Engine swap: v6 to v8

[Billy177]

it can easily be done in a weekend























































sell your explorer and buy one with a 5.0

[410Fortune]

no no no thats not what I am saying!!

hahaha
It CAN AND HAS BEEN DONE in a few days for about $2000 total investment.

But its also been done for $20K in 2 years time.

So it depends on all sorts of stuff, like the donor availability, is the donor complete with all working parts, are you going to replace parts (ie alternator, waterpump, plugs, thermostat, etc)

Anything is possible, and I dont want to discourage people, its just when you are first asking about what it takes, you need to be aware of all the possibilities. Thats why I said research is the key.

PLus the swaps that take more $$$ and more time USUALLY turn out about 500 times better then the CHOP/HACK jobs...

[james t]

there is really nothing to chop/hack if he buys a totalled 96-up 5liter for a donor. its ALOT of wrenching, but its basically just wrenching.

in all honesty, unless your current ride has some sentimental value, it really is cheaper and easier in the long run to just sell it and buy one with a 5 liter. mid 90's explorers have NO resale value. this is bad for you because you will get raped when you sell it. good for you though, as you get to do the raping when you buy another.

[410Fortune]

hahahaha Billy, I kept waiting for a picture to show up in that big blank space.....


hahahaha

NOW I completed my 4.0L conversion, which is considered more difficult then a 4.0L to 5.0L conversion, in two weeks, for the most part. I had MUCHO help with the wiring, and I really had no idea what I was getting into. It took me a year after the initial conversion to get it right (mostly wiring)


I sucessfully completed a 5 speed to auto conversion in 2.5 days, spent 6 months gathering parts and info.

I have yet to try, but I know I could complete a 4.0L conversion in a weekend, as long as all the parts and wiring are ready to go ahead of time.

The thing to remember is there will ALWAYS be something that jumps up and BITES you in the ass.....when doing a job this big, you can count on it.

[operator]

It would be cheaper in the long run and it would be done right. it could take time to get out all the bugs. This would be no easy task for the AVERAGE JOE although with the right resources and time it could be accomplished however just the wiring alone would prob take a minimum of 50 to 60 hours unless you could repin the existing harness to match up with the 5.0s computer. this could save some time.but realistically
one should perhaps make this a summer project with enough beer and buddies around if you start on mem day you may finish on labor day.

[IAmTodd]

I don't know if 410 mentioned it or not, but the diagnostic system from '95 -'96 changed therefore swapping in a 5.0L with wiring and computer will require rewiring almost the entire vehicle. Most who have done this is pre-96 vehicles use 5.0s from pre-'96 vehicles.

[operator]

If he uses a setup out of a 94 stang and the whole computer harness that would pretty much be all he would need for the wiring.although im not sure if the emissions would pass. in my state you need the same year motor or newer as the recepient vehicle and all of the emission control stuff.

[IAmTodd]

Thats what I said.

use 5.0s from pre-'96 vehicles.

[351explorer]

Ok, If he has a 96 5.0L, He has everything he needs. Swap the complete wiring harness over with the engine. Absolutly no cutting, splicing, or hacking. I don't know what skill level he is at, but I know that I could do a swap like that in a weekend. But I also have been a flat rate tech in a dealership for 6 years. So I say it could be done.

[IAmTodd]

But what about the OBD-I and OBD-II compatibilities?

[351explorer]

What's the difference. You would be swapping all the 96 parts over. It would become an OBD2.

[IAmTodd]

But the rest of the vehicle is no. You need the wires and such for it in the interior. Basically have to rewire the entire dash.

[410Fortune]

wrong.

All wiring from under the hood to the firewall (truck harness) would have to be looked at, traced out, and re-pinned) It is possible that it would plug in and work, but I HIGHLY doubt it after working on several engine conversions.......

trust me a job like this requires EXTENSIVE research and knowledge of how things work and why.

[jr91X]

I read that someone was going to carb their X. I was thinking of doing this in order to cut down on wiring. Will a setup like this pass emission? Does anyone know where to find this info?

[410Fortune]

IN most of Colorado (dont know about Thorton) it would NOT be emissions legal to go carbb on any Explorer.

Basically the Colorado law is if you do an engine conversion the new engine must be equipped with the same emissions equiopment the truck came with, basically the same year engine or later.
So if you drop a 5.0L into a 91 Explorer the 5.0L must have:
MAs air sensor, airbox, oxygen sensors, CEL, Cat converter, and EFI.

Carb conversons are NOT legal for street use in MOST states. However if you lived in Breckenridge and the truck was registered in the mountain communities, they dont care what you do.

Yes the carb would cut down on wiring, it would cut down on EVERYTHING swap wise.

[Billy177]

souds as if it would be easier to swap everything else into the v8 car than to swap the v8 into yours

[Mr XLT]

I think you would save yourself alot of time and headache to sell yours and buy one with a V-8 in it. I know that some people have an emotional attachment to there vehicle and in that case money mostly isn't an issue if you wnat to swap.

Here in Oregon the resale of Explorers are not good at all! You can get one fairy cheap! Here you can pick up a 96-97 XLT V-8 under 70K between $6-$8,000 depending on condition.

MR XLT

[kawika]

can a 360 be fitted into my explorer

[james t]

i assume you mean an FE series 360? not a Dodge 360, right? anything can work but, honestly its doubful. the 302 is crammed in there. the 360 is considerably bigger. dont have exact measurements on hand, but its quite a bit bigger overall than a 351W.

[98 XLT 4x4]

Im considering doing this job.... if i found a donor explorer the same year as mine, it wouldnt cost me any more money then the actual donor does correct? Becides misc gaskets that i would obviously replace. Am i missing something here?

XLT