OK I was reading some of the posts about how on a 96 I can get a wiring harness and computer from a 97 and swap it out. My question is, is this all I need to change?

The reason for this being that I rebuilt my motor 6 months ago because I had spun a rod bearing in the original. I used my 96 head on the 98 block since that it is what one of our commerical accounts at work said i could do. everything fit perfectly. The car ran great save for one exception, it had horrible valve clatter. Stupid me i thought maybe it was the cheap gas in my small town and just started running super to fix the problem.

Needless to say my timing was off because the 98's crank sensor read 7 degrees different than what the 96 computer was programmed for. I ended up getting a lot of blow back eventually because number one had a hole burned in the piston top.

So i guess if nothing else I would at least need to change the crank sensor out. I am just wanting to get some input from all the great minds here at the J.

your parts store lied to you.96 head on 98 block with 98 pistons comes to about 12.5 (ithink):1 compression ratio. that's why you fried the piston, and when you started running super, it probably sounded a little better because it wasn't preigniting. by the by, what would make you think bad gas would cause valvetrain noise?

as for the ecu, look at yours to see if it has two or three plug ins on it. changing the crank sensor wouldnt be good enough, all the sensor does is read the notches on the crank, it has no bearing on where they are. you would need a ecu from a 98-99 car.



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i also did the swap its not as bad as it sounds only thing i had to change was oil pressure sensor and its like 12 bucks and advance auto but thats it good luck



8 psi with m62 and IAT under 100

hey rich I don't think that I need a 98 up harness because I had my block rebuilt from the 96 so I am all original. But I really appreciate the info I hate not knowing the cause of problems. Thanks again guys.

So I guess the reason I got blow back was maybe the rings not being able to take the compression. I have had a couple of cars and friends cars that required preimium and if you used regular you would get valve clatter. So I wonder if i did this combo again on purpose and used a stronger ring if it would be a good thing.

again, the reluctor wheel is what's important. the 98 crank is different than the 96. SO, whichever crank you're using, you'll need the computer from the same era so it will be able to read it properly.



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ok so what is in the same era as the 96 crank? is the 97 the the only other option?

95 (maybe) 96 and 97.



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What motor are we talking about? 2.2OHV or 2.4?



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^^ this is true, i assumed ohv because of the head swap and burnt piston result... and the crank timing marks being off.



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Sorry i forgot to include that and I have yet to put it in my profile. Yes we are talking about the OHV.

ooohh. i was going to say, if you are talking about a 2.4l i was getting confused.

i ran a 2000 2.4l in my 96 with no issues and just had to re tap the knock senor hole.




as far as swapping ECUs, 96 sucks. it has 3 connectors and if you want to go to a 97+ you need to repin everything. No need to swap wiring harnesses. It has been done before.


but i am not 100% sure on the 2.2's.

good luck