'98 Explorer to '00 B4000 engine swap & cps

[Joatmon]

I'm swapping the 4.0 engine from a 98 explorer into a '00 b4000 that had a blown 4.0 but I'm stumped at the camshaft position sensor. The explorer one has a 3 prong plug, b4000 a 2 prong. Can I just swap the syncro/sensor over? Never had to mess with a cmp before so it's all new to me, any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Joatmon]

No ideas?
Still haven't gotten anywhere with the truck between this, other issues & the weather. The synchronizers between the two have identical part numbers but the top ends are different.
I read somewhere that the explorers used a different camshaft than the Rangers, is this the case or could I just reuse the synchro from the blown engine?

 

[fastpakr]

Buy a new cam synchronizer for the 2000 engine and use that.

 

[Joatmon]

Thanks, I thought about doing that but wanted to make sure it would work before I dropped any more cash on this motor. I'll try it & see how it goes.

 

[fastpakr]

They're both OHV engines, right?

 

[Joatmon]

Yeah they are, blown engine was from a 99 ranger, "new" motor is from a 98 explorer. Both 4.0, auto & 4wd. Thus far the only differences I've found are the wiring harness, synchro & oil pressure sender. With the synchros being different I was worried the timing would be different as well.
The upper one is the explorer synchro, lower is the ranger if that helps at all.

 

[Joatmon]

Ok, finally got the blasted thing together enough to try starting it. Pretty much everything that could make working on a rig take longer has happened. Seriously it's been an example of all the anti-ford hype I've ever heard, figures I'd have that experience with my first ford...

Anyway got it started, let it stumble around at idle for a minute or two before it died & checked the codes. It threw one for the camshaft position sensor so figure the timings out either through my error or from reusing the ranger synchro & the blue alignment cap. I might try it again with one of the other caps in the kit unless someone here has better advice on how to do it.

 

[Joatmon]

Ok, the ranger cam sychronizer appears to work but now that it seems the explorer engine had issues before I swapped it. Changed the plugs & the old ones were all oil fouled on the drivers side & one was crusted over. New plugs on drivers side all blackened with only minutes of run time, passenger side is still spotless.
When running it backfires out the the exhaust till you give it throttle, then the backfire pretty much goes away & it begins to ping some instead.
Has new plugs, wires, exhaust manifold gaskets, intake plenum rings & the injectors have been cleaned/swapped around with the same result. Also tried different 02 sensors with no change & it's not throwing any codes. I've also checked the vauum lines & replaced what was leaking.
As best I can tell it's running rich on the drivers side but I'm fairly certain nothing outside the engine is causing it, could a bad intake manifold gasket do it or maybe something in the valvetrain? There's no tapping or clicking noise as it runs.