To clear up one item with the wiring harness. The Explorer wiring harness didn't have taillights out through the firewall. So, I had to alter the Explorer harness to pull the taillights out. I used a couple of door connectors to create a harness that easily connects to the Ranger's harness to the taillights.
The gray connectors go to the taillights down the frame. The blue goes to the fuel pump and sending unit. The only connectors underhood that aren't used were the ABS pump connectors.
Last week, my son drove the Ranger down to the southern part of the state. Well, there was a hiccup. The truck vapor locked twice. So he was back home last night for the last time before school starts again. We used the original 2.3 fuel lines, in the original places. NOT the best idea. While fine for the 2.3, the 4.0 driver's side exhaust manifold is very close to one of the fuel lines, likely the supply side. We have them tied back for now, but I fabbed a heatshield for him to finish and install. Or wrap the manifold or fuel lines to keep the heat off the lines. Maybe with more time to work on it, we can re-rout the hoses. It was too dark to get pics...
Last pics of the Warthog at home...
My son isn't really crazy, the flash makes him look like it though. He really needs to get some paint on the underside of that thing!
Ran out of time to get his pre-runner type pushbar back on the truck. Maybe over Christmas break.
All in all, its been a fun project. Sure it was frustrating. It seems to only get a bit better MPG than it did as an Explorer. Oh well. Its been worth the trouble overall.
Welcome to the 94 Explorer disguised as a 1990 Ranger!