4.0 Woes

[murrayexplorer]

Hello friends, I own a 1993 sport trac with somewhere in 300k+ mileage range. It has had new heads put on at about 100k. She has served me quite well but as of late I am noticing the engine is getting awfully tired and runs rough and smokes like a freight train. I have one more year of college and am praying it lasts. Some major engine work seems inevitable. Does anyone have any advice on what would be a better choice: rebuild the original 4.0 or go ahead and find a used 5.0 to put in? If the costs are comparable i assume I'd rather have the 5.0. Any thoughts?

 

[James909]

I would either rebuild the current 4.0 or if it were me I would find a reliable junkyard and get a 4.0 with low mileage and a warranty and swap that in. Dropping a 5.0 in a first gen is not an easy or cheap task so I would say avoid this unless you really want the 5.0. With the 5.0 you would have to swap the pcm, wiring harness, trans, etc.

 

[Willard]

Wait- a 93 sport trac? How's that?

Unless you meant 93 sport?

About the motor, you may be able to find a decent 4.0 long block in the junkyard, which may be the cheapest option here. But the 5 liter would really make for a strong reliable drivetrain...

 

[burtonbrd138]

i was just thinking the same thought as devilboy, A 93 SportTrac? I also agree with the idea of getting an engine from a junkyard. The cost of you switching them is either less or the same as a rebuild but the engine you put in will have considerably less than 300k miles so it will work out well for you

 

[murrayexplorer]

Ok, woops... it's a '93 sport. Well I really would like V8 power and was assuming I drop a carbureted engine so as to bypass all that electrical trouble. You know, just plain and simple, the way they used to do it. I suppose if I stayed with the 4.0 I could swap out the factory gears, I think they are 3.4? or 3.7? Oh I can't remember. I do know that when I found out what size they were I was like, dang, that's no good; those are highway gears. I'd eventually like to run 33's on it, maybe 35's. I feel that anything over 35's are just showing out and aren't really all that practical. Thanks for the feedback guys!

 

[Willard]

A V8 swap to an EFI explorer drivetrain isn't supposed to be all that hard. Search for the user 410Fortune and read his swap thread. He's done it in a BII and knows all about the swap. There's a couple other swaps going on right now too just watch for them.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

I own a 1993 sport trac

Wait- a 93 sport trac? How's that?

A 93 SportTrac

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1271538&postcount=26

I'm sure he meant he drives this. lol. I've always wanted to do this...

 

[MrQ]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1271538&postcount=26

I'm sure he meant he drives this. lol. I've always wanted to do this...

Now I know what mod I want to do!!

 

[rustbucketMI]

I would say it depends on what your plans are and how much work/time you want to put into this. a V8 swap is no small deal. If you just need something to last you thru may then swap in a 4.0. its a tough motor and should last a while. If you have bigger plans then go for the V8, realizing your truck will be out of commision for at least a weekend.

Or there is doing what i did . . . get a new truck, keep the X as a beater truck keeping up with as much maintance as to make it run, and wait till may, and a real job, to give it a full package.

 

[Masterd]

Id say 4.0 for the short term, since a properly built one will go for 200,000+ miles with no real worries.