4.0 Conversion HELP NEEDED PLEASE!!!!

[MarcosLopez77]

Ok so i have a ranger that im about to convert to a 4.0 and need a little help (mainly with the wiring)

Truck 1990 Ford Ranger Xcab
2.9l
5 speed man transmission

Donor Vehicle - 1998 Ford Ranger Xcab
4.0l OHV
5 Speed manual transmission


Does anyone have a link to a simialar build? i got my donor chassis a few days ago and plan to swap over the entire drivetrain and fuel lines. The 4.0 block is identical to another ranger that i own however the wiring is a bit different. the computer, battery all seem to be on the driverside instead of the passenge side. I also noticed the 4.0 wiring has a PATS with it.

Is there away to use the 2.9 wiring with the 4.0 or is that out of the question?

Can the PATS be avoided or removed from the 4.0 or does all that need to remain intact?

Should i look for a wiring harness from a 93-94 ranger instead?

installing the block and tranny shouldnt be to bad, from what ive read its all pretty much a bolt in swap. My main problem is getting it wired in a lil easier.

any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[straycat]

Did you use the search fuction?

 

[Explorin94]

Did you use the search fuction?

No

 

[MarcosLopez77]

ive been using the search for days now, ive read over the different faq but havent seen a conversion using OBD2. all the 4.0 conversions seem to be with earlier model 4.0. if you can direct me to a link id greatly appreciate it

 

[adsm08]

What you really need is a 90-92 4.0L Ranger harness. I have been able to make a 94 Explorer harness work, but you still need parts from a Ranger harness 90-94.

It required repinning of the cannon plug and adding a few wires to the Explorer haness. Not hard if you just sit down with the books and follow the circuit numbers.

 

[4.0B2]

It required repinning of the cannon plug and adding a few wires to the Explorer haness. Not hard if you just sit down with the books and follow the circuit numbers.

this.
I didn't make a diagram, now I wish I would have.. but this is what I did. Not hard, just take your time and do it right.

 

[MarcosLopez77]

thank you for your reply i think your right. might save alot of trouble by using a different harness

 

[adsm08]

I didn't make a diagram, now I wish I would have.. but this is what I did. Not hard, just take your time and do it right.

I didn't make one either, but it wasn't all that hard.

IIRC the only wires I actually added to the Explorer harness were for the rear lights, because on the Explorers those wires run under the carpet instead of along the frame. I actually ended up with a lot more wires taken out of the Explorer harness than added to it. Stuff like power seats, fog lights, ABS (my harness came out of an Eddie). I think one or two sensor wires may have been in different spots, but about 95% of the stuff just goes from one to the other with no need for changing. It's really just those pesky rear lights that keep the Explorer harness from working plug and play.

 

[SenorNoob]

Couldn't the OP just use a 90 Ranger 4.0 harness and ECU (IF those parts can be found) and have it all be plug and play?

Edit: Well except for maybe a sensor on the engine needing to be the older version.

 

[MarcosLopez77]

the harness from the 98 donor has all kinds of extra crap on there, from PATS to electric seats, fog lights etc. theres a ton of wires i dont need

 

[BlackBII]

If you can find a 90-92 4.0 Ranger in a junkyard, pull the computer and entire engine bay harness. It should be plug and play with the engine you have.

 

[MarcosLopez77]

I didn't make one either, but it wasn't all that hard.

IIRC the only wires I actually added to the Explorer harness were for the rear lights, because on the Explorers those wires run under the carpet instead of along the frame. I actually ended up with a lot more wires taken out of the Explorer harness than added to it. Stuff like power seats, fog lights, ABS (my harness came out of an Eddie). I think one or two sensor wires may have been in different spots, but about 95% of the stuff just goes from one to the other with no need for changing. It's really just those pesky rear lights that keep the Explorer harness from working plug and play.

So i found a 94 explorer at the junkyard that has a complete harness and computer for $100 id like to get it a lil lower but ill spend the $ if i need to. i figured ill have some unneeded wires like you mentioned. my truck is all manual and the harness im wanting to buy has all the electric wiring for seats, doors etc. besides that i think this would be the best way to go unless i find a ranger harness right?

 

[adsm08]

Right. The only other thing you need is the engine side of the big firewall plug from a ranger.

Postin' from teh Galaxy

 

[MarcosLopez77]

hello again, i put this project on hold for a bit due to the iceburg in my back yard. but in the mean time ive still been on a mission to find a harness from a ranger. Old school rangers are impossible to find in junkyards around here. But there are quite a bit of explorers. got a few more questions.

i found a 92 explorer with complete harness and computer. It is an automatic and my project truck is a manual. is there any problems im going to run into using this harness off an automatic? im willing to use this harness and yank off all the unneed stuff like fog lamps and power seats etc.

also this explorer has an aluminum intake, is there much of a difference vs plastic like my donor engine has? should i swap this intake as well?

 

[SenorNoob]

On the intake IDK but I think I've seen people wanting to replace the plastic ones with the aluminum so they could port and polish or something. Should be pretty much the same for stock use.

As for the wiring. Just be careful to hook up the clutch and neutral switch to the correct pin on the computer. By the time you take off the un-needed stuff you may find you don't have much left. I did.

I've heard the auto computer will cause the engine to run weird when it expects the transmission to shift. It'll definitely throw codes without the solenoids there.

Also, before somebody asks yes you can use an auto harness with a manual computer. (I had the same question when I started mine. Apparently it's not possible with Mustangs so information getting copied around online led me to believe all were like that. They aren't)