Hey, I'm not sure if it's possible to run the newer engine on the older ecu, but thought it'd be an easy way to get rid of the pats system. Anyone done this before? Wanting to swap in a SOHC to my 96 5spd 4x4

 

No you'll have to change the wiring and ecu

 

^^ thats right

 

damn. I love my 96, but was hoping that the SOHC would have been an easier swap. I've done a V8 swap before in an 85, and thought about one in the 96 but was trying to be lazy I guess. How bad is it to swap the wiring?

 

not to bad if your getting a truck with out pats which is kinda impossible with a SOHC but might be able to do it

 

Didn't the Explorer's come with the SOHC in like 96+ ? and they wouldn't have pats right?

 

Explorers got the 4.0 SOHC option in 97 but PATS didn't come in until 98.

4.0 SOHC Rangers did not have PATS in 2005 only.

 

Sooooo then how bad would the 05 SOHC swap be? I'm debating this swap over a 5.0 swap right now. Wouldn't mind throwing the M90 on my OHV but I can't find the intake to run it

 

Generally speaking, the wiring gets more complicated with each generation difference between donor and project. You're looking at a 3 generations newer engine so it would take some wiring. In addition, there is newer OBDII hardware that the 05 PCM will be looking for that is not your 96. I'm no sure what all is different but one example is the Evap Leak Check system. A couple of members here have run into that with 5.0 swaps. You would also need to convert the fuel system to returnless to use the 2005 PCM in the 96 truck. I'm not sure but I think there is also a slight bell housing bolt pattern difference between SOHC and OHV.

 

The thing is that I used to have an 02 and really miss the power of the SOHC. Was hoping the swap wouldn't be too bad to just throw in the SOHC engine and 5spd but I SHOULD have known it wouldn't have been so easy. ha ha. Guess I'll just wait for awhile and throw in a few extra cylinders while I'm at it. This thing is a wheeler anyways, do you happen to know if it throws a S*** fit without the cats by chance?

 

Any 95+ Ranger will set a CEL and trouble code if the cats are removed. It should continue to run OK without the cats if the 2 front oxygen sensors are retained.