Engine Swap '92 Explorer 4.0L into '93 Ranger 3.0L

[hans57sauc]

I want to swap a '92 Explorer 4.0L engine into a '93 Ranger - can it be done?

I recently purchased a wrecked '92 Ranger with a 4.0L Explorer engine in it for $400. I have since removed the engine, taken it apart down to the block, and had a mechanic look it over and clean things up. When taking it apart, one cylinder wasn't pressurized (only about 60psi) but the mechanic said its fine. I hope to have it all put back together over the next few weekends, ready to do the big swap before Christmas.

I have a few concerns about the different engines. The wiring changed dramatically with the '93 (first year of the third generation Ranger) as well as a few other changes. I have a Chilton's manual as well as the original owner's manual (I know, rare) but the books don't have good enough schematics for the wiring.

Has anyone ever done this before? I am optimistic it will work, but I worry that I will either spend hours and hours splicing wires together or having no luck and won't be able to start it. Most swaps that people do are with newer engines into older trucks, so I have been unsuccessful in finding much info. Let me know if anyone can help.

The details:
My Truck: 1993 2WD Ranger XLT 3.0L V6 - 225,000 miles!

Donor Truck: 1992 4WD Ranger with 4.0L V6 engine from a '92 Explorer

[e_powers]

internally unless they had a 2.9 the rangers from 91-92 are the same as the rangers 93-94. engine for engine wise. that means you shouldnt have problems droping a engine from a 91 3.0 ranger into a 94 or a 94 4.0 into a 91

but if you are dropping a 4.0 into a 3.0 you need to swap

the wire harness for the engine for its 4.0 computer,

the transmission because the bell housings dont match. and may want to consider the radiator as the 4.0s radiator is bigger just depends on your climate.

60 psi is awefull low for a compresion test it should be up near 100 for minimums.

[hans57sauc]

we had a mechanic check out the engine block and fix the pressure problem.

I figured the bell housings from the trannies were the same, but that may make things interesting because the donor truck is 4WD and mine is 2WD... My plan is to take everything from the 4.0L that I can, including the wiring harness, computer, etc.

The problem with the wiring is that in the '92, the engine wiring and the body/frontend wiring come from different sides of the firewall. The computer is located on the passenger side.

In the '93, all the wiring is piped through a big port on the drivers side, and I think (don't quote me) the computer is on the driver's side.

Other than that I won't have too much problem. The motor mounts are the same, all the other components in the engine compartment will swap easily.

I labelled everything when i pulled the engine from the donor truck, but without much instruction it's gonna be really hard to match up the wiring.

Thanks for the help!

[e_powers]

i dont think 4wd drive transmissions are compatible with 2wd drive front ends.

you maybe able to use a bronco 2 2wd "dummy" transfercase (how ford made 2wd drive bronco2s was to put in a transfer case that had no gears) but i am not sure. i heard there was problems using 4wd drive transmissions in 2wd trucks. i dont see why just reporting what others have complained about.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/index.htm