Hi. I just had my 3.0l enging swapped on my Mazda b3000 (ford ranger wearing different emblems) When we put in a new starter and a new battery, It spun the motor once for a sec to fill the oil fiilter now it only knocks when I turn the key. HELP!

 

Welcome to the forum

Whats the history of the "new" engine?
Is it rebuilt or used?
Maybe you bought someone else's problem

Can you turn the engine over manually using socket wrench on crank pulley?

It the vehicle a manual or automatic transmission?

 

It's a used motor that I bought from SWEngines.com. they said it has 70000mi on it. Yes it turns with a wrench and it's an automatic

 

Well, then I would say the new starter is bad, if it can't turn the engine over

 

Or the battery is to weak.

 

the starter turns over the motor when it's first installed, one time, then only knocks
Is there possibly a starter with a different nose cone or something for this year?

 

when it's first put in the starter turns over the motor but seems to stay out to the flywheel because when the crank is turned with a wrench after that, I can hear it release and pop back in

 

So you pulled out the starter and put it back in and it worked?

If starter gear is not engaging the ring gear(flywheel/flexplate) then it wouldn't work the first time

Did you look at the ring gear before installing?
Maybe there are broken gears, but most would notice that even without specifically looking for it, it does stick out

Pull out starter and see if ring gear is damaged

I don't think the 3.0l Ranger/B3000 had different starters for manual or automatic in any year

What year is yours?