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05-02-2011, 08:35 AM
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Learning to use the forums
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Join Date: May 2011
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1996 Ranger 2.3 Engine Swap
Hello, my name is Greg and I am trying to help out a neighbor who has a 1996 Ranger with the 2.3. His engine was bad (don't ask me what was wrong as I am not 100% sure) so he went out and bought a replacement engine (used). The replacement engine (2.3) is out of a 1995 Ranger. The person who'm he bought the replacement engine from told him it would just drop in his 96 with no problem. From the few minutes I have spent looking at the two motors i noted that the power sterring setup is different, the blocks are different, the 95 has electronics near the intake that the 96 does not, and the crank sensor setup is different. The 96 crank sensor is a two wire where as the 95 is a four fire.
Does anyone know if his 95 will work with his 96 truck? And if so, what do we need to do in order to make it work?
Thanks!
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05-02-2011, 10:39 AM
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Been there, done that!
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 37
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Re: 1996 Ranger 2.3 Engine Swap
Hi Greg,
You'll do much better if you use the intake, the sub harness, power steering / AC mount, and any sensors from the '96 engine. The engine is a drop in, but there are "minor" changes, but nothing that will not just bolt, or plug in place.
Most of the electrical changes are due to the OBDll emission system that was used starting with the '96 model year.
I just installed a '98 2.5 into a '95 that had a 2.3, and with the exception of a few sensors, and the motor mounts, everything was pretty much the same. However, I did use the original intake that was on the '95 on the '98 engine.
I'm not sure why the steering pump mount is not the same between the 2 you have, the mounts were the same between the '95 & the '98. I thought the that the pump mount was changed in '95, but I could be mistaken about that. Either way, all parts will bolt on.
Its a good idea to change the timing belt while the engine is out. Its a whole lot easier than trying to change the belt with the engine in the truck. Unless you know the last time the belt was changed, its not worth the gamble of not servicing the belt, and you really can't tell the condition of a timing belt by looking at it. They seldom look worn.
Good luck.
__________________
Rangers, '95, 2.3, '98 2.5, 4x2 extra cab's, '96, 2.3 base model, '99, Mazda B3000.
Last edited by Guest; 05-02-2011 at 10:46 AM.
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05-02-2011, 10:44 AM
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Learning to use the forums
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Join Date: May 2011
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Re: 1996 Ranger 2.3 Engine Swap
Thanks for the reply! I know the intake off of the 96 looked like a much better design, but the 95's intake looked like it had a small water port in the block between the #2 and #3 cylinders. The intake to the 95 simply covered up this water port. The intake to the 96 does not have the additional metal to cover this water port. Any thoughts as to what I am talking about? I will try and go to my neighbors house and take a couple of pictures to post.
Also any idea how to get the 4 wire crank sensor off of the 95 to work on the 2 wire system on the 96?
Again, thanks!
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05-02-2011, 06:40 PM
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Learning to use the forums
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Re: 1996 Ranger 2.3 Engine Swap
Ok, here are a couple of photos of his old motor and his replacement motor. From doing a little reading, I am guessing he was told wrong about his replacement being from a 95 Ranger.
His replacement motor has what appears to be a water jacket that was simply blocked off by the old intake manifold. His motor he took out did not have this hole.
new
Old
Also the crank position sensor on the new is a 4 wire that is routed behind the crank cover and his old motor is simply a 2 wire that bolts to the block.
New
Old
The oil pump area of the two blocks is completely different.
New
Old
Anyone know if he got ripped off or is this out of a 95 and how to get it to work?
Last edited by blown03mach1; 05-02-2011 at 06:44 PM.
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05-02-2011, 11:13 PM
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Been there, done that!
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 37
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Re: 1996 Ranger 2.3 Engine Swap
Today I checked out a couple of different engines, and what I found is the '94 has a different head, in that, there are some mounting positions that are not the same as on the '95 & on.
The head you have looks like the one from the '94.
The water port you mentioned is of no concern because the intake is blocked off where the port is. Not sure why, but best guess is the water port is for another application. (different intake, different use of the engine, etc.) The '95 and newer doesn't have that port.
I think one of the engines you have is from a '94 or earlier model. If this is the case, the water pump will need to be changed to a newer model that has a short pipe from the pump that feeds through the alternator mount and then connects to the lower radiator and heater hoses.
