96 5.0 into 97 4.0

[Devilmanak]

Ok, bringing this back from the dead. Plans changed.
Bought a 98 4.0. Taking the engine out, putting it in wife's 97 4.0. Running into wiring issues, the engine harness is different and the harness junction block pins are different in number and configuration. Seems like I need to take engine apart enough to swap engine harnesses? Problem is, the 97 ECU is gone, and I am not sure if the 98 ECU will work, as the 98 has PATS. So correct me if I am wrong, it seems like the only option I have is to swap engine harnesses and buy another 97 ECU?

2nd problem: I am building a long travel prerunner type rig out of the 98, using the 5.0 out of the 96. It will be stripped down, no a/c, and 2wd. Problem I am seeing is that if the 98/97 engine/engine bay harnesses are different, the 98/96 wiring is going to be really wacky. How similar are the engine bay/chassis harnesses between years? It seems the 98 has a lot more wires in the junction block, did Ford keep the majority of "important" wires the same colors and lcoations in the junction blocks?

And this is all over color. The 98 I bought ran great, just needed a t-case, which I had in the 97. Swap cases, wife would have had a great running, nice 98. But the color was wrong, she didn't like the blue, so now engines are being swapped, the 96/97 "easy" 302 swap has turned into a 98/97 engine swap and a 96/98 engine swap, both of which are a pain because of the 98 being so different.

 

[boominXplorer]

I will say you are doing a lot of work for just a color preference but that is just the things we do for women. You are going to want to use a 97 pcm in the 97. If you try to use the 98 it will want pats and the wiring is different. Now for the 98 with the 96, you can use the 96 computer so you will basically delete pats but the wiring is different again. You will need to re-pin the large engine to engine bay plug to match the necessary circuits.

Another thing about your 98 4.0 is if its a OHV its a 8 bolt crank where as a 97 and earlier is 6 bolt so hope you have the flex plate for the 98

 

[Devilmanak]

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it. Thi s kept me up for hours last night, obsesing about it.
Both 4.0 are SOHC.
As for color, I am a little peeved about it to be honest. I thought it was going to be an easy swap, straight across, until I noticed wiring issues and now I need to buy an ECU. I have already done a ton of seat swapping and other things, to build the nicest rig for her.
For the 96 5.0 into the 98 Ex, I just need to match up colors on the engine bay side of the junction plug, or am I going to have to get ahold of wiring schematics and individually go through each one and identify/match them?

The other option on that one is to replace the entire wiring harness. The 96 donor truck is stripped to the frame and half pulled already, the 98 prerunner could be torn down if need be. Don't want to by any means, but.......

 

[Devilmanak]

Torque converters for 97/98 the same? They look like they are, but I am paranoid about screwing anything up at this point, I don't have it in me to tear this thing back down again.
The one in the 97 is a rusty mess, the POS car lot I got it from put a transmission in it before we bought it, obviously they put crap in it. The one in the 98 looks brand new.