeping most everything.

I've got wiring schematics from both vehicles (my ranger as well as the donor), we'll make it work.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

TRS Events

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Ranger Adventure Video

TRS Merchandise

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Sponsors


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Sponsored Ad

Back
Top