A few A4LD to M5OD questions

[dogboy]

I am swaping my Ranger 4.0L 4wd A4LD for a 4.0L 4wd M50d out of a 94 Explorer.
My Ranger: '93 4.0L A4LD 4wd ext cab, electric t-case.
Parts Explorer: '94 4.0L M5OD 4wd 4 door (I'm pretty sure its an electric t-case).


I have the Explorer parts truck, so I should have everything except for the pedal assembly (junk yard).

When I do my swap, ideally, I'd like to keep my engine and just use the Explorer M5OD.
1) Since I will be swaping the computer, and probably the wiring harenes's (I will need to do that, not just the computer, correct), will the '94 Explorer computer work with my '93 4.0l after the swap?
2) I know with the Ranger in 94 they came out with the new camshaft sensor. Am I correct to assume they put it in the Explorer too?
3) If the Explorer computer will not directly work with my motor, what would have to change to get it to be compatible?
4) The crossmembers are different on the manual, and auto, right?


I'll use the Explorer motor if I have to, but I would really prefer not. It has 213K miles on it, and it has a lifter tick when it starts up (goes away after a few minutes of running)

I've tried researching most of these things, and have only found alittle bit of info. But I'll be searching more.

Thanks for any help guys!



EDIT: I think I just found the answer to #4. The crossmembers are the same.

 

[Hahnsb2]

94 engines have EGR and probably other changes. I think it would be easiest to find a 93 manual computer.

 

[dogboy]

Ok, I may do that then.

Just have to see how much that'd cost.


Do you think it'd be easier to just take the tranny out the bottom, take the enigne and all out and swap it and put it back in? I'm thinking drop the tranny, but my dad says yard it all out and swap it and stick it back in. Maybe he hasn't messed with all the wires and everything before.. I have a 3" body lift which will make it nice to work on!

 

[Hahnsb2]

I think it's impossible to pull the engine and tranny without removing the core support... Hell I had a hell of a time getting the 4.0 in with the clutch and front accessories on.

 

[engdept]

1) Since I will be swapping the computer, and probably the wiring harness' (I will need to do that, not just the computer, correct), will the '94 Explorer computer work with my '93 4.0l after the swap?
You don't have to swap the engine wiring harness, but it does make life 100x easier than trying to figure out which wires you need to tie together to get the truck to run.

The Explorer PCM will NOT work in your Ranger.


2) I know with the Ranger in 94 they came out with the new camshaft sensor. Am I correct to assume they put it in the Explorer too?
Yes, the '94 Explorers got the camshaft sensor also.


3) If the Explorer computer will not directly work with my motor, what would have to change to get it to be compatible?
Since there are a plenty of '93 Rangers, get yourself a PCM from a '93 Ranger with a manual transmission; eBay can be your friend.


4) The cross members are different on the manual, and auto, right?
The automatic and manual transmission cross members are the same on a Gen 3 Ranger.

 

[dogboy]

Ok, thanks guys, I appreciate it.

I'll probably head to a wrecking yard, and ebay when I get off work.


I didn't think it would be THAT hard to get the motor out of these.. Sounds like I'll be dropping the tranny then.

Not sure what I'm going to do with the Explorer when I'm done. My tranny hasn't quite gone out yet, so I'm thinking maybe put my auto in the explorer, and make it a dedicated trail rig w/ a trailer. But a guy in my auto shop also would buy it and do the same thing.. gotta see what happens I guess.
For 800 bucks, this explorer is PERFECT other than the clutch. not a dent in it, and the interior is pretty good too.

 

[rickcdewitt]

get the manual tranny sub-harness and a 93 m/t cpu instead of converting to egr and a cam sensor with the mountain of wires and crap that come with it

 

[dogboy]

So the wiring harness is going to be different between the 93-auto, 93-manual, and 94-manual? I know they are different between the auto and manual, but the harness changed in 94 also?

I guess the newer (from the 94 Explorer) harness would have more plugs and crap on it becuase of the changes, wouldn't it?

 

[Hahnsb2]

Yes the 94 harness is different than the 93, the 2 main engine plugs on 94 are square and one is round on the 93. You can swap just the tranny part of the harness, it hooks up on the drivers side of the engine bay I believe.

 

[dogboy]

Sorry, that was slightly confusing.. So, could I use the 94's wiring harness, with a 93 computer, I would just have to change a plug?

Or, I could use my harnes, with the 93-manual computer, but I'd have to use the transmission part of the 94 Explorer's harness?

I'm decent with electrical, I just need to understand what I'm doing first.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Keep your engine and harness and swap in a 93 manual computer, and swap the tranny harness (it unplugs from the rest of the engine harness).

 

[rickcdewitt]

i think a good EVTM manual from ebay for your truck will solve a lot of your issues.by far the easiest to read electrical manual with the most info.

 

[dogboy]

Ok, cool!

Thanks guys.

 

[Totalled]

Keep your engine and harness and swap in a 93 manual computer, and swap the tranny harness (it unplugs from the rest of the engine harness).

Yeah, that. I just swapped the computer and trans harness when I put an M5OD into my explorer.

 

[dogboy]

Ok.

Two other things. I guess this is kind of important.. My 93 flex plate is going to have the same bolt pattern as the 94 flywheel, right? I've read stuff about newer ones being questionable, but not odler engine, liek these.


Unless it is just an illusion, I am going to have to grind the rivets off of the radius arm mount/ cross memeber arn't I? If I take just the tranny out the bottom, like I'll probably do. It looks like it is just slightly in the way, haha (sarcasm).