I have a 96 Ford ranger 4 banger auto.not sure of the motor but it’s 4x2 not 4x4. Anyway what’s the newest model caps off at to interchange my motor. I’m wanting to buy one that head gasket is blowed but that means the head could be bad you never know so I’d rather just swap motors n tranny if had to the tranny. So what’s the latest model that could be done with a 96. Hope this is enuff info. Thank you. If I don’t figure al it out I’m send my 96 ranger down the road for 600$ . It’s got a bad spot in the frame it’s not broke all the way thru but it does have a rusted hole in it just not all the way to wear it’s separated it’s easy fix but I can’t do it so it’s this or that tired of the guessing games n crap.

 

You might want to find out what fixing the frame will cost first.

I'd hate to see you spend $2000 on an engine just to find out the frame is beyond repair.

 

+1 ^^^

The Frame is like the foundation of a house/building, and you DO NOT put money in anything with a bad foundation.............period
Once frame is fixed then you can think about any other repairs, if frame is not repairable then send it down the road

Your 1996 4cyl Ranger has a 2.3l SOHC Lima engine and a 4R44E automatic
This Lima engine was used from 1974 to 1997 in Fords
In 1995 there was a change in front of engine so 1994 and older can't be used, in 1998 Ford Stroked the engine making it a 2.5l until end of production in mid-2001
2.5l will work fine with your 1996 2.3l computer

So 1995 - 2000 2.3l or 2.5l SOHC Ranger or Mazda B2300/B2500 will be a direct swap for engine and/or transmission

Later model 2.3l(2001-2011) is a DOHC Duratec 4cyl, so NOT plug and play or even close to plug and play, might as well do a V8 swap at that point