OHC or OHV

[blacklab]

I'm looking to buy another 95 to 2000 sport, Is there any way to determine what engine is in what model? I want to find one with an OHV engine.
Asking the seller who most times has never opened the hood doesn't work

 

[Fiveologyjay]

My 97 has the OHV and I love it. My dad has a 99 Ranger with the OHV motor and it has 231,000 miles on it and still going strong.

 

[xtom]

I have read through some thousand posts about Explorers before buying my V8 OHV. On basis of that, I would say if you can get a well maintained OHC it is also OK but if you do not know history of the truck, go for OHV.
Note that I am not an expert nor a mechanic - only someone who wanted to use the truck after buying it

 

[DjDom]

You can tell the difference by looking at the engine..

OHV will look like this:

SOHC will look like this:

 

[koda2000]

the ohc produces more power from the same displacement, but at the cost of added complexity and reduced reliability. the ohc is known for developing timing chain problems, which are expensive to repair. if i was in the market and found 2 vehicles in the same shape, for the same price, with the same number of miles and one was a ohc and the other an ohv, i'd buy the ohv. either way you still get the same crappy auto trans (unless you get a manual trans). BTW i think the '95 model was only available with the ohv engine. the SOHC engine wasn't available until '97.

that being said i bought a '97 ohc 2 months ago, for my daughter's baby daddy to commute to work with. it has 243k on an rebuilt engine and trans, was super clean and the price was right. i'm keeping my figures crossed that we can get another 50k out of it. so far no probs.

 

[swshawaii]

FordEtis (VIN)
http://www.etis.ford.com/vehicleRegSelector.do

VIN 8th Digit #4 Light Truck
E V-6 4.0L EFI-SOHC
X V-6 4.0L EFI-OHV
http://www.ehow.com/how_5819240_tell-type-engine-ford-vin.html

 

[koda2000]

FordEtis
http://www.etis.ford.com/vehicleRegSelector.do

VIN (8th Digit)
E V-6 4.0L EFI-SOHC
X V-6 4.0L EFI-OHV

i'm not sure what you're getting at with the etis link. are you clarifying how to tell the difference between engines via the vin? if so, you are correct. if you're saying you can look up a '95 vehicle on etis, i don't think it goes back that far.