'93 4.0 Manual Into '88 2.9 Manual

[daddy-justin]

Good Day,

I have not posted in so long, it looks like my history has been erased. No worries. I gave my son my treasured '88 that I have had since I was 21. I am now 46! My son joined the Army Infantry and is assigned to 101st Airborne(wife and I are very proud). Since he will probably be deployed within a year from the sound of it, he gave me back my truck. Happy dance for me and God Speed to my son.

My '88 Ranger 4x4 with 2.9 and 5 speed is ready to be updated to a 4.0. I have found a '93 Ranger 4X4 with good interior and manual 4.0. I want to switch motor and trans, axles and interior. I have been doing a lot of research and I have a few questions.

It looks like the '93 has the battery on the driver side and my '88 has it on the passenger side. Also, sounds like the computer will not be on the passenger kick panel as it is now. I found one post where they had to weld a box for the computer on the fender well on the drivers side. Great work, but I am not that handy. Guess I could always learn a new skill. Thinking the computer would not work on the passenger side.

Would it be easier to wait for a '89 -'92 since it has a similar layout as my '88? I am not worried about the wiring or mechanical issues, but I do not weld.

Can the battery stay where it is now or would I need to move the battery tray to the drivers side? What is required?

Does the computer need to be relocated?

Appreciate the help! Will be a great Summer project.

Justin

 

[adsm08]

I've done the swap as you have it setup. Most guys say to not use Explorer wiring because it causes problems, but you have an ideal setup with just needing a few extra parts.

Do your swap as you planned, but go to the junk yard and grab an 91-94 Explorer engine bay harness. Then you transfer, pin by pin, the wires of the Explorer harness into the big white plug of your existing 93 Ranger engine harness. You need to leave a few wires from the Ranger harness in that plug, they are for the rear lights, and I think the fuel gauge. Just make sure you get a matched engine and injector harness from the same vehicle. On my last swap I took the engine harness from a vehicle missing it's engine and it bit me in the butt because I couldn't find a matching injector harness.

 

[daddy-justin]

Thanks for the first hand knowledge.

Just for clarification, will I need to relocate the battery and computer or can they stay in the same place as on the '88? Thinking that would be teh reason for the Explorer harness.

I also got to thinking, which is always dangerous according to my Wife, since I am planning on changing out the axles, dashboard and interior, Wouldn't it be easier to just switch the cab and bed? That way, everything should work with minor modifications. Basically, I would just have gen 1 sheet metal on 93 chassis. This sounds like it might be less work and the truck would still be registered as an '88 since the VIN number would be on the truck cab. Even my 4 in. lift looks like it would fit on the 93 suspension.

Would this work? Thoughts?

Justin

 

[adsm08]

The Explorer harness retains the U shape of the harness that you have right now, instead of having the J shape the 93+ Ranger harnesses had. This leaves the battery, starter relay, and washer bottle all in the same places as you have them now.

The body swap could be done, but would leave you with the issues addressed in your initial questions. Also the front frame horns are different, and require modification to accommodate the gen1 front bumper.

 

[daddy-justin]

Okay. I am starting the search for the correct harnesses. I have been doing more research about the engine swap and everything is starting to become clearer.

What type of modification would I need for the front bumper? I might be leaning that way. Sounds like it might be easier. Am I wrong??

Justin

 

[daddy-justin]

Okay, just wanted update my build. I have bought a 94 Explorer engine harness and matching injector harness, good deal at $50. I also am buying a 93 Ranger with a manual trans. Truck only has 70k miles on it and looks to be in great shape. I am going to switch everything over as opposed to just the cab and bed. I do not have any place to lift it off and make the switch. No problem.

Not sure what changing the pins is, but I am sure I can do a little more research and it will be clear.