4.0 engine swap help

[hollywoodman]

I am wanting to replace the 2.9 motor in my 1988 Ford Ranger with a 4.0l. but I am not sure what years I can get a 4.0l motor out of that will work with my 88 ranger that the wiring harness will just plug in to my wiring inside my truck. and also could use any advice on howe to do it once I find the right motor. thanks for any help.

 

[RonD]

Have a look here
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/

look at the engine rebuild/swap section
You need to swap out computer so wiring as well.

 

[hollywoodman]

so would I have to swap out the wiring in the cab of the truck? like the fuse box and wiring to the gauges?

 

[RonD]

No, should be just the engine harness and computer

EDIT: oops I stand corrected, you have a 1988

Dashboards:

If you're swapping a 4.0L in to a 1988 or older Ranger/Bronco II you'll need the dash from the donor vehicle. If you're swapping a 4.0L in to a 1989 or newer Ranger you can use your existing dash. However, if the 4.0L and wiring harness came from an Explorer, you'll need the Explorer dash.

Need a dash swap article? click HERE.

89+ you don't need the dash. The 90+ 4.0 and 2.9 dash harnesses were the same.

From this page:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4L_Conversion_faqs.htm

 

[hollywoodman]

so then it is easier to stick with a 2.9 motor then? unless you buy a whole truck. what years and the rigs can I buy to be compatible with my 1988 ford ranger

 

[hollywoodman]

I am a novise so what years and what models could I use to get the 4.0l motor and stuff out of that I would need. thanks for any help

 

[RonD]

The reason you are not getting a lot of responses is because this question has been asked and answered too many times.
There is no direct answer or "list" except for what other have done before and what worked for them.
The 4.0l wasn't offered in Rangers until 1990

Using the "search" button at the top will get you what people have done before and what worked and what didn't work.

Start here
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4L_Conversion.html

And the ranger tech page I posted earlier will be helpful

P.S. I lived in Noti, OR for 6 years, just down the road from you, but that was 20 years ago, before the new hwy

 

[hollywoodman]

thanks Ron so much for the help. hey where do you live now?

 

[RonD]

Vancouver, Canada
Went from 0% sales tax to 13% sales tax

weather is the same though, 3 weather options
1. will rain soon
2. raining now
3. just stopped raining, please go back to 1.

 

[SenorNoob]

I'll just leave it at this..

If you do it,
Buy a donor vehicle! You'll most likely come out cheaper in the long run. AND it'll be much easier than having to schedule 40-50 trips to the salvage yard like I did. Plus when done you can haul the other shell for scrap.

 

[ronclark]

I am wanting to replace the 2.9 motor in my 1988 Ford Ranger with a 4.0l. but I am not sure what years I can get a 4.0l motor out of that will work with my 88 ranger that the wiring harness will just plug in to my wiring inside my truck. and also could use any advice on howe to do it once I find the right motor. thanks for any help.

Your a few hours from me, so if you need help i can offer a hand.
My swap was 87 to 93 4.0L, using 93 explorer harness.
93 Explorer harness is one of the hardest swap. a 90 to 92 would be easier.
as for a motor any OHV 4.0L will work