Doing my first engine replacement

[wakingtowinter]

My 4.0 is dead, pouring out white smoke, had to get towed home last night. I am getting ready to pull the motor and put in another 4.0 OHV. I have never pulled a motor or put one in, but I am guessing it will be easier to do than replace head gaskets. I am kind of dreading it, but at the same time I am looking forward to learning a lot and hopefully getting satisfaction from gettings something done I didn't think I could do. I recently did my ball joints and wheel bearings and brakes, and that is about the most complicated thing I've done so far, so I don't know yet if this is going to be beyond me. Luckily I have a manual and a couple mechanically inclined friends and of course the helpful people at TRS. I think with enough photos and labels and organization I can get everything hooked back up.

I found a junkyard motor with 88K on it for $350. It's out of a 96 Ranger. I think I heard something about the intake being different. Will a 96 or 95 4.0 work for my truck (mine's a 94)? Will I need a computer and wiring harness out of the 96 or can I keep my computer and harness?

Also do people find it's easiest to take the tranny out with the motor or disconnect it first and just take the motor out? I have an M50D. I was thinking just take both out so I don't have to deal with getting to those hard to reach transmission bolts.

Any other tips, hints, common sense, encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

 

[fireguy12117]

id try to keep the tranny and motor together coming out of the truck and swap them outside the truck. it was a bear to get things lined back up inside the truck when i did mine.

there are a few possible differences in those years of the OHV. it would be a good idea to look into the cam synchro device that was added around 95ish. it allowed for a different engine management configuration with the computer and will have an affect depending on how you carry out the swap. the more direct way to go is to use the PCM and harness of the donner motor and swap it into the truck.

you could get into swapping top end components out but it sounds like you don't want to tear apart a motor which is a good idea to stay out of if all you want is a running truck at this point.

take pics, and go slow! once you get going on it you might be surprised how easy it might be on these trucks.

 

[wahl_7s]

Just my $.02 if you pull the engine and trans together get as much stuff on the front of the truck as possible out of the way grill,header panel, core support, rad and condenser(if you have a/c if so try to not disconnect the lines that are connected to the compressor and condenser) HAVE FUN AND GOOD LUCK

 

[wakingtowinter]

Yeah, that was one thing I was wondering - I think the Haynes manual tells you to "set aside the A/C compressor". How are you supposed to set it aside when it has all those rigid lines connected to it? Can you disconnect any of them? I know you're not supposed to disconnect the system but I don't see how you can get it out of the way with all the lines there.

Got all (I think ) electrical connectors labeled and disconnected last night, hood off, air box out, alternator out, O2 sensors labeled and disconnected, rad and fan shroud out. Next I think is power steering pump and fuel lines

 

[Tedybear]

In most cases you can pull the A/C parts out of the way and set them on a fender with the parts hooked up. Just takes some patience and you'll figure it out.

S-

 

[wahl_7s]

There is rubber hose some where along the line you can do it I was just trying to save you a few bucks for an a/c service!