engine swap

[trommy]

I located a 97 2.3/5 sp.for my 92 2.3/5 sp.Is there anything with the wireing harness,or any other issues I need to know about when swapping?Also,my current engine has a new clutch.Should we put it in the 97 donor?What about the speedo hookup?
I took the oil filter off my engine and there was almost no oil in it (about 3 tbsp) so I gave up on it.Thanks

 

[lordkyleofearth]

In 92 the Ranger was OBDI, in 97 it was OBDII. Be sure you swap the appropriate sensors off the old engine and onto the new one. You may need to snag a few new ones (if the part numbers for sensors don't match up). I used RockAuto.com to compare part numbers when I did my 95->97 swap.

You may also want to change out your seals and gaskets while the thing is out. Definitely change your oil pan gasket.

 

[scotts90ranger]

the crank sensor being different is going to be the biggest difference, along with the lack of a place to mount the ignition module on the intake manifold. I don't have all that much experience with anything that new so I'm not much help otherwise

 

[lordkyleofearth]

the crank sensor being different is going to be the biggest difference, along with the lack of a place to mount the ignition module on the intake manifold. I don't have all that much experience with anything that new so I'm not much help otherwise

He should be able to just uses the manifolds off the older engine.

 

[trommy]

Couldn't I just use the harness and everything including the computer off the donor?Thanks

 

[4b316]

You have to change the complete harness,under the dash and under the hood,The 97 has a returnless fuel system I think,so you would have to change that or find a 95 and pull the the fuel lines.You also could make a template of the crank sensor location of the 92 and drill and tap the front of the block to take that style.The 92 coil mounts are different as are the alternator,power steering pump brackets,not a problem if you get that with the new motor.A lot of work either way

 

[Bryan22]

you'd be better off to keep looking until you found something 94 and older. then it's a direct bolt in no headaches.

 

[trommy]

97 is older than my 92.The donor is the 97.??Have you got it backwards?Thanks

Doh!! What am I thinking???Sorry 'bout that.(Mom never called me Sonny because I was bright!)

 

[lordkyleofearth]

I'm not 100% positive, but I think you can just put your 92 head onto the 97 block and use all the same components. (I'd definitely confirm that, I've only played with a 95 and 97).

Why not just rebuild the engine you already have? Your block/head are not cracked, just clogged and dirty. You will need to clean it out really well, but other than that it should be rebuildable. My engine swap turned into a rebuild; I could have saved a few hundred dollars (and some headaches) if I had just planned to rebuild from the get-go.

 

[4b316]

The head will bolt on,a little different on the center water port but if he was going to use the intake also,it would work.That still doesn't take care of the problem of the crank sensor.It would be easier to find a 89-94 engine

 

[Bryan22]

97 is older than my 92.The donor is the 97.??Have you got it backwards?Thanks

how is a motor made in 97 older than one made in 92? ..... either way I would be looking for something from 89-94. but go ahead and have fun with that swap.

 

[trommy]

I live in a sparsely populated county and this is my only transportation.Everything is moot now.We just got back from taking it to my son's shop in Halifax.It never got any louder and I had to drive about 55-60 (40-50 showing on the speedo) mph or the rpm's were too low because of the 235/15" tires.I started it and shut it off immediately without the new filter on to see if any oil shot out.It did so I put the filter on and over filled it by 1 Lt.I drove all the way to Halifax(110mi) with no problem.My buddy couldn't see any smoke although it did use that extra Lt of oil.
The donor truck is still in the snow.The guy has a mini junkyard behind his house.The truck is minus an alternator but drivable with a battery.But..there's another car in front of it with a bit of shoveling to do.Tom's going over in the morning to see how it sounds.He buys Civics all the time and does the mechanical and body work and resells them after a paint job (along with ATV's) so he is used to engine swapping.This is what he moonlights in.I'll let you know how it goes.

Found these pics in my inbox (it took him about 4 hr to get them out):

 

[lordkyleofearth]

If you have full access to the donor truck, just move EVERYTHING over. Engine, wiring, PCM, the whole kit-n-kaboodle. The 97 engine made a little more power any way.

 

[trommy]

The jerk that sold the donor sucked my son into shovelling out and moving the car infront and the donor.He had to get a friend with a 4x4 to move the car,then get a wrecker to tow the donor to the shop.The jerk told me he would take care of that 'no problem'.My son was so pissed he didn't even try to beat him down.
My son's using the plenum from the old truck.He's going to flush the engine out real good.Below is the donor and my son.

 

[trommy]

If you have full access to the donor truck, just move EVERYTHING over. Engine, wiring, PCM, the whole kit-n-kaboodle. The 97 engine made a little more power any way.

He'll do whatever is most expedient.He's checked it out on the web.The 97 has 14 more HP I believe.It has
180k Km (110k Mi).He said it sounded exellent.He had to use the old tranny.The donor wouldn't shift while the truck was running plus the old engine has a new clutch. I feel like crap putting him through this!!! Thanks

Update with pictures: