I recently acquired a pretty nice lil 98 ranger 4x4 off road ext cab for a few hundred bucks from my neighbor & the motor was tore apart & most of it sitting in the bed of the truck & the block is still under the hood but has been sitting like that for yrs & isnt lookin to good but i got a good deal on a 2002 explorer sport 2wd & before i purchased it i did a lil research now im realizing not enough research but i thought i maybe had to swap intake manifolds & use my old exhaust manifolds but now after some more research looks like im gonna have to swap out the ecm & wiring harness? Anyways i have alot of questions & also since the ohv motor in the ranger is all tore apart i dont even know what all is different but one if my first questions is will my 4wd trans thats in the ranger work with this sohv im pretty sure it will bolt up except for one bolt hole but if i have to use the ecm etc. From this sohv are all the plugs & such the same? Basically i need alot of help & advice im really not into either vehicle alot of money & i just about have the motor out of the explorer so i guess if its just not worth it im not to far past the point of no return haha thank u for any help i very very much appreciate it!

 

Welcome to the forum

Yes the 4.0l OHV and 4.0l SOHC used almost the same block so motor mounts are the same and 4.0l transmissions are interchangeable, the SOHC had one extra bolt hole added because of the extra torque, but IMO you will be fine with OHV trans, there are enough bolts, lol

Yes you will need the PCM(computer) and wiring harness for the SOHC engine, it was 207HP engine, OHV was 160HP so they operate much differently to get the extra 47HP
The 2002 PCM will have PATS(passive anti-theft system) so MAKE SURE you get the correct Keys for the explorer or you will need to pay locksmith to come out and make new key for you, PCM will not work without correct PATS key

Is the 1998 an automatic or manual trans?
If automatic all is well
If its a ,manual there will be an issue with PCM, not a big issue but an issue

Yes, exhaust manifolds are different not sure if OHV exhaust pipes will fit on SOHC manifolds??

Heads up on the 1997 to 2004 4.0l SOHC engines, they had bad timing chain tensioners which would cause engine to rattle when the guides broke, and engine needed to be pulled out to change the back timing chain
So if you can hear the 2002 engine run that would be good, if there is no rattle(you can't miss it) then just put in the two NEW long chain tensioners before installing it, they are not hard to install, only use Motorcraft tensioners
Also always change the rear main seal on any engine when it is out

 

Yes the 98 is an automatic, & i have heard the 02 explorer run & drive & didnt hear engine rattles but since i have the motor out now on an engine stand ill check out the chains. So on the pats stuff what do i need to do besides swapping out the ignition? Also i saw smthen about my 98 ranger not having a return fuel line? How do i go about making that work i think i have the original fuel rail from the ranger if i do will that work on the sohc intake? Or could i just take the stuff i need off the 02 explorer? Or would i need to use the entire fuel system like fuel tank etc.? Thanks again for the advice oh also i noticed when i was swapping the wheels & tires from the explorer to the ranger i wanted to spin the rear wheels to see if it had a lsd wich im assuming it should since its an off road edition? But when i spun the driver side rear wheel the passenger side didnt move at all so i went to the other side & the brakes were stuck a lil from sitting (been sitting since 2010 i believe?) So i got the wheel turning but still the other wheel wasnt spinning it would start to if i turned them backwards but foward the driveline would turn but not the other wheel could ther be smthen wrong with the rear end in the ranger or could it just be the clutches are just worn on the lsd? Or maybe its just an open diff? Also if ther was an issue with the rear end would the one from the explorer work?

 

Try to break up your questions, instead of one long paragraph, just makes it easier to read

Automatic transmission models would be the same, 5R55E, in both years so no issues there

Put in the new tensioners regardless, but yes check the chain Guides, thats what broke, not the chains

1998 Ranger won't have PATS so won't have "the ring"(transceiver) around the key slot, the 2002 will have that and you needed it.
So remove it and its wiring harness from the 2002
Then you have two options:
1. install "the ring" under the dash somewhere, plugged into harness and Tape the explorer key on it
2. see if "the ring" will fit on 1998 Ranger key slot, if not get 1999 or up Ranger "ring and slot" at wrecking yard, and then take the key cylinder in to locksmith and have them re-key cylinder to match explorer PATS key.

PATS works by "reading" the unique key number from the key, the ring is the antenna, that number is then compared to 3 or 4 numbers in PCMs memory, the keys that the 2002 came with when new, programmed in at the factory.
If a match is found then PCM turns on fuel pump and fuel injectors, if no match then no fuel, it also disables starter motor, but wouldn't do that on 1998
There is no "work around" for PATS, wouldn't be much of an anti-theft system if there was, lol.

1998 Ranger should have same fuel system as 2002 Explorer, Returnless, running 55psi fuel pressure

Look at drivers door tag to see what axle is in the 2002 , read here: https://therangerstation.com/tech_li...le_codes.shtml
Most Ranger 4x4s came with Limited slip on rear axle, so look at Rangers door tag

You have to cut and re-weld the explorer axle's perches(leaf spring mounts) to mount it on a Ranger

 

Exactly what i needed! Thank u very much! & yes my grammar or whatever it is punctuation isnt very good but ill try to separate my questions so they are easier to read. Thanks again!

 

Man!! You were half way to an explorer V8 conversion. I would have skipped over the V6 SOHC and had a V8. 98 is a great year for that swap. I guess I got here too late. Lol

 

Yes, I too think a 1996-2001 explorer V8 donor vehicle would be the better path, but thats not what aldo0280 has available, or was asking about
And it would be a more complex swap overall

 

Ya if i knew then what i know now i would definitely have put a v8 in it! Next time i guess but i got the engine in & im in the process of hooking everything back up & so far so good except one plug thats on the driver side near the fuse box, the sohc engine wiring & the existing ranger wiring are the same exact female plug does anyone know what this plug is & if i should just cut it off the ohv harness & splice it in & if so the plug on the sohc harness has 7 wires & the original ranger harness has 5?

 

So i got the motor in i had to modify the power steering lines a lil & also the exhaust y pipe where it bolts to the third cat but now i cant get it to start pretty sure it has smthen to do with the pats? I removed the ignition & ring receiver from the 02 explorer but idk how to wire it up so it can work the plug it was plugged into in the explorer is diff than the plug/plugs in the ranger if anyone has any idea how i can wire the reciever up so it will work it would be awesome!

 

You will need to run your own wires or splice in the wires

Diagram below for 2001 which should be same as 2002 explorer

The computer(PCM) need 2 wires to transceiver(ring), pins 17 and 18

Transceiver needs a Ground and 12volt key on power,and the 2 wires to PCM

Ignore the Starter Relay PCM wire(pin 44), 1998 Ranger should have full time ground on that relay so doesn't need it from PCM

The PCM wire(pin 30) to the dash Theft Light, should be used, but won't cause a No Start if its not hooked up


When powered up the PCM sends a Radio Burst on the 2 wires that go to the transceiver
This gives the PATS key engine "power" to send out it's RFID tag number
The powered transceiver(antenna) picks up and sends that number down the 2 wires to the PCM
The PCM compares that RFID number to a list of 3 or 4 numbers it has in memory
If a match is found it grounds the starter relay, and turn on the fuel pump and fuel injectors for startup

If no match or no number the THEFT light will flash rapidly, which is why its good to have hooked up
After 60 seconds of Flashing the THEFT light will start to flash a 2 digit code, that code can tell you WHY the Theft light is flashing


The transceiver(ring) can be located under the dash with the PATS key taped to it
PCM just needs to read correct number each time key is turned on

Once engine is running PATS can NOT effect it, it is ONLY used when key is first turned on, and then it off-line until key/PCM is turned off

 

