1999 5L v8 engine install help

[Mountbatten]

Hello. I haven't been around here for quite a while, because my wife ran my original engine dry of coolant and melted it. I pulled the engine over a year ago, and the parts have been moved back and forth by my wife's cleaning efforts. So, I have a pile of parts that I can mostly identify, and a low miles engine block to install. This is a 1999 5.0 Explorer.
I'm feeling a little lost as to how to get started on installing the new engine, mostly because I've never done an install before on a car. Is there a procedure thread or video someone can point me to? I find lots of help on the internet for 4.0 v6 stuff, but not much help on the 5.0.

 

[shucker1]

First thing I would do is to consolidate everything and then try to figure out what you have and what is missing.

The best thing to do from there is take all of your bolts, seperate them and put then in ziplock sandwich bags with a general description of the component it fits.

Always "Bag & Tag" when you are pulling an engine out!

From there is you take some pictures we can pretty much tell you where things go.

P.S. If you get an elite membership you can post your picture direct to the site and not hassle with a third party hosting service.

 

[Mountbatten]

First thing I would do is to consolidate everything and then try to figure out what you have and what is missing.

The best thing to do from there is take all of your bolts, seperate them and put then in ziplock sandwich bags with a general description of the component it fits.

I'll get started on this. The weather is finally getting warm enough that I can work outside without frostbite.

Always "Bag & Tag" when you are pulling an engine out!

I used to do this, but having worked on the same motorcycle engine for years and knowing where every part goes blindfolded, i guess I got lazy with the Ford. Thought I'd be putting the new engine in immediately, but I hurt my back at work and spent the next year and a half on the couch waiting for workman's comp to get their heads out of their arses.

From there is you take some pictures we can pretty much tell you where things go.

P.S. If you get an elite membership you can post your picture direct to the site and not hassle with a third party hosting service.

Elite member, done. Pics forthcoming.

 

[shucker1]

I hurt my back at work and spent the next year and a half on the couch waiting for workman's comp to get their heads out of their arses.

Copy on the bad back. I blew mine out over 30 years ago and it still gets me from time to time.

I'm in the same situation you are. Got a engine built and sitting on a stand but I decided to strip the bottom side of the truck down a piece at a time and paint it so things are going slow.

Good thing is that Bosslady doesn't go in the garage and mess with my stuff.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

just so i understand. right at this moment, you have a pile of parts and bolts, and are not sure where they all go, and a truck sitting motorless, correct?

 

[Mountbatten]

just so i understand. right at this moment, you have a pile of parts and bolts, and are not sure where they all go, and a truck sitting motorless, correct?

That is correct. Please refrain from laughing too hard. I can hear you all the way through the internet.

 

[shucker1]

just so i understand. right at this moment, you have a pile of parts and bolts, and are not sure where they all go, and a truck sitting motorless, correct?

Stop...

We all do that from time to time.

Don't Lie!

 

[vroomzoomboom]

No, no! I'm not laughing. They, the first time I took one apart was no fun. Now one member and I have got it down to the point we were able to pull his motor, strip it down to the short block, put it back together and back in the truck and have it running in a weekend.
If you have a motor stand, what I would say your best bet would be is to put the motor on the stand and assemble it on the stand first. Then when your sure you have it right, then take it back apart lableing all the parts and bolts either with baggies or punching holes into card board. The only trick bolts really are for the water pump because they are different lengths. If you the intake off, there is one bolt that has a stud on it as well. That parts bolts to your hard heater hose tube. I can try and do some digging. I might have some close up pictures from years ago when I took my first explorer 302 apart

 

[vroomzoomboom]

Stop...

We all do that from time to time.

Don't Lie!

Was only trying to make sure we were on the same page, but do it in a humourous way

 

[shucker1]

Was only trying to make sure we were on the same page, but do it in a humourous way

Didn't say that.

LOL.

If I'm not mistaken the intake stud goes on the right rear corner and hooks to the ground strap.

We can fix this one!

 

[vroomzoomboom]

oh, and two others are for the coil bracket at the front of the intake.

if you can, post a pic of what the motor looks like now. hopefully (maybe) we can help. i have a ford cd that tells you how to break a motor down, and put it back together, but would have to find where all the steps are, then figure out how to screen shot it

 

[koda2000]

Stop...

We all do that from time to time.

Don't Lie!

If I've learned anything in my 55+ years of wrenching on vehicles, it's NOT to do that. I take lots of pics, mark everything with tape and use cardboard with tracings of the parts to store the nuts/bolts, and will even make drawings and notes. Unless all the bolts holding something on are the same length, bagging them isn't enough. Whenever possible I reinstall /nuts/bolt finger tight immediately after removing them to keep them in order. I would hate to be facing the OP's task not knowing how/where everything goes and not even knowing if all the required parts are there. Not knowing the sequence of reassembly can also make you crazy, causing you to redo time consuming jobs multiple times.

W/out having another identical vehicle for reference, seems like an almost impossible job to me. Good luck OP.

 

[CDW6212R]

Don't stress about this Mountbatten, the 302 engine is the most common Ford ever made, and almost any Ford guy could get it together with minor help. There's tons of people here who will help you figure out any minor issues like bolt identification etc.

What is the "new" engine like, what model is it, age since built, and how complete is it? Your wife didn't destroy the original engine, she just hurt some things which can be fixed in some way.

If you are doing the project yourself, you will need another pair of hands occasionally, the engine stand and cherry picker, torque wrench and normal tools basically. To start you need to inventory what you have and thus need(and buy that). Have good cleaners and pans, rags etc, you'll be "cleaning" parts a lot early on. The assembly and install part is the most fun part, go slow and enjoy it.