Mitchs07explorer
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- August 14, 2015
- Messages
- 459
- Reaction score
- 98
- Location
- Idaho
- City, State
- Meridian, Idaho
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 97 XLT V8 AWD
07 XLT V6
So my last few posting on here a few months back I was talking about head gasket problems. Initially after I got everything up and running after lots of time and energy I got to drive my 97 5.0 around for a couple of months before my coolant started to get really funky and then the constant bubbles in my expansion tank. I parked it, bought the gaskets and just needed to find the time to do it. Well the free time never came so I ventured into craigslist and found a mechanic with lots of experience who is branching out on his own.
I talked to him about the repair and after some quick research he showed me several engines online that could be had for $500 or less with way less miles than mine had. Then we could just swap them out and add all the new components to the newer engine I initially installed on the original engine. He’s only gonna charge me $400-$500 to do it and will be way less than doing a head gasket job not to meantion if the heads are cracked, or block is cracked, it just made sense me.
Before he installs the new engine he’s going to replace the main rear seal, oil pan seal, timing chain that I installed on the original engine, timing cover seal, water pump seal (obviously), intake seals. He’s also going to install my OBX headers for no extra charge. The engine I purchased was off of eBay from a yard in Pennsylvania out of a 98 EX with 120k on it. The yard gave the engine an “A” grading so I hope it’s as good as they claim, there’s a 60 day warranty on the engine so I’ll know in that time if there’s gonna be issues.
So now instead of fixing it up and selling it I’m now going to be keeping it as my off-roader/hunting rig. I want to make it nice though, I’m going to redo the interior as soon as time allows probably early next year. Then it’ll be a 2 inch lift, 31x10.5 mud tires, bull bar, off road lights, and safari style roof rack. There are other things I will address first before the other upgrades but overall it’s going to be a good vehicle once the newish engine is installed.
I’ll use this thread as I make progress on the Ex.
So this is the Ex and I’ll show progress as I go
I talked to him about the repair and after some quick research he showed me several engines online that could be had for $500 or less with way less miles than mine had. Then we could just swap them out and add all the new components to the newer engine I initially installed on the original engine. He’s only gonna charge me $400-$500 to do it and will be way less than doing a head gasket job not to meantion if the heads are cracked, or block is cracked, it just made sense me.
Before he installs the new engine he’s going to replace the main rear seal, oil pan seal, timing chain that I installed on the original engine, timing cover seal, water pump seal (obviously), intake seals. He’s also going to install my OBX headers for no extra charge. The engine I purchased was off of eBay from a yard in Pennsylvania out of a 98 EX with 120k on it. The yard gave the engine an “A” grading so I hope it’s as good as they claim, there’s a 60 day warranty on the engine so I’ll know in that time if there’s gonna be issues.
So now instead of fixing it up and selling it I’m now going to be keeping it as my off-roader/hunting rig. I want to make it nice though, I’m going to redo the interior as soon as time allows probably early next year. Then it’ll be a 2 inch lift, 31x10.5 mud tires, bull bar, off road lights, and safari style roof rack. There are other things I will address first before the other upgrades but overall it’s going to be a good vehicle once the newish engine is installed.
I’ll use this thread as I make progress on the Ex.
So this is the Ex and I’ll show progress as I go