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97 4.0ohv in place of 93 4.0ohv...aren't       #: 1482
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 Posted: Sat Jan 19th, 2019 06:39 pm
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Vincenthdfan
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Hey all,

I just did a lot of major work on my 93 Ranger 4.0 4x4 XLT 5 speed.

I took the rattling valve train original 93 4.0 OHV motor out and swapped a low mile 97 4.0 OHV in its place.

I used my aluminum upper intake, the 97 lower intake, new 8 bolt flywheel, my 93 harness, 93 computer, blocked off EGR port on left exhaust manifold.

It fired right up and runs great but I notice some detonation pinging under light load when going around some corners in 3rd gear, or other situations, easing into the throttle....but I can usually get it right out of it right away.

The pinging is easy enough to get out of, but I know my wife certainly wont notice this trait when she drives it.

This got me wondering if the compression ratio was different between the years?

Turns out they're not, but they did have different shaped heads and dished piston combos over the years.

When I was reading about compression ratios, I came across this article:

https://www.enginebuildermag.com/200...0l-pushrod-v6/

It states under the rebuilding paragraph:


Rebuilders should not install an engine with the 95TM heads and deep-dish pistons in a '95 or '96 Aerostar. All of these engines had the same compression ratio whether they came with the original heads with the open chambers or the newer ones with the heart-shaped chambers, so they would seem to be interchangeable, but the computer calibration that was used for the old-style heads with the open chambers will not work with the newer heads with the fast-burn chambers. In fact, "It will burn the engine down in a few thousand miles," according to a Ford engineer who worked on this engine program. Ford continued to use the early heads on the '95 and '96 Aerostar because they still came with the early calibration, so rebuilders must do the same.

Am I reading that correctly...that my 93 computer is going to have a different timing curve that will not accommodate the newer combustion chamber shape??

If that's the case perhaps I've made a major blunder??!

I really don't want to yank all that back out to throw an older 4.0 back in it!!



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1993 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab
4.0 OHV V6 4x4
Converted it to 5 Speed and Manual Transfer Case!
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 Posted: Sat Jan 19th, 2019 07:02 pm
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Dusten
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That is exactly what that says.



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2001 Ford Lightning - Built Motor - Built Trans - 2.9 Whipple - E85 - Custom Interior - 537/632 - 11.40 @ 119.6(old setup)
1968 Ford Mustang "Gold Nugget Special"
2018 Ford Mustang GT PP1
1999 Ranger
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 Posted: Sat Jan 19th, 2019 08:29 pm
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410customs

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What octane fuel are you running?
What was wrong with the 93 engine?
We can get rid of that detonation you are having

FYI I had a 96 OHV longblock in my 88 BII using a 93 PCM for 12 years, never any ping issues

Last edited on Sat Jan 19th, 2019 08:33 pm by 410customs



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 Posted: Sat Jan 19th, 2019 08:51 pm
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Vincenthdfan
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410customs wrote:
What octane fuel are you running?
What was wrong with the 93 engine?
We can get rid of that detonation you are having

FYI I had a 96 OHV longblock in my 88 BII using a 93 PCM for 12 years, never any ping issues

I'm using just regular unleaded...same as I always used with the original engine.  Even regular is damned expensive here in Washington State (still almost $3.50 a gallon!).

The 93 had very bad rocker wear...it would tap a good amount until it warmed up and eventually quit tapping.  I pulled rockers and confirmed they were pretty well worn where they were contacting the valve stems.

I was in the middle of doing all the pricing of new valve train parts when this 97 motor with 120,000 miles popped up for a $100 with a 5 speed attached!!  The guy was doing a 5.0 swap and needed to get rid of old stuff to make room in his garage.

I figured I couldn't go wrong at that price and did the swap.  I've read many, many other threads where folks have swapped newer 4.0's in by doing exactly what I did...taking it down to basic long block and swapping exterior supporting stuff onto motor.

Don't get me wrong, it runs great...but I can hear that slight pinging every once in a while so I'm a bit concerned about long term health of motor if I leave it alone?

Last edited on Sat Jan 19th, 2019 08:52 pm by Vincenthdfan



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1993 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab
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Converted it to 5 Speed and Manual Transfer Case!
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 Posted: Sun Jan 20th, 2019 10:14 am
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410customs

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try adding some octane booster to the next tank see if it stops

I have installed countless 4.0 from 95+ trucks into gen I trucks, detonation has never been an issue even with 91-94 computers.
Did you do anything to the 97 block while it was out? Lower intake gasket? Oil pan?

That is a killer deal on a 97 ohv engine and trans!



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 Posted: Sun Jan 20th, 2019 11:07 am
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Vincenthdfan
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410customs wrote:
try adding some octane booster to the next tank see if it stops

I have installed countless 4.0 from 95+ trucks into gen I trucks, detonation has never been an issue even with 91-94 computers.
Did you do anything to the 97 block while it was out? Lower intake gasket? Oil pan?

That is a killer deal on a 97 ohv engine and trans!

I guess that's what I needed to hear...just some re-assurances that others have indeed installed the newer motors with older computers without burn downs.

I just got a little freaked out when I read that article quoting the "Ford Engineer".

I took it out again last night, put a fresh tank of gas in it and drove it quite a bit...didn't hear any pinging at all this time.

Perhaps I was a tad premature, or just hyper-sensitive to noises.

After all the work I did in one fell swoop on this truck (5 speed conversion, manual transfer case swap from electric, 97 motor, one piece rear driveshaft, newer steering box, new front coil springs, new shocks) I suppose I am just being a little extra tuned in to (and sensitive!) to noises.

Ill tell you though, that truck sure does pull nice and hard now with this newer motor in it....I love it!

Last edited on Sun Jan 20th, 2019 11:35 am by Vincenthdfan



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1993 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab
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Converted it to 5 Speed and Manual Transfer Case!
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 Posted: Sun Jan 20th, 2019 11:19 am
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Vincenthdfan
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410customs wrote:
That is a killer deal on a 97 ohv engine and trans!
That's why I immediately drove down to get it when he posted it on craigslist...and I admit I was somewhat dubious as to how truthful he was being with me.

But, I got to see the truck he pulled it from, the 5.0 he was putting in, and it all appeared to be a great deal.

Then, when I got it home and removed the rocker covers to install new gaskets, I was even further amazed at how nice and clean the inside of the engine was.

Its obviously had good maintenance its whole life...another huge plus.

Here's my rig on it's shakedown drive:

Attachment: Ranger Country.jpg (Downloaded 18 times)

Last edited on Sun Jan 20th, 2019 11:19 am by Vincenthdfan



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1993 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab
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Converted it to 5 Speed and Manual Transfer Case!
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 Posted: Sun Jan 20th, 2019 05:16 pm
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410customs

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Excellent
Sharp truck!
93 is one of the best years for the OHV because it has no EGR or Cam sensor (unless CA truck)
With the 8 bolt flywheel you can use the flywheel and clutch for a 2004 Ranger Edge SOHC engine, the clutch is larger and gives a nice grip behind the 4.0 OHV engine

Last edited on Sun Jan 20th, 2019 05:17 pm by 410customs



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