will a 2003 2.3 engine fit a 2002 2.3?

[mmonaco11]

just picked up a super clean 02 ranger with a bad engine.
all of the 2.3 for 01 and 02 are $1000 or more and have high mileage!
i have found a few 03 and 04 for $400 will these engines work?
not a big deal to swap intake or exhaust manifolds to make it work.
what are the differences does anyone know?
tried to search but i cant find any info on this swap.
thanks
mike

 

[Sunk]

AFAIK, they're the same.

 

[mmonaco11]

local salvage yards are saying they are different....but i am driving a 04 ranger with a taurus 3.0 engine for 2 years and they said that would not work!
i found a 07 2.3 for $450 with 65,000 will this engine also work?
is it a direct swap or do intakes,sensors need to be swaped?
thanks,
mike

 

[Sunk]

They may just say that to release them from liability in case they are in fact different. I'm pretty sure they're the same from 2001.5 and newer. I don't imagine the sensors would need to be swapped, but if so you have all the old stuff on the original motor.

 

[rollinglowrange]

Can u get the harness and computer with it ? And should u not have a problem if u got that with it ?