29Rat
Member
- Joined
- October 12, 2018
- Messages
- 35
- Reaction score
- 8
- City, State
- “Optional”
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2003 Explorer Eddie Bauer
Well, 230k miles and the timing chain gave out on my '03 4.0L without warning. I'd like to put a used engine back in the car, already have the old one out, and figure $800 or less for an engine with under 150k miles is worth it, and for sure put new gears, chain, and tensioners in it. I'm pretty frugal, so figure this is my cheapest option, being that the car is in tip top shape. The valves are bent, need to pull the heads, but I can guarantee the pistons are going to have some dents in them, and not worth the risk of using, being so the price of new (used) heads, unless these heads are rebuildable, which is unlikely, and how much time it takes to pull the engine.
I've tried looking up engine compatibility, but there's a lot of "this year should work" and not "this year will work". I'm looking at either buying a parts vehicle with a bad transmission, wrecked, etc. or a complete used engine, which is easy enough to find on ebay, craigslist, marketplace, etc. My car has the 8th vin digit as a "K", and is flex fuel. All I need is a long block that is compatible with my year. What years of engines can I use? And what's the difference between 2wd and 4wd engines? Must I use a 4wd engine?
I've tried looking up engine compatibility, but there's a lot of "this year should work" and not "this year will work". I'm looking at either buying a parts vehicle with a bad transmission, wrecked, etc. or a complete used engine, which is easy enough to find on ebay, craigslist, marketplace, etc. My car has the 8th vin digit as a "K", and is flex fuel. All I need is a long block that is compatible with my year. What years of engines can I use? And what's the difference between 2wd and 4wd engines? Must I use a 4wd engine?