94 3.0L into 96 chassis: what trim parts from old motor need to be swapped

[96fordrangerxlt3.0]

I have a 96 ranger and the old engine died, I bought a 94 3.0L as a replacement knowing ill have to swap parts from the old 3.0 to the replacement. I know the 94 has a different ignition system. So my question is, what besides the cam sensor and crank pulley/crank sensor need to be swapped? Obviously ill have to put my 96 harness on the replacement, but I'm not sure of what else I will need to do if there's anything ill have to do besides the parts swap I just stated. I believe the 94 3.0 has a bolt hole for the crank sensor but I don't want to jump the gun and assume that it will bolt right on with no trouble. I would believe ford made the timing covers with the bolt hole knowing ahead of time that they would be using the newer style ignition so that they can use the overstock timing covers from the 94's to the 95's and it would be very likely they built this 3.o in the later part of the year when all the design was finished for the 95-97 rangers and probably was for the last of the 94 rangers and had the new timing covers, the same way that my cab and frame was built in november of 95 and was finished in 96, I know manufacturers will do this sort of thing to prevent over producing parts and assymblies. Maybe I'm wrong but I think this is the case and hopefully I can swap without changing the timing cover.

 

[PanamaExpat]

You'll need to get the old one out and get them side by side and start comparing. That's probably your easiest solution. You'll also find it goes a lot easier if you lift the cab off the frame. Unless you have the worlds daintiest hands that is.

 

[96fordrangerxlt3.0]

Well I suppose your right there, that may be the best way. I just wanted to know ahead of time, because I just started work and I'm only gonna get sundays off for 7 weeks and I have a 10 hour shift every day, guess ill just go buy me another ranger to drive to work until I have the extra time on hand to do that. I've got some fair sized hands so maybe pulling the old one won't be a problem. thanks man

 

[PanamaExpat]

Those bell housing bolts are in a really tight spot. The exhaust bolts will undoubtedly shear off. That's just two of the fun things you will get to look forwards to. I am not sure if you will need to swap the Y pipe also. Depends on how many O2 sensors your setup has.

 

[96fordrangerxlt3.0]

I hear ill just have to swap just the manifolds as far as the exhaust department goes, which should be a given. I hear there is an inch or so difference in length of the down pipe between the year ranges. I will be doing a side by side comparison when i get the old engine out just to be sure as to whether ill have to go the extra mile or not. My ranger has three o2 sensors, i know that already. I figured out the plugs dont match between the 94 intake and the 96 harness and i dont have the old intake or any of its sensors so i wonder if its possible to use tap connectors to add the 94 style sensor plugs to the 96 harness so i can retain the 96 plugs and use the 94 sensors. I would believe the 94 sensors send the same signal parameters. Thats just a shot in the dark but who knows, it might just work and get me by. Another concern is swapping the cam sensor, i need an alignment tool thingy i believe for that, but i may be able to figure out how to install it without it by figuring out what the position the sensor is in relation to a given piston being TDC before power stroke or intake stroke, right? I seriously need a shop manual for both year range engines