As well, the alternator mount will need to be changed because the mount for the coil is different on the 2 engines. The '94 coil mount will not mount on a '95 and newer head, and of course, the '95 and newer alternator mount doesn't fit the '94 and earlier without changing the water pump.
The coil mount is part of the alternator mount on the '95 and newer, and the '94 and earlier uses a separate coil mount that bolts to the front and side of the head.
I hope you're still with me,lol.
So, somewhere along the line you must have ended up with an earlier engine than you thought.
Anyway, I didn't have any problems mounting the intake from the '94 onto the '95 head.
I didn't try putting the '94 head back onto the '95 engine, but I did notice that there was no hole in the '94 head for the top bolt that holds the '95 model power steering mount to the head. I didn't look to see if the mount was different, but it must be if there's no bolt hole for the newer mount. (the picture you have of the intake side of head with the bolt just behind the cam belt cover,that hole is missing on the '94 head)
I also didn't check the crank position sensor, but if they're not the same, just swap them. As best I can recall they both mount in the same position.
There maybe other changes, if there are, I haven't found them...yet.
__________________
Rangers, '95, 2.3, '98 2.5, 4x2 extra cab's, '96, 2.3 base model, '99, Mazda B3000.
Last edited by Guest; 05-02-2011 at 11:19 PM.
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05-03-2011, 02:05 AM
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Learning to use the forums
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Re: 1996 Ranger 2.3 Engine Swap
Guest, thanks for the reply. I noticed the intake manifold blocked the water port on the block, but the intake for the 96 is different in that the intake will not block that part of the block. In the 96 there is no water jacket. He could just use the intake from the new motor and he should be fine.
As for the crank position sensor, I am with you about swapping it from the old to the new, but the new motor does not contain the mounting holes that the old motor does. New motor runs the CPS through the back of the timing cover to behind the crank shaft pulley. The old engine simply bolts to the oil pump housing. I would have to drill the block and them tap it in order to get the old sensor to mount to the new motor.
It looks like he was told wrong by the people who sold him the motor.
I really appreciate the work you put into finding the answers!
Thanks a ton.
Greg
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05-03-2011, 10:20 AM
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Been there, done that!
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 37
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Re: 1996 Ranger 2.3 Engine Swap
I haven't looked at the crank sensor mount on the '94, didn't have a need to because I was just changing the head.
Are there bosses on the block to allow for the mounting of the sensor? Drilling and tapping isn't a big deal, its only cast metal so its not hard to drill.
The fact that there are so many differences between the '94 & '95 is good information to know. Its really not worth the brain damage of trying to use the older engine in place of a newer model.
Having to change out the water pump and alternator mount has proved to be expensive, and a royal PIA in general. I can hardly wait to see what I run into next that's is going to put the binders on this "simple swap" of cylinder heads.lol
__________________
Rangers, '95, 2.3, '98 2.5, 4x2 extra cab's, '96, 2.3 base model, '99, Mazda B3000.
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05-04-2011, 05:10 AM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 293
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Re: 1996 Ranger 2.3 Engine Swap
I have never done the switch that way, new onto old style,but there are a couple boltholes right there on the old motor that you could fashion a bracket to hold the crank sensor itself.Use the 95 crank hub with the acculator on it.You would have a couple promblems with the mounting of the alt and coil bracket but supose it could be overcomed.For less headaches,just get a 95+ motor(get a 2.5 if you can)
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05-04-2011, 07:21 AM
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Learning to use the forums
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Join Date: May 2011
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Re: 1996 Ranger 2.3 Engine Swap
Thanks guys. The motor that was sold to my neighbor had 95 Ranger written on it, but it is cleat to me that it is not a 95 motor. After your all's inputs, I told my neighbor I would take the motor back and ask for my money or a motor from a 96.
Many thanks!!
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06-05-2019, 05:34 PM
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Learning to use the forums
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Join Date: Sep 2018
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Re: 1996 Ranger 2.3 Engine Swap
I am doing something similar 96 into a 92 the timing spencer is the only problem we have not addressed yet . It looks like we will have to change the pan and the front seal cover from the 92 if it will fit .
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1994 4.0 two wheel drive single cab automatic, I have 5 others
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