okay So I dropped in a 97 Exploder 4.0 and trans in my 98 Ranger. The two issues I see right away
1.) The headlight harnesses on the truck does not exactly plug into the headlight harness on the motor. On one the plastic connection block is square, the other is alsmost rectangle. Should I get a new headlight harness and bulbs or take the connection block from another Exploder and run the wires into that?

2.) I see 2 fuel lines coming off the 4.0 and only 1 running from the tank. Did the Exploder have a different setup? Whats the solution?

Headlight harness


Fule lines

 

97 and older retun style fuel system, 2 lines. 98+ returnless style

The exp and ranger have different wiring setups so you need to repin the engine to chassis connection.

Best option is to swap the engine harness and fuel system off the old engine. As long as you didn't go OHV to SOHC.

 

how do you repin?

as shown, Ive pulled the red inserts, but now what? Just pull the wire out from the back?

 

You need to disassemble the connector, the red retainers are only part of the lock. The pins have locks on each one.


What are you doing about the fuel lines?

 

Havn't even look at the fuel lines yet.
Im going to head out to a boneyard wenesday and grab the other ends of the the connecters and start repinning. fun in the sun ugg lolz. Also need a engine mount for the driver side. once those are done fuel lines will be next/last.

 

would like to swap a 98 4.0 ranger engine into a 99 ford ranger 2.5 what wiring issues might I run into.

 

A lot of people will suggest beginning a new thread for an engine swap rather than revive a 9 year old one for a headlight plug revision.

Issues? 6 cyl. ignition vs 4, the same for fuel injection. You'd have to swap the computer too. Manual or auto? Front springs?