2005 explorer 4.0 into 2003 explorer body ???

[jamie miller]

hi every one . im darn shure new to the forum as im sure you can all tell , any how, now that im on my computer that im familiar with and can navigate properly hope i found the right sub group, any how i have a 2005 ford explorer with 4.0 that wife run low on coolant and cooked overdrive bands in trany and cant afford to rebuild , we bought an 03 explorer with bad engine but good trani ,previous owner ran it out of oil, took out tensioners ,cassets and possibly skipd time , i dont have time or money to piss with rebuilding a junk engine when i have an 05 4.0ltr thats good . anyhow does anyone know if i can just drop the 05 into the 03 body with out worrying about changes in wireing different computers sensors etc . im old school 350 4 bolt main not new computer b.s please help . any info would be greatly appreciated

 

[Tech By Trade]

I was the same as you. Yes the engine will fit. Just strip it down to a long block, and swap all the parts off the old engine to the new one.Long block - Wikipedia

 

[rewind1]

Yeah, i'd have to agree with @Tech By Trade
I know there is at least one difference in that the later 3rd gens switched to electronic throttlebody.
I'm sure there are other changes as well so using the long block and swapping accessories seems like a good plan.

 

[mcclain61]

It’s a pain in the butt bell housing bolts suck to get to. It will be easiest to pull both engines and transmissions together.

There are 4 flex plate to torque converter bolts and you have to get to those threw where the starter mounts

So while it’s out I’d check the condition of the rear cassette