OK ... first off I'm new here so if i posted this wrong I'm sorry please let me know and ill do better next time.
Now for the truck. my friend tried to do an engine swap in his 1988 ford ranger 2.3 l manual trans. He's attempting to install a 1989 2.3 l with 8 spark plugs.
Wow there's quite a difference in the engine compartment harnesses. i have available to me is the ecm, the ecm harness and the harness that came (still plugged into the 1989 engine).
so what I think I need is a map of the 1989 ecm and any suggestions for the engine compartment to cab conversion (round plugs into square plugs ...) would be great. I'm sorry but i do not have access to the donor truck therefore no vin code and no compartment harness to reference.

Alright guys.... any input will be highly appreciated, thanks

 

Yes the 1988 and earlier used a distributor, 1989 and up used Crank sensor and ICM(ignition control module)

The 1989 wiring harness with ECM should be as is, only interface with 1988 wiring will be Power and grounds
ECM can be located in engine bay, if it was in the cab kick panel, it doesn't need to be there, just ground wires need to be connected
ECM wiring here: Ford EEC-IV

Engine to cab wires will be oil pressure switch, 1 wire, and Temp Sender, 1 wire, for the dash board gauges, these are both located on drivers side of engine towards the back

I would use the 1988 harness for cab connectors, most of that is just power for cab fuse panel, you will have to unwrap the harness

ECMs were transmission specific, i.e. manual and automatics used different ECM firmware/software

 

ouch... so your saying the engine that came from an automatic trans going into a manual trans truck isn't gonna work right.
if i understand the rest i just need to identify the gauge wires coming from the cab match them with the signal wires from the engine harness? then its a matter of always hot switched hot and grounds?
how bad is the automatic trans ecm being put on a manual tranny?

 

ECM not engine

Automatic ECM will "look for" transmission solenoids to control, won't find them because of manual transmission, no you can't "fake it"
So it will turn on the CEL, and it will just stay on, so if you ever do have an engine issue you won't know by CEL coming on because it is already on, not a big deal
Idle will be a bit high and may vary a bit because ECM is always "looking for" transmission.

But you CAN use it

 

sounds good to me. then if i can find a m/t ecu in the salvage yard i can just switch it out later.
thanks