sorry if this post drags on a bit but i am going to try and give as much detail as i can. i have a 1997 ford ranger with a 5 speed manual tanny and a 2.3 liter 4cyl. the engine blew and i came across a 1994 ranger with the 3.0 for cheap and it runs good so i bought the engine, tranny, computer, airbox and harness all for 550
now i can see that there is one plug that is drastically different on my firewall which isnt the computer plug its another one entirely over by the brake booster. the one from the 94 is round and the one off my 97 is rectangular
this is the only road block ive come across so far but is there something im missing? any advice on how to make all of this work? i was under the impression it was pretty plug and play. and im at a total loss right now. also if there is another post or thread like this im sorry for making another but ive combed through forums for a couple days to no avail. thanks in advance

 

Your '94 is an OBDI and your '96 is an OBDII. When it comes to wiring and computers, there is a huge difference between the two. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I think you will need a lot more to this setup than what you have now.

 

do you have any advice or maybe a list of what i need to do this?

 

ladies and gentlemen, is it in my best interest to buy a shell that is compatible with my engine and wiring?

 

Sell the 3.0, get a proper 2.3. Make it work. Trade that for a newer truck with more power if you want, or drive it.

 

^This. Trying to do the described engine swap on a modern vehicle will leave your vehicle disabled for weeks or months as you try to find the proper parts even for even an experienced tech.

 

I don't know about Rangers but I know the F-series trucks when switching from OBD1 to OBD2 is quite an undertaking, you have to change things in the instrument cluster and crap like that. Yes I believe you would be better off to find one that is OBD2 as your donor vehicle.

 

jlam106:i can see that there is one plug that is drastically different on my firewall which isnt the computer plug its another one entirely over by the brake booster. the one from the 94 is round and the one off my 97 is rectangular

I think that connector is for headlights, turn signals, power, horn and instrument cluster. There may be more.
If you can get a wiring diagram or EVTM for both years, you can set the two harness connectors side by side, and move wires from one to the other.
Most connectors have pins or sockets that can be removed from the housing or 'carrier' by using a small screwdriver or pick to enable the 'release'. If the connectors are the same, they may be able to swap from square to round or vice versa as needed.
You just have to figure out which one is which from year to year.
I would label the 'function' of each connector, and then remove from the 'new' and put in the proper place in the 'old'. Re-plug and off you go.
I don't think there is a lot of OBD-II stuff involved. That's mostly in the computer conenction and harness. The OBD-II system just needs power and ground, keep-alive power, and all the sensors to work.
You REALLY need to have the wiring diagram, or pinouts of the connectors to be able to swap them into the old housing.
tom