So I did a motor swap from a 98 explorer 4.0 and put it in my 96 ranger 4.0 everything matched had to swap a couple external motor parts. Everything to my knowledge is hooked up right. I turn key and it cranks and cranks i burnt up my starter and replaced it with a new one, same problem. My main positive battery cable gets warm, I checked all grounds, and they all seem to be there. Except the ground on the block, not the head to firewall. need to know where it's located and what it attaches to. If that don't work then maybe timing.

 

Welcome to the forum

1998 Explorer had 2 different 4.0l engines, 4.0l OHV(same as 1996 Ranger) or the 4.0l SOHC not the same, they look much different

Assuming 4.0l OHV

You would have needed to swap the upper and lower intake from the 1996 to the 1998, as they used different injectors and fuel delivery(1 hose and 2 hose)

Pretty much everything else would be plug and play

Do 50/50 test
Spray fuel into the engine then crank it over
If it starts and dies you have fuel delivery issue, injectors or fuel pump
If it doesn't start then no spark, coil pack not plugged in or blown fuse

 

Thanks very much I'll have to try this tomorrow. It is the same motor btw just replaced upper intake because it was easier

 

Upper intake and fuel rail?

So you still have both fuel lines hooked up?

 

Yes and yes the fuel rail on 98 motor matched my 96 ranger. I used them off my ranger anyway cuz it was cleaner my truck is from Arizona and is super clean.

 

Then do the 50/50 test to see if its a fuel or spark issue

Since its a replacement engine I assume compression was check, 150psi - 160psi is expected on a 4.0l OHV

 

How do I check compression if it don't run

 

You always check compression on a engine that can't start, you disable startup
Remove all spark plugs, assuming 1 spark plug per cylinder
Then test 1 cylinder at a time by using starter motor to spin the engine
When cranking you will hear the cylinder being tested "hit" compression stroke, can't miss it, you need to hear that 5 or 6 times, for each test
Write down cylinder number and results

 

I appreciate it I'll have to check that. On the other note, best wah to check for spark?

 

50/50 test
Spray fuel into the engine directly, quick start(ether), gasoline, carb cleaner, brake cleaner, all work to test spark
If it starts, runs and dies, spark is good, fuel system is not working
If it doesn't fire then no spark..........or no compression

Single wire spark testers often don't work on Waste Spark systems, used in Fords since 1989
Same for grounded spark plug
These can work but not reliably
They are don't confirm spark timing, which 50/50 test does, lol

 

On the side note. A guy I talked to said if the 8th # on the VIN don't match my VIN it won't work and i can't exactly find the vin for the swapped motor cuz idk exactly what explorer it came from

 

If the valve covers are metal its a 4.0l OHV, VIN "X"
If the valve covers are plastic its a 4.0l SOHC, VIN "E"

1997-2000 Explorer could have either 4.0l engine, the 4.0l SOHC was a "pay extra" option in those years, 4.0l OHV was the "standard" engine, so more common

 

So apparently looking into it more. The computer for a 98 explorer only fits 98 explorer and 97-99 mountaineer means my 96 ranger computer won't start a 98 explorer. Need computer from explorer.

 

Your computer should work.

Have you tried starting fluid yet?

 

If you swapped over your 1996 upper and lower intakes with injectors and fuel rail, making the 1998 4.0l OHV a 1996 4.0l OHV it will work just fine

1998 4.0l OHV used a Returnless fuel system(in Ranger), 1996 is a return type

 

Already swapped it all. No spark. Yes I tried starting fluid just backfires

 

And to clear things up. Both motors have the same fuel rail. One line in rear (driver side)one line in front (passenger side)

 

If it's backfiring, it's got spark.

Check the firing order.

 

Firing order is the same for both years and yes it's correct I already went through that the vins are different my truck vin x the explorer was a vin v

 

Vin V wasn't an option for Explorers

Vin X = 4.0 OHV
Vin E = 4.0 SOHC
Vin P = 5.0 OHV

 

@RonD Looks like the 96 Ranger and the 98 Explorer use different style crankshaft position sensors, same plug, but different sensors.

Could that be the problem ?

 

Actually they're the same I pulled my old one put it in the explorer motor cuz it didn't have one when I got the motor

 

There are only 3 coils inside a V6 coil pack
Firing order on coil pack
[3 4]
[2 6]
[1 5]
front
The cylinders are in Matched Pairs to balance a V6 engine, both cylinders spark at the same time as both are at TDC

After cranking the engine pull out any spark plug, its tip should be WET with fuel, if not then no fuel from injectors
If it is WET then light the tip with a match/lighter, should burn fast and bright, if not then you have water in the system or very old gas so no longer "fuel"

Yes, a back fire would indicate at least one spark
Easy to test if you have 12volts at coil pack with Key On, 4 wires, red wire has the 12volts, other 3 are grounds with Key on

CEL(check engine light) should come on with key on, that means computer has boot up correctly, no CEL= no computer and no start
CEL should go off as soon as engine starts to spin from activating starter motor, that means Computer is getting a valid timing signal from Crank sensor so it will start spark and then fuel injectors 1 second later
If CEL stays on while cranking or flashes then no timing signal

If you don't have a history of the "new" engine, check compression on at least 2 cylinders, need above 120psi to start cold, expected is 155-165psi on a 4.0l OHV



Gasoline cannot be ignited with a spark, yes the movie guys take liberties with that one, lol
Only Gasoline VAPOR can be ignited with a spark
When gasoline is cold it has very little vapor, can't smell it, as it warms up you can smell it so more vapor
Compression heats up the gasoline so there is enough vapor in a cylinder for a spark to ignite it, needs to be over 30% vapor
So a cold engine is a hard start unless compression is high enough

Quick Start(starting fluid) in a spray can is Ether, which is a combustible vapor at lower temps, you can SMELL it easily, lol
Which makes it a good cold engine starting fluid, once cylinders fire a few times they get warm enough inside to get more gasoline vapor from the gas that's entering from the injectors

That's why gasoline engines need to be Choked when cold, if cold gasoline is 15% vapor then you need at least twice the amount of gasoline to get to the 30% required for a cylinder to fire
Fuel injection computers get the outside temp from an air temp sensor and a coolant temp sensor, and then "Choke" the engine for cold start, add the extra fuel needed to get above the 30%
Carbureted engines used a choke plate to restrict air flow into the top of the carb, so more fuel was sucked in from the Jets below the choke plate