Helga, My 88 B2 Build...

[Hahnsb2]

Got the 4.0 dropped down in last night before I came in, going to start the wiring today, put the tranny/t-case in tomorrow when my dad gets back from the coast. Already sold my 2.9 yesterday

 

[88ranger2.95sp]

Sweet!

I've got that same tire machine. Works awesome.

Rob

 

[Hahnsb2]

Yeah, they're a good deal.

Sweetness, making progress on the wiring. Ignition is wired so the coil is getting power with the key on, I still need to wire the fuel pump and computer relays, and the starter, then it should run. Also need to figure out what I'm going to do for fuel lines, I think I can use the line from the filter forward from the sploder, not sure about a return yet. I'm also making wiring pig-tails from the original 2.9 harness and sploder power ditribution harness so I havn't had to splice a single wire on the 4.0 engine harness and shouldn't have to.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Most of the wiring is done, only need to wire in the fuel pumps (having touble locating the wires right now since my B2 hayne manual doesn't show anything for the B2 fuel pump wiring) and hook up the fuel lines and it will run! I'm really surprised on how easy the wiring is for this swap considering I left my original B2 harness and dash, it was just really intimidating to look at the pile of wires for the engine harness. Also got the M5OD and y-pipe in yesterday.

Not much to look at but a messy engine bay and some wiring books right now. After it's up and running I really want to take my time and clean up all the wiring and make it look good, luckily there isn't much wiring to cover up. Also the charge indicator light (I have a tach dash so no ammeter) is hooked up and works, which I'm happy about because it let me know in the past when my alternator took a dump. Unsure if my tach will work... There's so many little details left to do like the cooling system, oil pressure line, t-case, driveshafts, shift linkage, floor plate, shift boots, fluids, bleed clutch, exhaust but there's no reason why it shouldn't be mostly wrapped up by this weekend. This picture was taken sunday I think.

 

[Sunk]

Awesome! I'm a little jealous....

 

[Dishtowel]

Fuel pump connector *should* look like this. Should be just under the brake fluid reservoir on the engine side of the frame. I am 80% positive this connector is the 'big power' (or 'switched power) from the relay going to the fuel pump.

Looks good man, I hope you set up gremlin traps when you where doing this to keep the gremlins from getting into/onto Helga. Gremlins are a terrible thing. Best of luck!

 

[Hahnsb2]

I really hope the 4.0 is worth all this work, just by pure numbers it kills the 2.9 in torque, can't wait to drive it and I'm curious what my fuel mialge will do since I drove my 2.9 like a rented mule to make it go anywhere (I seriously was super hard on it the last year or so, amazing I got the milage I did), never thought I'd actually do an engine swap other than using another 2.9 but really, the wiring isn't bad at all if you can read the diagrams. So officially now none of my original drivetrain is in left in my rig except the rear carrier, before the 4.0 swap only my engine was the only thing I hadn't swapped. If you ever do a 4.0 swap, deffinatly get a running donor, I'd hate to have to hunt down all these little random parts. I've got somewhere around $350 in my swap including the tranny, and I've sold hardly anything of the donor splodor yet, also my old tranny is for sale so that will help too.

EDIT: Thanks Dishtowel!
Gremlins shouldn't show up, all but a couple wires that I'm splicing and adding length to are being done with the same color coded wire taken from the power distribution and 2.9 harness for easy tracing in the event something does show up.

 

[Sunk]

Yeah, the 4.0 is a sweet motor. I'm pretty sure the 4.0 in my buddy's 94 Ext. cab mandles the 33s with 3.73s better than my 2.9 handles my 31s with 4.56s. He does get 13 MPG though...

 

[Hahnsb2]

Spent the evening running the fuel pump power (it ended up being a wierd round connector Dishtowel), change engine oil/filter, run fuel lines, hook up cooling system and add water...

It's alive!!! I'd like to say first try but after cranking the first time I realized the plug wire order was wrong, then she fired right up! Still have a shit ton of work to do but it does run!!!

 

[Dishtowel]

WOOTWOOT, good work man!

I unfortunately did f'all tonight due to work draining me dry. boooo work. The end is in sight for you!

 

[Loanranger]

Is it done yet?






































What about now?















































What about now?






































Haha JK, I gotta give you props for taking on this kindof a project. The wiring would be what would slow me down. Hope to see you out on the trails soon.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Thanks guys. Man the wiring looked so intimidating at first but really I think most people could handle this project, the chiltons book for the explorer has an awesome wiring diagram for the 4.0 and I never did cut/splice any of the 4.0 harness or B2 harness and I kept my original dash which saved a lot of work, which is really cool to me. I have this awesome sense of accomplishment I haven't felt from working on any other part of my B2 before. Tomorrow should pretty much complete it and It might be ready to drive it to work on friday, I had planned on 2 weeks of wiring! I need to go back and replace some heater hoses, they're kinda dry, I'm sure my water pump will probably die soon too.

 

[rickcdewitt]

Thanks guys. Man the wiring looked so intimidating at first but really I think most people could handle this project.

its a lot different once you're looking down the other end of the barrel eh?
is your 8.8 open or L/S?my truck felt like a hot rod when it was an open legger- grabbing second and third gear on pavement

 

[CopyKat]

You'll love it. I can't almost guarantee it!

 

[BlackBII]

Killer man!!

I did a 4.0 swap on an 89 BII I had, it actually got better mileage afterwards....