1999 Ford Explorer SOHC - Stock to Swap?

[Chris1999]

Hello ExplorerForum,

Been a frequent lurker for the past 5 years but never had any questions to ask until recently.

My trucks been very well maintained over the course of it's *known* life. It's been smooth all the way up until the start of last year, transmission starting to slip, engine now has a light knocking noise.

Well, I've come across a really good deal on a 2016 Ford F-150 3.5-Liter Twin-Turbo EcoBoost V6 engine and matching 10-Speed Transmission, and Wiring Harness. All from a RWD truck, my truck is also RWD.


Should I do the swap? What obstacles might I face?

 

[RandomNerd2000]

I don't think the 3.5 will even fit inside the bay, if memory serves, it's larger than the V6 you've got by far, if it was mine, and I was intent on fixing it, I'd put it back like it came, can't recommend a V8 swap since you're in Cali.

 

[koda2000]

Provided there's room in the engine compartment, any engine can typically be shoehorned into any vehicle. That being said, that's going to be a huge amount of work requiring modifications galore. Reminds me of something Gas Monkey Garage might try.

If you can manage it, it would make for a really cool vehicle.

 

[Chris1999]

@RandomNerd2000 You really believe that the 3.5L won't fit in the engine compartment? From the research I've put in, the 4L V6 SOHC is larger than the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

It might've been a 4.6 swap that was discussed on, you'd have your work cut out for you, would I attempt it? I'm mechanically inclined on everything but transmissions, and do small engines some, so sure I'd try it, you do have your differences though, I'd want complete harnesses for both, since you're gonna have to make one, and what about the transmission?

 

[delexploder]

Look around on here , someone has already put one in a sporttrac , that woll give you some idea what is involved

 

[RandomNerd2000]

You mean that somebody has already done it? That halfway blows my mind.

 

[delexploder]

Yup, and years ago on power block trucks show they stuffed a 4.6 dohc in a ranger and ive also seen the coyote 5.0 in the ranger platform , hell i know a guy here in Delaware that has a 460 in an early ranger

 

[RandomNerd2000]

I mean, I'd heard of people doing the modding to get the 351s in these things, but that just blows my mind, far cry from the 4.0 OHV the first 2nd gens shipped with

 

[Josh P]

How much is a really good deal? The hardest part about that engine swap is California.

 

[Tech By Trade]

If you take the ECU, instrument cluster, engine and transmission with you it could probably be done, as long as the ABS systems are compatible. If not, it gets rather time consuming and expensive. Just have a look at stylin99's coyote swap on the second gen sport trac to see how much is involved.