Starter issues 4.0 swap from 2.3 1996

[darkemp]

Hey guys, first time poster here wanna see if any of you guys can help me out. i ran into a big snag with my newly owned ranger. Big fan of you guys and used your tech resources alot on Tauruscarclubofamerica.

Okay to introduce you to my problem, i bought a 1996 ford ranger for a steal off of craigslist. The kid i bought this from said he had some ranger enthusiasts do a motor swap from a 2.3 to a 4.0 but kept his orginal transmission

1996 ranger 4x4 4R44E transmission (i believe because of the 2.3 orginaly in the thing) 4.0 (donor Ford Explorer 93)

motor 80k
Trans 40k (rebuilt)

Okay i bought the car with a starter issue.

The issue-
turn the key to engage the starter and you get maybe one or 2 cranks b4 the starter spins freely. If you crank if for about 2 or 3 hours you will eventually catch and start the truck. -_-

I first pulled the starter out and bench tested it and everything works properly. so i diagnosed the flexplate. being ground down due to the shavings and the teeth barely filed on the flexplate.

Bought a brandnew flexplate for a 4.0 ranger motor. just installed the damn thing and put back in the old starter. to my surprise the problem was not solved. Click click WHIZZZZZZZZZZ -_-

so i said maybe its the starter lol, i went up to autozone and bought a 1996 ranger 4.0 starter. Dl3232s 100 bucks. Didnt pay much attention to it brought it home and then compared it to my old one.

my old one had a few differences, the gear seems to be a little bit off set and the shroud around the gear was slightly smaller with the new one...

i did a little digging and found out my original starter is from a 2.3 ford ranger,
Dl3231s -_-/''

so i installed the new starter, thinking well i have a 4.0 flexplate, and a 4.0 motor, why wouldnt this solve the problem??

hooked everything up and started the car, WHIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
absolutely no engagement to the flexplate. No surprise seeing how its about 1/4 an inch offset.

So my question would be what flexplate do i need to have my starter engage with my 4.0? The trans might be the problem? but i dont know tomuch about the swaps.

can you use a 1993 4.0 motor with the 4r44e? or do i need the 4r55e/a4ld?

1993 flexplate differnt then a 1996 flexplate for the 4.0s??

Im lost and stuck. i wanna move the truck so i can get my Charger out of the garage, Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[darkemp]

okay so the 1993 explorer 4.0 Flexplate is as follows

Dorman 04042
138 teeth
pitch: 12
O.D: 11.69

same as a 1996 ranger 4.0 flexplate.

1996 Ranger 2.3
Dorman 04041
135 Teeth
Pitch: 12
O.D: 11.30


Will the 1996 ranger 2.3 flexplate mont up to a 4.0 explorer 93 motor?