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90 ranger 2.3l to 97 4.0l swap


Brehenkel

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
10
City
Indiana
Vehicle Year
1990
Engine
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Manual
Have been reading for a while on articles and not finding or missed the article I need. Can someone shed some light on if I can swap a 97 4.0l into a 90 ranger 2.3l? The 90 ranger is rust free and that is why I want to save it. Both trucks are manual transmissions. Thanks for any replies.
 
You will need to change the transmission too as the bellhousing are integral with the trans and the bolt patterns are different between the engines.
The motor mounts will need changing and you may not be able to use the ones off the 97, not sure...
The wiring will be different. The firewall plug on the 90 is 60pin, the 97 is 110(?). Doable but you will need the electrical manuals for both years.
I'm not sure if the fuel pressure changed between years. I think the 97 is higher and no return line...but not sure.
 
Thanks, I should of been more thorough on my post. I have both complete trucks sitting here, both un molested, and both manual . I was reading earlier off one of the 4.0 threads and I missed or goofed. The one conversion thread seemed like it just needed to be a 4.0 ohv donor and easier in the 89-92 because of dash compatibility. but it looked like I screwed the pooch and missed the part on being 90-94 on the donor 4.0l. The one that is running with the 2.3 I am going to keep driving until I had the 4.0l built and then do the swap. Trying to figure out if that donor is doable or if I could find some parts to make it easier with that donor? Rebuilding the engine and swapping is no issue, turning 50 this year I have done my fare share of that. It was just the wiring part I missed in the threads about the donor years. I also have access to a complete 2001 ranger with a 4.0l SOHC running. So trying to figure out with some guidance best route to go about the engine and harness.

Thanks
 
This is not a swap I've done. I've just read alot on TRS. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in. Electric is not my strong suite.
 
I was wondering the same thing I have a 94 Mazda B3000 with the 30 I also have a 95 splash with a 4.0 I was wondering if I could take the 40 and put into my Mazda and what would be the necessary things I would need due to the splash is total loss and the motor and transmission are good
 
The engine crossmembers are the same (assuming both 4x2) so you will likely just need to swap the brackets that mount to the engine crossmember too. Wiring shouldn't be too bad but I haven't really done a complete engine swap in a Ranger before, I'm using the Ranger harness on my turbo 2.3L... apparently the body harness and engine harness separate fairly simply... of course a '97 is more complex than a '90...

'97 was the last year of the low pressure system with a fuel pressure regulator on the fuel rail conveniently but all the fuel lines and fuel tank are different but you could probably put all the '97 stuff on the '90... I think the fuel filter is the same though so might be able to switch there...
 
97 2wd could be a arm.
 
had it happened to me. title and build date was a 97 but really a 98.
 
So quick update. Did a compression test cyl 1-3#### 100 psi. 4-6#### 90 psi. Changed all emissions related items still has that miss.don't know what other place to look any suggestions would help before I do a engine swap
 

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