A Little Help Please!

[dmch82bl8]

A few days ago I Swapped my messed up motor w/ a used motor of the same year. I finished the swap and primed the fuel system and it started up first crank. This motor runs much stronger than the old one. I've driven it around for a couple of days now, and this morning I had it idling in my driveway and it just died. Now it just cranks, but won't start.
I tested for spark w/ spark detector that goes between the plug and plug wire and lights up w/ each spark.....nothing. I checked the same way for spark from the coil.....nothing.
I referred to my Haynes Manual and tested the Primary and Secondary Coil resistance.....good. I tested Coil Voltage w/ ignition on.....good 12+ volts.
I even replaced the coil w/ different one, and same results.
Any ideas where I should go from here?

1994 Ranger XLT 4x4 3.0L Standard Trans.

Any help would surely be appreciated.

Thanks,
DMCH82BL8

 

[Bryan22]

keep moving down the line. distributor is next. if it all looks good replace the stator.

 

[graff104]

well seems like you been checking the spark pretty good, but what about fuel?

 

[dmch82bl8]

I think I found the problem........
I removed the distributor cap and noticed a small piece of metal that looked like it didn't belong where I saw it.
I reached down in the distributor with needlenose pliers and pulled the piece of metal out.
I looked at the distributor on my old engine and found a matching piece.
The piece came off of where there's a magnet inside the distributor, (you know, where that metal piece with the slots cut out spins past the magnet), well this piece of metal sits on top of and behind that magnet.
So I'm pretty sure that since this piece came free from where it's suppose to be, the distributor is now unable to distribute the spark properly.
Has anyone else ever encountered this type of problem?
I have a 1 year warranty for this used motor, so I'll be giving them a call tomorrow to get a replacement distributor. I could always just use the one off my old motor, but if they'll replace it, I'd rather do that instead.

 

[Bryan22]

sounds good. you're plan sounds pretty solid to me, but I would just throw in the one off the old truck to get it on the road faster.

 

[dmch82bl8]

I was going to use the one off my old motor but the distributor drive gear was really worn. I looked around for hours this morning, driving to many parts houses and wasn't able to find a new gear. So I decided to go to a few auto recyclers and was able to pull one from a 1994 Aerostar that was an exact match. I lucked out because the one I found and pulled was almost brand new. It was stamped "Remanufactured" right on the side of it. It looks brand new. I got it for $37.00 (tax included). I say I got a bargain.
Took it home, installed it, and my truck fired up first crank. I adjusted the timing and it purrs like a kitten. I didn't think that finding the right drive gear would have been so hard, but it was.

 

[Bryan22]

awsome man. good work!