4.0 OHV vs. SOHC

[RoadEnforcer]

Does anyone know if they made headers for the 2001 sohc 4.0 v6, I would be very interested in buying them if they are made yet. I think that 2001 sport Black Diamond had them but I was not sure if he did those custom.

 

[wpurple]

Has anyone logged more than 200K+ miles on a OHC w/o major problems?
I am just curious, seems the OHV is a proven workhorse.

I was going to trade in my 97 Sport OHV for a 02 Sport OHC for more power to tow my camper with and the dealer talked me out of it! Said it isn't worth it. Bolt on a few accessories and your up there with the OHC and still have a reliable engine.

Also, as I have posted before, I have changed the axle ratio from 3.27 to 3.73 for better towing and when I am not towing, the change in gears really made a significant differance. Definatly brings new life to the truck. What was Ford thinking when they put the 3.27's in? *Beside fuel mileage


Kurt
97 Sport OHV 5 speed

 

[410Fortune]

Okay well I have seen a 1997 SOHC go 80K miles withno problems! amazing it must be rare.

Anywho comapring the two 4.0L's is not really possible.
They are two different animals. The OHV 4.0L makes it;s power down low, which is perfect for turning big tires and climbing steep hills. The SOHC is a rev monster and makes more power up high, perfect for cruising the streets and for motivating a 4500# four door x from stop light to stop light.

I dont own a SOHC, I have owned a 2.9L and now drive a OHV 4.0L. The 4.0L oHV is a work horse! They go and go and go.........and go some more. They are so reliable it;s ridiculous. The OHV is pretty peppy when built up properly, some of these guys go nuts with the superchargers and get a ton of power from the OHV. Nobody makes a blower for the SOHC yet, but they will.


I wouldnt mind dropping a SOHC 4.0L into my BII if I could make it fit, it may not be the "perfect" motor for a trail rig, but it sure would be fun!!!! and scary fast.
with proper gearing and what not the OHV 4.0L can crawl you over almost anything, it is a GREAT engine for 4x4ing, but dont expect it to make people drop their jaws at the race track.....

 

[Robert]

It would take some very expensive bolt-ons to get the OHV up to the level of the SOHC. I put a cat-back, K&N filter, Pro-Flow MAF and SuperChip on my '94 4.0L OHV 2WD Ranger and it still wasn't as quick as my stock '97 SOHC Explorer is. Talk to Alec about getting power out of the OHV, his is making some serious power but it took some serious money to do it. An exhaust, intake & computer chip won't cut it.

When Ford put the 3.27 in your Explorer they were probably thinking the same thing they were thinking when they put 3.08 in my '86 2.3L Ranger. Talk about gutless! The 4 cylinder isn't exactly known for horsepower or torque so why make did Ford make it worse by putting such a low ratio in it? I eventually swapped it out for a 3.73 which made it a lot more enjoyable around town but revved too high at 70 MPH. A 3.43 would have been a better choice had the wrecking yard had one at the time.

 

[410Fortune]

The only way your OHV is gonna be able to beat a SOHC (without adding a super charger) is with a performance rebuild and the right camshaft. The camshaft in the stock OHV is a dog, and the first thing to go when looking to get more power. Bolt on's are great, but they aren't magic.

Of course the same stuff can be dont to the SOHC, so it never ends........I'm planning to build a OHV 4.0L for my truck since getting a SOHC to fit and use my A4LD is more work then it;s worth. With some heads from a 2000+ OHV and a ton of machine work, a custom cam, a 0.030" overbore, the right pistons, and did I mention a ton of machine work, I should be looking at 225+ HP froma naturally aspirated OHV when hooked up to my intake and exhaust.

Then I can take those pesky SOHC Ranger drivers that are popping up all over town......

I like the SOHC, my buddy has one, and that is an impressive engine if they can get the bugs worked out, oh and they thermostat housing is a 200% improvement over the OHV.

 

[Robert]

My '97 SOHC has 91K miles on it. My camshaft tensioners have been replaced three times. The last time was about 40K miles ago and so far the noise appears to be cured so I don't consider that to be an issue anymore. My MAF sensor was replaced once due to it sticking closed at idle but I don't consider that an engine related problem. Other these two problems I haven't had any problems with my SOHC.

Incidentally, the '97 OHV torque (225 ft/lbs) peaks at 2800 RPM. The '97 SOHC torque (250 ft/lbs) peaks at 3000 RPM. I would be willing to bet that at 2800 RPM the SOHC is still making at least the 225 ft/lbs the OHV makes. I have had both engines and in the lower RPMs the torque for both engines feels about the same. Its once you get above 3000 RPM that the difference gets noticeable.

 

[95EXP4.0]

Re: Ford Certified Technician

Originally posted by Msupertek
Just a bit of advice, I work on more sohc motors in explorers than any other engine ford makes. I am a ford tech. If you plan on keeping the vehicle be happy you have a ohv engine, if your leasing then what the heck you can go ahead and get the sohc. They constantly need lower intake manifold gaskets put on and nearly all of them even have a recall campaign out on them because of the frequent failure of the timing chain tensioner and gaskets. Its called 00m12, so if you have one stalling on cold starts and you get bad fuel economy take it to your local dealer and have them run you vin on ford oasis, there is a 99% chance the campaign is available for you truck and you can get it fixed for free.

My Msupertek........now that you brought that problem up my fiance has a 2000 sport with a 4.0 sohc and it was having the identical symptoms last winter. She had the intake gaskets replaced at the dealer and I couldn't figure out why that would have something to do with the engine not starting. Infact after she had those gaskets replaced the stupid thing still does it occassionally. And also my neighbor I think has had this same problem I hear him trying to crank his truck on colder days and he has a newer sport with I'm assumming an sohc motor. How exactly would the intake gaskets cause the problem though is my question, not enough vacuum???