Ok thank u very much ill try to figure out the wiring not sure i can? I have a few more questions & i very much appreciate all the help!
I tryed to get it running with the ohv computer & if i spray some starting fluid in the intake it will start & run for a bit obviously not getting fuel but im not sure if this is because i need to use the sohv computer & wire up the pats transceiver or because the fuel pump is bad? Would it crank at all if it was the pats causing my no start? This truck was sitting for yrs & idk what was wrong when they parked it?
next question i ran the motor a lil before removing it from the explorer but the radiator was smashed as was the water pump & fan so i didnt run it long just enough to make sure it ran good wich it did & it does the couple times ive gotten it to fire up in the ranger but if i leave the cap off the radiator it blows water/coolant out a bunch while im cranking it over could this be from having some water lines switch around or idk if this is even possible but could it be because its a brand new radiator/water pump & hasnt ran or been able to burb out the air? Or did i just do all this work & most likely i put a motor in thats got a cracked head or bad head gasket or smthen?
i guess i could do a compression test wich i am afraid to do & want to kick myself for not doing before i pulled it but it ran great & i assumed since it was running/driving when it was wrecked that it should be good? Is it possible for the head to crack or gasket to get damaged from an accident & the radiator being smashed? Also i noticed what looked like trans fluid mixed with coolant pouring out when i removed the water pump to replace it. I figured when the radiator got smashed & it broke the trans cooler lines & the tank on the radiator where trans lines hook up & when i started it that it must have mixed the trans fluid into the coolant? Not sure if any of that matters & either way i just want to get it running & then ill deal with the coolant comen out the radiator i guess i am just hoping ther could be any other possible cause for that then what i think it is wich is head gasket related? Thanks again for any help & i apologize for my crappy grammer/punctuation

 

1998 doesn't have PATS so starter will work with either computer installed

The Fuel pump should come on with the key on, but only for 2 seconds
Repeat key on/key off as much as needed to HEAR the fuel pump running, it is not quiet, you can hear it in the cab, a HUMMMMM for 2 seconds

The computer operates the fuel pump, with key on the CEL(check engine light) should come on, that means computer is booting up
Then it activates the fuel pump relay for 2 seconds, sending 12volts to the fuel pump to Prime the fuel system

Make sure you have the fan belt on the water pump the correct way, in most vehicles it can be routed backwards which would cause water/coolant to flow backwards thru lower rad hose and out the rad cap opening

Add yes, water/coolant coming out of rad cap with cold engine running usually means a cylinder leak, i.e. blown head gasket or cracked head, but the 4.0l SOHC is not known for either of those issues, the 4.0l OHV was

You can start engine without fan belt on the pulleys, cold engine can run for 2 minutes without a water pump, less time is better
This makes engine bay very quiet, no fan, and takes water pump out of the picture as far as blowing coolant out rad cap opening


Yes, trans fluid in coolant or visa versa can only be from broken trans cooler inside radiator, there is no other connection between those two systems

 

Thank u the fuel pump definitely isnt working i have the fuel line disconnected at the filter & got no fuel with key on i just am not sure if its because i need to wire up the pats transceiver or because its got a bad fuel pump? I am attempting to wire up the transceiver right now

 

PATS disables fuel pump power and fuel injector pulses

Fuel pump only runs for 2 seconds with key on, but it does that each time key is turned on, assuming no PATS or working PATS

You can use a jumper to by-pass fuel pump relay and get it to run full time with key on

BUT................absolutely no way to by-pass or work around no fuel injector pulses, so moot point on getting fuel pump power

 

Im having a hard time figuring out how to wire the transceiver the wiring diagram rond gave me showes diff colored wires for the transceiver then what mine has idk if that matters or not but i just dont want to wire it wrong & fry the thing?

 

Rond you are awesome! Thank u so very much for all the help! I am trying to figure out if i have a bad fuel pump or its actually the pats thats causing it not to run? It will run great & for a lil bit when i spray starting fluid in it so if u say the pats disables the fuel injector pulse then im thinking i have a bad fuel pump? I have the ohv computer in it & my thinking is with the ohv com i shouldn't need the pats transceiver? Am i wrong?

