4.0 Explorer Swap

[2nerdy]

I just picked up a 96 Explorer 4.0 that I am going to put in my 92 Ranger 2.9. I plan on also swapping the front and rear axels and transmission with it. What all do I need to pull over with me?

 

[franklin2]

I would pull everything over, wiring harness, dash, etc. The 96 will be OBDII, so you will have the proper port to hook a code reader up and all the other stuff will be plug and play. The 96 wiring diagrams will work also.

 

[2nerdy]

Why would I need to pull the dash over? As far as I can tell they look the same

 

[franklin2]

If they are the same, then good. Unless you want to get schematics out and do a lot of ciphering, I would pull the whole harness out of the explorer and plug it in.

 

[gaz]

@2nerdy
The reason to pull the entire dash isn't completely evident at first glance. The cabin wire harness is fished all throughout the dash, if you unplug the harness, leaving in the dash, then swap it in complete it will be remarkably simpler.

There is a difference in the harnesses, I would definitely use the complete Explorer cabin and engine bay harness. The Explorer a large keyed wire bundle that passes through the firewall on the driver's side and the PCM in the passenger side kick panels...I believe the Ranger's PCM is not located there and I'm uncertain if the Ranger has the same keyed bundle on the driver's side.

You will have fewer issues with your post 88 Ranger but using the entire Explorer harness, PCM and all sensors should prove worthwhile move.

 

[broncc]

The pinout of the bulkhead connector above the driver left foot changes throughout the years. Swapping the dash is best. If you're attached to the old one, you can swap the entire harness out. You'll have both dashes out either way.

Four bolts along the windshield, two into the A pillars. Steering drops with two bolts under the knee panel.

 

[bobbywalter]

the airbox changes in late 94-96 and can add difficulty swapping dashes. but its easy to physically move the dash...unlike the gen 1 rangers... those things suk to move.

alot of people section the firewall. but that is not always necessary.

 

[JoshT]

You mentioned the dash being the same. The dash of a 96 Explorer and a 92 Ranger definitely should not look the same. Are you sure that you have a 96 Explorer?

If you have an earlier Explorer with the same dash style as the 92 Ranger, it probably changes a lot of the advice you've been given.

I plan on also swapping the front and rear axels

If you do have a 96 Explorer, it and the 92 Ranger have completely different front axles and suspensions. SLA vs TTB. The axles and parts are not interchangable.

I've never attempted or explored a swap using a OBD-II V6, but I did heavily look into an OBD-II Explorer V8 swap into a preOBD-II truck. Seemed to me that it would be better off making the EFI system operate standalone and connecto to the earlier vehicles's wiring. Didn't go through with the swap, ended up doing it on my 99 instead.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The front axle from a '96 Explorer is not going to fit well in a '92 Ranger, complete different design...

 

[2nerdy]

You mentioned the dash being the same. The dash of a 96 Explorer and a 92 Ranger definitely should not look the same. Are you sure that you have a 96 Explorer?

If you have an earlier Explorer with the same dash style as the 92 Ranger, it probably changes a lot of the advice you've been given.



If you do have a 96 Explorer, it and the 92 Ranger have completely different front axles and suspensions. SLA vs TTB. The axles and parts are not interchangable.

I've never attempted or explored a swap using a OBD-II V6, but I did heavily look into an OBD-II Explorer V8 swap into a preOBD-II truck. Seemed to me that it would be better off making the EFI system operate standalone and connecto to the earlier vehicles's wiring. Didn't go through with the swap, ended up doing it on my 99 instead.

Okay so I took a look online, and you are right, the dash is way different. After a little digging, I'm thinking it might be a 94 explorer. When I get home I can check the vin to see what year it actually is.

 

[JoshT]

Okay so I took a look online, and you are right, the dash is way different. After a little digging, I'm thinking it might be a 94 explorer. When I get home I can check the vin to see what year it actually is.

If the driver door matches, the warranty tag on it should have build date. It's month/year format IIRC.

 

[2nerdy]

I took a look at it this weekend and it is a 94

 

[JoshT]

The good news is that you can use a 94 explorer front axle in your 92.

My 2¢ is that it'll be much easier to swap just the engine wiring than the whole dash harness and everything. I imagine that a 94 Explorer's harness and ECU layout/location is very similar to your 92. Aside from a few wire connections it'll probably be almost a drop in swap.

My main reason for getting involved in the thread was to clarify the year inconsistencies that I was seeing. With that handled, I'll leave it for those with more experience to steer you right.

 

[2nerdy]

I think I am just about ready to pull the motor. Any advice on where to hook up the chains? Also how much chain should I buy?

 

[franklin2]

You can always use chain, so buy as much as you can afford. You can cut off what you do not need or leave it long and ball it up on top of the engine. You can use bolts and washers instead of chain hooks.

Usually you can wrap the chain around the exhaust manifolds. You want the chains away from the engine as much as possible, since they will tend to lean inward to the single lifting hook and try to crush the valve covers.