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Questions on my project


Willgeezy88

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Hello I have a 91 ranger supercab with a 2.9v6 5spd I have just acquired a "July of 91" 4 door explorer with 4.0v6 and 5spd

Ok on to the question with the vehicles being both 91 will my ranger body with the 2.9 run the 4.0 as just plug and play other than changing out the ecu to the 4.0 ecu so it has the right fuel map or should I strip the complete dash from the explorer
 


RonD

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Welcome to TRS :)

Assume both are 2WD not 4x4

The 2.9l and 4.0l engines used the same block so same bellhousing and motor mounts
Straight swap

Transmission should be an M5OD-R1(M5R1), explorer will have this, 1991 Ranger "may" have this
Look at drivers door sticker
Under TRANS there will be a Letter
M = M5R1
D = Mitsubishi FM132
Or look under the truck, if you see a transmission pan then its an FM132, no pan M5R1

Both are 5-speeds, odds are its an M5R1

The FM132 was "OK" but won't stand up very long to the 4.0l torque
So you may want to swap transmission as well, which means you will need an M5R1 supercab drive shaft

Yes, you swap over the 4.0l engine wiring harness and ECU(PCM)
Plus MAF sensor/air cleaner, and EDIS spark system

There are only the Temp sender, oil pressure sender and oil level sensor that connect to dash, oil level is optional

Have a read here: https://therangerstation.com/tech_library/index-conversions.shtml

There are several 4.0l Conversion articles
 

PetroleumJunkie412

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Welcome to TRS :)

Assume both are 2WD not 4x4

The 2.9l and 4.0l engines used the same block so same bellhousing and motor mounts
Straight swap

Transmission should be an M5OD-R1(M5R1), explorer will have this, 1991 Ranger "may" have this
Look at drivers door sticker
Under TRANS there will be a Letter
M = M5R1
D = Mitsubishi FM132
Or look under the truck, if you see a transmission pan then its an FM132, no pan M5R1

Both are 5-speeds, odds are its an M5R1

The FM132 was "OK" but won't stand up very long to the 4.0l torque
So you may want to swap transmission as well, which means you will need an M5R1 supercab drive shaft

Yes, you swap over the 4.0l engine wiring harness and ECU(PCM)
Plus MAF sensor/air cleaner, and EDIS spark system

There are only the Temp sender, oil pressure sender and oil level sensor that connect to dash

Have a read here: https://therangerstation.com/tech_library/index-conversions.shtml

There are several 4.0l Conversion articles

RON! STOP ASSISTING WITH GENOCIDE!
 

Willgeezy88

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That is that answers my questions to a t they are both 4x4 but my friend talked a little more sense into me the motor swap was only gonna be step 1 in a basically mega ranger build on 37 inch paddle tires for mudfest so now I will have a 91 explorer with 6inch skyjacker and a 91 ranger with sas half tons and big ol mud tires
 

RonD

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PetroleumJunkie412

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No, swapping in an LS1 would be genocide this is a bored and stroked 2.9l upgrade :)

Call it a 2.9l to 4.015L upgrade
Not until the 4.0 has the same plenum(s) that the 2.9 has.
 

RonD

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Now you are grasping at straws, lol

I like the idea of a 4.015L or call it a 2.9l STROKER with oversized pistons
 

adsm08

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There are some differences between the Ranger and Explorer harnesses that will need to be addressed.

The wiring for the rear lights and fuel pump run under the carpet and through the body at the rear in an Explorer, while in a Ranger they exit the firewall through the large white bulkhead connector and go along the frame. You might not care about brake lights and turn signals (but I hope you do) but the engine will not run well without the fuel pump.
 

Willgeezy88

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Thanks everyone for the input I've decided to just leave the ranger and explorer as they are I'll probably lift the explorer 4-6" but that's about it
 

Josh B

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Cool Will. Welcome to TRS :)
 

rusty ol ranger

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Thanks everyone for the input I've decided to just leave the ranger and explorer as they are I'll probably lift the explorer 4-6" but that's about it
Theres really no reason to swap a running 2.9 for a 4.0.

They arnt nearly as bad as people make them sound, mated to a 5 speed their peppy, fun to drive engines, with great potential.
 

Josh B

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Wish I could recall what engine was in my 87, it was a 4 is all I'm sure of. And it wouldn't maintain in 5th unless you were headed down the side of a mountain, it was rusted out from salt it suffered while living up north somewhere, and it had a new motor(under 20,000 when I got it). I'm wishing now I had kept it, but ran an ad in the paper before leaving TN. Thinking it was 300, maybe 350, but i doubt 4.
The guy who bought it I'm now almost certain was a scrapper, and was looking to make a quick buck. I have nothing agin scrappers, per say, but do prefer Recyclers ;)
 

rusty ol ranger

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Wish I could recall what engine was in my 87, it was a 4 is all I'm sure of. And it wouldn't maintain in 5th unless you were headed down the side of a mountain, it was rusted out from salt it suffered while living up north somewhere, and it had a new motor(under 20,000 when I got it). I'm wishing now I had kept it, but ran an ad in the paper before leaving TN. Thinking it was 300, maybe 350, but i doubt 4.
The guy who bought it I'm now almost certain was a scrapper, and was looking to make a quick buck. I have nothing agin scrappers, per say, but do prefer Recyclers ;)
The 2.9 will stomp any ranger 4 cylinder of that same era into hamburger meat.
 

Josh B

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Well wooo hooo hooo! hahaha Actually it was hamburger meat when it was given to me due to all the salt rust, I spent the first two months with it up on jackstands, with a chipping hammer and wire brush in my hand, then drove it over 5 states for the next 3 1/2 years. Going south towards AL was a very long slope coming off a mountain, that was the only place i knew well to grab overdrive

Once I was on the freeway heading into downtown, busiest stretch of road in TN, also the roughest, and heard a loud CHINK hit the pavement between bounces. The cab also kinda sit down a bit crooked. After getting home I looked it over a bit, the loud chink sound was one of the large washers that holds the cab mounts to the frame hitting the highway, and the cab was leaning a bit to that side.
I scrounged around and found a 1 1/2"x 1/4 angle about the right length to put in there to hold it back up, did some heaving and pushing and hammering and got it in tight to the front frame, didn't even have to bolt it.
It rode like that till the day I let it go, even told it's new owner about it
 
Last edited:

rusty ol ranger

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My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Well wooo hooo hooo! hahaha Actually it was hamburger meat when it was given to me due to all the salt rust, I spent the first two months with it up on jackstands, with a chipping hammer and wire brush in my hand, then drove it over 5 states for the next 3 1/2 years. Going south towards AL was a very long slope coming off a mountain, that was the only place i knew well to grab overdrive

Once I was on the freeway heading into downtown, busiest stretch of road in TN, also the roughest, and heard a loud CHINK hit the pavement between bounces. The cab also kinda sit down a bit crooked. After getting home I looked it over a bit, the loud chink sound was one of the large washers that holds the cab mounts to the frame hitting the highway, and the cab was leaning a bit to that side.
I scrounged around and found a 1 1/2"x 1/4 angle about the right length to put in there to hold it back up, did some heaving and pushing and hammering and got it in tight to the front frame, didn't even have to bolt it.
It rode like that till the day I let it go, even told it's new owner about it
Rusty #1s cab used to bang up and down, the front bolts for the mounts were just hanging there :)

Oh...and here...heres a 0-85 run of an 87 2.9 i found on youtube...not mine...

 

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