engine swap

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Dec 3, 2014 | 11:06 PM

m1782t

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engine swap

I have a 3.0 from an '87 aerostar, that had an engine recall and was replaced by ford so very low mileage before the van got wrecked. Will it fit into a '99 ranger 4wd build date 12/98? The ranger 3.0 engine is high mileage and at a minimum has a blown head gasket. Both automatics. thanks

Dec 4, 2014 | 07:46 AM

tomw

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From: suburban atlanta

Mechanically, it will bolt right in. You will have a totally different ignition system, and the injectors are SEFI rather than bank pulsed. To make it work in the Ranger, you have to find out if you can fit the sensors from the Ranger onto the '87 Vulcan. I think they will all bolt on. You may have to change the damper to get the cranks sensor to work. You may also have to change the intake if the cam sensor will not fit.
tom

Added: Now that I've thought a bit more, I would say if you take it down to a 'long block', and use the newer front cover, intake, etc, you should have no problem. Both are RWD, and not sideways, so the coolant flow would be consistent, and all the 'attachments' should be in the front cover & intake.
You may want to change the dipstick tube as I think the A* has a loooong tube & stick.
tom

Last edited by tomw; Dec 6, 2014 at 08:49 AM. Reason: add

Dec 5, 2014 | 11:42 PM

Mikeman

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From: PNW

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1782t

Will it fit into a '99 ranger 4wd build date 12/98? thanks

I wouldn't be worried so much about the fit, but the compatibility of the old motor with the new ECM/PCM/electronics.

This article will have some information about engine differences through the years: Rebuilding The Ford 3.0L V6 - Engine Builder Magazine

That same magazine has warnings not to run old 4.0 OHV motors with newer electronics (or vice versa). I don't know if there are any such warnings for the 3.0, but it's something to consider.

Dec 9, 2014 | 06:11 PM

Conanski

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

The ONLY way a swap like this will work is if you can strip the donor motor to it's bare longblock and install the complete intake, wiring harness, accessory brackets and accessories, pullies etc, etc, etc form the '99. That assumes the basic longblock has not changed significantly in this time span, it could have a different cam in it or slightly different compression ratio that won't matter, the only things you have to worry about are whether all those parts will physically bolt on or not and if the trans bolt pattern is the same or not.

Dec 9, 2014 | 07:51 PM

Mikeman

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From: PNW

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conanski

I did this with my Accord. I used an engine that was one generation newer with the old electronics that came with my car, along with the intake, exhaust, etc. I now have an engine that pings on premium gas. Compression was only half a point higher and the engine displacement was less than 100ccs. Everything looked good on paper and the place that sold me the engine said they have sold over 150 of these engines for the swap I was doing. I would be concerned about using an engine for which the ECM/PCM was not calibrated, even if you move over all the sensors, manifolds, etc.

Jan 9, 2015 | 08:26 AM

tomw

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From: suburban atlanta

Mikeman, check that your EGR is functioning properly. You may also find feeding a slight drizzle of water into the intake at a good high idle may de-carbon your combustion chamber. If the PO never revved the engine, it may be carboned up, leading to pinging.
tom

Jan 9, 2015 | 07:47 PM

Mikeman

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tomw

EGR was the first subject. I checked out the entire system and cleaned the EGR passages. Still no luck.

I've had my foot in it pretty deep plenty of times, including over the mountain passes, so I would think all the carbon would have been blown out. Going over the mountain passes once per year was good enough to keep the old Ranger from pinging. The plugs look lean, so I'm suspecting the calibration for the old motor isn't too compatible with the new motor. Hence my warning to m1782t to consider this aspect of the swap.