engine swap questions....

[Kyle M.]

Can I swap out my 2.3 and drop in a 4.0? Is the frame the same? Thanks

 

[scotts90ranger]

frame should be the same or close enough (might have to drill some holes) but you will have to change the engine wiring (one from the same year would make things easy), exhaust and transmission.

 

[Ranger44]

The only difference in ranger frames are 2wd to 4wd. The 2.3's use a different type of motor mount vs. the 3.0's or 4.0's.

So basically, if you wanted to, you could. What year are you swapping into what year?

 

[Kyle M.]

93 into a 93

 

[red85]

Sounds like it'll be a breeze. Just get as much of the wiring from the donor as you can.

 

[Ranger44]

Swap everything right over.

The frame wiring, cab wiring, and dash are the same. Unplug the engine harness at the cannon plug, and PCM plug......unplug all the way around to the passenger side to about the overfill tank. Lift out. Take 2.3 PCM out. Replace with 4.0 PCM. Lay 4.0 harness in. Plug back in.

The mechanical stuff? Exhaust, radiator, trans, w/ proper harness, fuel lines, motor mounts (you'll have to grind the 2.3 mounts out as they are riveted in), and maybe a few other bits, but it'll be a breeze as far as engine swaps go.

PM me if you need anymore help. I've been through enough 93-94' trucks it's not even funny. I also have a 93' Ford EVTM. Very helpful for wiring and such.

Good luck

 

[badmts]

If you have money,time,tools experience,a place to do it,helpers and all the parts lined up yeah it's a "BREEZE"If you take ONE of those items out of the equasion it gets hard in a hurry-take out TWO items and its another "Too many projects must sell" craigslist ad.I am not a hater I am a REALIST -we do about 4-5 engines a year,mostly stock but a few were hot rod stuff for employees-350 into jeep-350 into s10-347 stroker into 88 notch and right now I am up grading my 86 ranger 2.3 to a 2.55L stroker via 2.5 crank and rods,.040" overbore and bigger cam and injectors.

 

[Duane867]

Honestly the big bitch is just removing the old crap.
Every V8 swap I have done in a Ranger or Bronco 2 were all the same. The hardest part was removing the old. You always have to grind things that are riveted in place ( THANK YOU UNCLE FORD ! ) and you will go through a case of liquid wrench and PB blast before its over. But after all the old is broken loose and out its cake.

 

[red85]

If you have money,time,tools experience,a place to do it,helpers and all the parts lined up yeah it's a "BREEZE"If you take ONE of those items out of the equasion it gets hard in a hurry-take out TWO items and its another "Too many projects must sell" craigslist ad.I am not a hater I am a REALIST -we do about 4-5 engines a year,mostly stock but a few were hot rod stuff for employees-350 into jeep-350 into s10-347 stroker into 88 notch and right now I am up grading my 86 ranger 2.3 to a 2.55L stroker via 2.5 crank and rods,.040" overbore and bigger cam and injectors.

There is so much stuff written about this swap that it really is a breeze. It is possible to do this job by yourself as long as you have the right tools, but it's always easier with an assistant. I can't imagine starting this job without having the parts you're going to need (fall back to all the swap info for a list). If you attempt to do any job of this size and be in a hurry, it's a recipe for disaster. Take your time, take pictures for referencing, go step by step and you will get it done right the first time.

 

[Ranger44]

What REALLY helps is that it's a 3rd gen-A to 3rd Gen-A (I say A because there is really 2 versions of 3rd gens, one being 93-94 and the other being 95-97'). It's like legos. That easy, but there CAN be some snags.


That's what TRS is for. You have people like me who's had their hands on all 3 engines, and has personally had harnesses out of all 3. There are differences, I may not be able to recall all off the top of my head, but a question will more tan likely trigger my brain to shuffle through the "dusty files", and retrieve the correct answer.

I'd almost consider myself a self-proclaimed 93'-94' "expert".....lol

 

[Kyle M.]

Well, I have 2 trucks, so parts aren't an issue. Thanks everybody! I will be posting pictures of everything in the under construction section since this will be a full build if you wanna follow.

 

[lifted4.0]

sorry to jump into this thread without answers, but i had a question on the swap

so i think i read that you have to pop out the motor mounts? do you just get the motor mounts that work with the 4.0 and place them to the frame?

how much metal fab work is required when doing this swap?

 

[Ranger44]

The 2.3 hydro mounts are just riveted, you pop the rivets, remove them and put in the solid rubber 4.0 mounts. I don't think one would even have to drill in order to fit the 4.0 mounts, but that may be a possibility, but not difficult.

 

[Bryan22]

Good you have an extra truck to work with since no one mentioned that the 2.3 dosen't share a bell housing with any of the 6 cylinders. So you'll need the trans out of the 4.0 as well.

edit- except for scott missed that in his post at first.

 

[Duane867]

If you do have to drill through the engine cradle... God help you and your poor drill bits.
I have a lot of experience drilling through B2 and ranger frames relocating cross members back a few inches for auto and manual trans V8 swaps and relocating engine mounts via drilling through the engine cradle for the V8 mounts..... All I can say is be prepared for sore fore arms, hands and have at least 4 spares of the same size bits you'll be using along with plenty of coolant/lube if you have to drill. As already mentioned though you may not have to at all ?