I had a post where I was asking about the specifics of swapping a 2.3l to a 4.0 but I cant find it to add to it or ask more questions so Im starting another. 

I picked up the 4.0 ohv recently for 100$, the PO claimed blown head gasket, not driven on, out of a 1993 ranger. It sat in front of an M5OD-R1 that he kept because he was just putting a newer engine in instead of fixing this one.  Ive pulled the heads and the valves look great and so do the lifters. One pushrod looked slightly bent but it could have been the light as I pulled them out, because I couldn’t tell you which one it was once they got all mixed up. I have kept the lifters in the correct order ready for reinstall. I can tell it’s been rebuilt at least once before since the pistons are all .075 over. Ive been told this is the max that these can be bored over, so if it wasn’t for the reliability of these engines I would be concerned about how long it would last. Ive also checked the cast numbers and everything checks out to what would be in a 1993 ranger. 

I know Im going to need to get a new to me transmission because the one on the 2.3 wont fit, starter on wrong side. But believe everything would just bolt right up otherwise. I dont have a wiring harness for this engine but have been told that I can use any year harness as long as I use the same year sensors and ecu as the harness is. Ive even been told that if it’s a 4x4 harness it will still work with my 2wd, I just wouldn’t use the plugs for the 4x4. Ive also been told that the speedometer harness is seperate from the engine harness so I can put a newer than 1995 harness on for the correct ecm to process the induction speedometer sensor.  

Where my current questions come into play are things like the torque arm, do I even need it? Ive seen different opinions. Some say the only reason it’s there is to keep the engine from torquing over too far during start-up.  Others say it’s so when you get on the gas your engine doesn’t try to twist out of the mounts. Another question is about the fuel rail, some sources say the fuel rail year must match the harness/ecu year but Im thinking this has to do more with the injectors than the actual rail. Ive read online that the 1993 version of this engine used a distributor system, but the port for the distributor is capped off and from appearances has been for a while so Im thinking the PO had already swapped it to a distributorless system. Almost all the electronics and sensors on this engine were removed so updating it to whatever year I get the harness for shouldn’t be anything more than what I would have to do if I went with a 1993 harness with the exception of the ignition. I plan on trying to put all 1997 sensors and electronics on it and pick up a 1997 harness with ecu. I also plan on putting in new seals and gaskets all the way around. This engine was covered in so much dirt and consolidated oil that I don’t have any doubt things were leaking. The heads look good, the deck looks good, the cylinders and pistons look good. Crank turns over smooth.

Is there anything I still haven’t concidered or have gotten wrong or does anyone have any suggestions that might make the process easier down the road. I think the alternator, power steering, and air conditioning and such from the 2.3 will work on the 4.0 with the correct mounts and that pretty much everything still attracted to the truck should line up and connect with its individual component such as power steering, clutch line, and other stuff. I don’t have the exhaust manifold so Im thinking about running headers instead. 
 
Thank you for taking the time to read through this and for anything you have to share!

1997 Ranger Splash 2.3-4.0 ohv