I posted a while back asking if anyone had found a way around the Crank Sensor difference between OBD1 and OBD2. Have not seen any replies. So my next move is now to swap the computer over. I have an 89 manual that I an swapping in a 97 block. I will also swap the computers as well. Are there any foreseeable issues I will come across splicing the harness into the stock harness so I can keep the same gauge cluster. May even switch over to add a tach. Added benefit will be easier for tuning since I could not find information out there for tunning OBD1. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

You can't use pre-1995 harness with a 1995 or newer Ranger computer, regardless of engine

1994 and earlier use a 60-wire EEC-IV(OBD1) computer
1995 and up use 104-wire EEC-V(OBD2) computer, so you need a 2.3l 1995-1997 wiring harness with the computer, there might be connector type issues with 1989 sensors and injectors so save the 1989 harness so you can convert the connectors, if you can get engine fuse box with the 1995-1997 harness do so, 1989 relay setup is much different than 1995 and up

And you can not use 1997 2.3l to replace 2.3l in 1994 or earlier Ranger, a few have tried, never heard back from most but those that did update posts said they ended up rebuilding earlier engine or found a used 1994 or earlier engine.