97 to a 01.motor swap.

[jarfly]

So I have a 97 ranger that the motor went down, just picked up a 01 with 76k on the ticker for a doner truck.. So I got the 01 ready to pull and seen that there is no return line, kind of confusing as the 97 has one. What has to be done here? I really don't want to swap the intakes out as I like the ideal of the removable throttle body.
Allso I was worndering about the cam sensor, I know there not the same the plugs is different. How would I go about using the 01 cam sensor in the 97?

Like I said I really don't want to touch nothing on the motor would like to just drop it in the 97 and hook stuff up. Would I be able to swap the fuel lines out?
Thanks you all for the advice in advance. I look so forward to getting my truck going again after setting for 2 years.

 

[adsm08]

Probably best to swap just the fuel rail and the cam sensor itself and not touch the syncro.

 

[RonD]

You will need to swap Cam sensors

The '01 uses a 65psi no-return fuel system, and is it from a Flex Fuel vehicle?
The '97 uses a 35psi return fuel system
You could drop the fuel tank and install the 65psi pump and block off the return line.

And sensor/control placement on the intake manifold is probably different, so '97 wiring harness may not reach everything.
So best/easiest thing to do would be to swap intake manifolds, then existing fuel pump will work and no issues with sensors or controls.

Does the '01 have an EGR system?

 

[jarfly]

i'm having to use the pump any how (mine died). So I could just swap ever thing over the lines and all? or can I just not hook the return line up?
and on the egr, I don't think it does, I will have to double check tomorrow.
I hate messing witht he cam sensors in the back on the engine, it took me forever to get my 97 right.

 

[jarfly]

Allso not sure on the flex fuel, how do I tell?

 

[RonD]

You will need to cap off the return line so the gas tank is air tight or you will get EVAP system CEL.

Flex Fuel engines used different injectors than straight gas injectors, your '97 computer should be able to use them just not sure.
Flex fuel are usually 25lb
Gas only 17lb

Your computer expects an EGR sensor and will turn on CEL without feed back, correct feed back .

 

[jarfly]

ok, so I kind of got what I need to do as far as the fuel system, confused on this does the pump just have the 1 line? It looks like there 2 coming up to the engine bay I haven't chased them down yet. This is the first returnless system I have messed with.

On the cam sensor (the one were a distrusterd would be) as I said before I did not have a pleasant time with the one on my 97 with a 98 motor.
Is there any way I could use the computer and engine wireing from the 01?

also on the egr, Like I said I don't really recalling the 01 had one. Will this interfere with the 97?

 

[adsm08]

If you rob pump, computer, wiring, and fuel lines from the donor truck you can make all that stuff work easy enough.

A returnless system only has one fuel line. Pick a fuel system and use all of it's parts.

Like Ron said, the 97 computer is programmed for EGR, it expects it to be there and working, so not having it will at the very least turn on the check engine light and set half a dozen circuit open or low flow codes. Pick a year and use all of it's parts.

 

[RonD]

This is just an opinion but if it were me....................

I would swap the intake from the '97 3.0l to the '01 3.0l, this pretty much solves all the issues.
You get EGR, correct fuel system, and wiring harness matches.

Swap Cam sensor, not easy but not a deal breaker either

Replace '97 fuel pump if it is bad, with '97 model fuel pump.

And if down the road you should have a problem, then parts for a '97 will fix it.
Only '01 parts are the block and heads.

 

[jarfly]

This is just an opinion but if it were me....................

I would swap the intake from the '97 3.0l to the '01 3.0l, this pretty much solves all the issues.
You get EGR, correct fuel system, and wiring harness matches.

Swap Cam sensor, not easy but not a deal breaker either

Replace '97 fuel pump if it is bad, with '97 model fuel pump.

And if down the road you should have a problem, then parts for a '97 will fix it.
Only '01 parts are the block and heads.

Im starting to think this. But the major thing is factoring in this is money over time. I have way more time than money. I'm going try to drop the motor in tomorrow after noon. If I swapped the computer on the fire wall and wiring that plugs in to it, and swapped fuel system. My main concern is the wiring. Is there any thing else I would have to change as in the wiring?

 

[stmitch]

Is there a reason why you can't just use the 97 fuel rail/injectors on the 01 engine? That seems like the best compromise. You could keep the return style fuel system, and gain the improved intake manifold.

Not having EGR will generate a CEL, but won't really affect the operation of the engine. It's only a problem if you have emissions testing in your area. If you can find a 98-00 3.0 in a junkyard somewhere, you could pull the egr components off of it too. Some 03 and newer 3.0's had EGR as well, but not all.

 

[RonD]

One wiring thing I can think of is the 2001 computer will probably have PATS(passive anti-theft system).
Since '97 doesn't I am not sure if starter could be disabled since that wiring wouldn't be there but possibly spark or fuel could be effected

 

[jarfly]

Got my motor out of my 97. I'm hoping in the next few days ill be able to work on getting the 01 down in. I'm going try and see what I can do with this. also didn't know if the injectors would work or not. Just kind of wondering what is the correct way to do the cam sensor again? So if I don't run the egr it won't run like total poo?

 

[jarfly]

Didn't get to work on this today but it has been on my mind all day.

Just a thought, I'm wanting to swap the dash's out any how. (truck as spotless black interior my truck has nasty wore out use to be gray) What if I took the wireing fron the 01 and put it in my truck? Motor and all should run just like the 97?

 

[stmitch]

If you have everything from the 01, it would work fine. There would be a lot of work involved, but it's doable. Fuel system, all wiring harnesses, engine, PCM, and steering column would need to be switched out.