1998 Explorer 5.0 “Restoration2021” project

[CDW6212R]

Great to hear that, yes Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

[EB4X]

Well 2024 has been a hell if a year for me. Hopefully you all are well,
Merry Christmas! Happy new year as well!

You too brother ! Tell me the Explorer's NOW holding up....no major new surprises.. correct?

 

[DintDobbs]

@SuperGordo Ayy, what a year it has been! There were things that could have been worse, and things that could have been better, but any year spent with an Explorer was a good year!

Here's to a happy and prosperous 2025!

 

[SuperGordo]

You too brother ! Tell me the Explorer's NOW holding up....no major new surprises.. correct?

Well I’d love to report an all is well message. However about August the “new” engine in the EX melted the number 3 piston ring, It blew the radiator in about a minute. It still runs. But can’t be driven.
Ive had some personal stuff going on the later half of 2024 which has slowed me down. We are not about to let the EX go. As you all have seen previously. Trying to decide whether to rebuild the original engine or look for another used engine.
Need to organize the funding.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Well I’d love to report an all is well message. However about August the “new” engine in the EX melted the number 3 piston ring, It blew the radiator in about a minute. It still runs. But can’t be driven.
Ive had some personal stuff going on the later half of 2024 which has slowed me down. We are not about to let the EX go. As you all have seen previously. Trying to decide whether to rebuild the original engine or look for another used engine.
Need to organize the funding.

Bummer!!! Hoping it all works out.

 

[EB4X]

Man, you have not had good luck with that thing....sorry to hear....

 

[SuperGordo]

Man, you have not had good luck with that thing....sorry to hear....

Ya know, when I rehabbed it originally when I started in 2021, if only i had replaced the balancer. It was one thing i left alone. And when it failed, im sure thats why the main bearings went bad. But should have would have could have.
All that being said. Its still super clean, has basically new tires, AC, suspension and Transmission. Ill get it going again. Just have some personal stuff holding me up essentially.

 

[SuperGordo]

Also for what it’s worth until the balancer failure. It ran great.

 

[CDW6212R]

I too hate to hear that news. These are great trucks but age and typical things can bring them down.

My 98 Mountaineer has a bad miss that I've put off working on, I think the engine is too far gone to just repair it. I talked with a friend two days ago about a rebuild, he helped to teach me about cars, and we built my first engine together(1980).

The cost now to rebuild to stock level, here looks to be close to $2k, the machine work is crazy high. To upgrade things like compression and cam etc, needs new PC programming, so anything would add a good $1k more, or more, I'd guess.

I have considered the rebuild, a new build with heads and 9.6:1 compression(regular gas), or a used engine swap to a 2018 3.7 engine with matching 6R80 plus PCM and wiring. I think the V6 swap would be no more cost, or less depending on the needs of the used engine/trans. It's hard to do any of that considering the costs and the value of the truck. Best of luck, I'm hoping yours turns out satisfying, and gives us better ideas too.

 

[SuperGordo]

Here in vegas. Just the machine work for the block, heads and rods is close to 2k. Machine cost is definitely way high.

 

[410Fortune]

How much is a crate engine with warranty?

Rebuild with local Machine shop and Mis match if parts Is usually where the nightmare begins

Why not find a good low mileage late model used engine and replace the timing component then drop it in? Plenty of sohc engines out there up until 2011

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Why not find a good low mileage late model used engine and replace the timing component then drop it in? Plenty of sohc engines out there up until 2011

I thikn Gordo has the V8.. not sure Id want to go from a v8 to sohc

 

[410Fortune]

Ouch I was in the wrong thread in my mind

I still would consider a crate engine vs a rebuild

 

[amj441]

Well after having my V6 SOHC rebuilt and all the head aches and heart aches. I was well into the 3k area with my rebuild with parts labor etc. my machine work including clean re-boring rings pistons and heads rebuilt decked cleaned was about 2400 and i paid 600 for someone at the shop to time and install the heads (which I had to later remove and redo as they did not tighten it correctly). I can assure you I wish I had purchased a crate engine. I DO NOT recommend a v6 sohc swap. as finding some of the parts can be difficult. I almost wish I had bit the bullet and v8 swapped, as what I had to pay for rebuilding this one could get me a good prebuilt 302.

at least in houston, it would cost about 3k regardless of the route.

The 5.0l has much more aftermarket support than the 4.0 sohc.

 

[410Fortune]

And much better transmissions

 

[CDW6212R]

Yeah the 302 and old 4-speed auto are tried and true, reliable and well supported by the aftermarket. The machine work has jumped a ton, that's a shame. It brings the cost up closer to what many late model used engines cost now. A nice well built SBF used to be a $3k or so deal, now that's more like $5k, and more if you opt for higher end heads, or a block etc.

It has made many older used parts more valuable, like a simple used 5.0 engine, various external parts; intake manifolds are crazy high too for example. I have a used RPM II intake that used to cost $350 maybe, now it looks like $500. Stock Cobra intakes used to be under $400, now some are close to $1k. My BBK SSI intake I bought for the heck/curiosity of it was $400 complete, and I figured I might sell it if I couldn't use it. Now that has become my best intake choice, it looks great and should be a little better than any GT40 intake. I gotta ship it to Tom Moss and son to have it ported mildly, and then see how it does on a 347.

I wouldn't want to pay for a lot of the new parts for what they cost now, and how fewer choices there are. 2020 hurt the parts industry a ton, so much is scarce or unavailable, plus much more if you can get it.

 

[410Fortune]

Tell me about it! Spark plugs are up about 3x the normal cost, gaskets, fluids, it’s getting harder and harder to fix up old stuff with these prices

 

[EB4X]

/\ Thanks Bidenomics! .....at least we averted MORE PAIN with enough reasonable voters.... okay...end of my justified rant.

 

[SuperGordo]

Well my daughter called me today and wants to get the EX back on the road. She is waiting on a tax return. With my Commercial account I can get a rebuilt 5.0 for $2200 with a 4 year warranty. And luckily now they have ready to go motors at the rebuilder. Which in October they did not. So I can get an engine in front of me in 10 days. So we aren't giving up yet! Hopefully in a few weeks I'll have a positive update.

 

[410Fortune]

Longblock? Who’s the builder? Thanks