 

The 1998 Rangers didn't have PATS,well it was a "option" in 1998, but never heard of one that had it

Have you checked the fuel pump fuse in the engine fuse box, and the fuel pump relay
Also the inertia switch in the cab

You can download the 1998 owners manual here and see what fuses and relays are what: https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...1-models-3747/

Inertia switch is in passenger footwell behind glove box on firewall, maybe behind kick panel, its a small blow box with a RED button on the top, button will be UP if its "tripped", it cuts power to fuel pump.
Push button down to reset it

Automotive relay layout here: https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/user/...ing_buzzer.png

See 30 and 87 those have the high voltage/amps for the fuel pump in this case
If you pull out the fuel pump relay in engine fuse box, then look down at its slots in the fuse box you will see above layout
You can insert a jumper wire into the 30 and 87 slots, that will send 12volts to fuel pump FULL TIME no key on/key off, assuming fuel pump Fuse is OK

Some relays and slots have 5 hookups like this: https://www.delcity.net/images/output-for-a-relay.jpg
87A is not used in fuel pump circuit, just showing you that they do use 2 different layouts and slot for 87A may be there but not used

And just FYI, 85 and 86 activate the relay, if one is 12volt and the other a Ground then relay will close and connect 30 to 87, same as you can do with a jumper wire

 

Yessir i have power to the inertia switch & power out of it when i first switch the key on but then it drops to nothing? I just went out to the donor explorer & cut the other side of the pats transceiver plug off & now the wiring diagram makes sense now i just need to figure out what i wire them into on the ranger side. I am still not sure if my problem is the pats or a bad fuel pump but im gonna keep trying anything i can thanks again for all the help

 

Im stuck idk if i have the pats transceiver working correctly or if my fuel pump is just bad? The fuel pump will not run no matter what i do & idk if that is because of the pats transceiver or what but im kinda stuck if i knew the fuel pump worked i could just keep trying every thing i can think of to wire up the pats transceiver but at this point idk if i have it wired right but fuel pump is no good or if fuel pump is fine but i dont have pats wired correctly? Any ideas what i could do to get past this issue?

 

I guess im gonna drop the tank & see if i hook direct power to pump if it will pump? Just sucks cuz im pretty sure its completely full of fuel according to the gauge it is & when hitting it with a rubber mallet to try to get pump goen it sounds full what a pain!

 

Lifting the bed is easier

 

thats what i ended up doen & the pump is no good for sure so im goen to get one in the morning i tryed to pull the one out of the explorer but it was totally diff. I gotta make some kind of pump or container i guess to pump the old nasty fuel out of the tank but im pretty sure after that & after i get the new pump in im gonna see if it will run with the ohv computer i think it will since it ran fine when i sprayed starting fluid in the intake i appreciate all of the help from everyone!

 

so i got a new fuel pump & filter installed & got the truck running off the ohv computer but still cant get it running off the sohc computer because i cant figure out how to wire up the pats transceiver? I keep reading online about a pats module but i cannot find a module in the explorer donor vehicle & even if i did how would i wire that in? I guess this is why everyone says i should have just put a v8 in since its basically the same amount of work! Can i run the truck off the ohv computer without any issues or check engine lights? Also if anyone knows where i can get the tx & rx signal from to get the pats transceiver to work i would be very grateful! Or do i need the pats module & if so where would i find it in a 2002 explorer sport & how would i wire it to the 98 ranger

 

2002 Explorer Sport doesn't have PATS module, they were only used until 2000, half of 2001 in some Fords, these where called Type A and Type B PATS

Type E PATS is in your 2002, which means all of the PATS system is in the PCM, the computer, and the antenna(transceiver) is the only part that needs to be added

Wiring diagram in above post is how to hook it up, but...............................I can not find and reference to the transceivers wire colors, Red, Green, Blue and white

Find the other side of that connector in the steering column and see what its wire colors are, and if they match the colors in the 2001 diagram I posted above
Then you can wire it up

No you can't use the 4.0l OHV computer you would fry the 4.0l SOHC engine, it would ping like crazy and melt the pistons

 

Can or Can't ?