87 2.9 wont start off key

[ddman]

we put this motor in and got it all hooked, tried the key and it wont turn over, put on new sileniod, battery, cleaned all cables, ran a nother ground from the battery to the engine and frame. it will start and run if you jump the silenoid, and will shut off by the key, just wont turn over. any ideas? we changed it over from a auto to a 5 spd. the harness all matched up with the exception of the torque converter plug, speed sensor and the nutraul saftey switch. how do you go aobut crossing over the nutral saftey switch? we reall dont want to have to change the harness. the truck started off the key before we put in the motor and trans, but it sat for about 4 years while we were looking for a motor.

 

[Big Jim M]

Sounds like the neutral safety switch is the problem here. Just cross the wires so there is continuity and it should start right up.
Big JIm

 

[Psychopete]

The NSS on my '88 was in the round plug that was on the drivers side with 5 wires. You may only have 4(?). The 2 were right next to each other and R/LB was from the ignition switch and the W/P was the other side to the solenoid. Within the mainharness, the W/P wire spiced back into a R/LB wire. You'll probably have to splice/correct the reverse lights as well, as this is on the same plug. Can't remember wiring colors though.

Pete

 

[ddman]

its alive, it was the nutral saftey switch. we put a jumper wire on it and it fired right up. runs good, we changed it over from an auto to 5 spd, didnt have to change the computer or wire harness. just the one plug is all we had to mess with. it seems to have pl;enty of power too. now just got to get exhaust on it and it will be ready to go. now to get starrted on the 83 ranger with the 302, have to change transmissions in it. but we are leaveing it auto. thanks for your help guys. ill get pics as soon as i can

 

[creepinjeepster]

So what did you do with the torque converter plug and speed sensor? Your first post said they weren't correct either for the application. Could bve handy info for anyone else looking to convert auto to manual also.

 

[ddman]

taped them up to keep moisture out of them and zip tied them to the frame. going to get exhaust this week on it i think. really the hardest part of this swap was moveing the cross member and finding a drive shaft. just wish we knew we were changeing it over to 5 spd before so i could have grabbed the transmission out of the donor truck when i pulled the motor.