96 Engine swap questions

[glued2it]

Fist off I have never pulled an engine . Like everything else, I dive in head first, and ask myself "how hard can it be?"

I expect this thread get really long before it's all said and done.

So far everything has pretty good couple knuckle busters and rounded bolts.
I have yet to run into any major problems As I know I will.

I'm having trouble reaching the top engine-tranny bolts. Maybe it's something simple I overlooked after hours of frustration. Either way I stopped right there before grabbing the BFH and fixing it for good.

I have one bolt on the passanger side next to the tranny dipstick holder.
I see another bolt that the dipstick holder bracket is attached to.

Any tricks to getting to these bugers?

 

[glued2it]

I do have a wobble extention and a swivel but these suckers are so tight I don't want to bust the swivel.
I'll take a fresh stab at it here shorly.

The problem I'm sure about is the very top bolt.

I was thinking that that it only had 6 bolts. The one on top would make 7.

 

[410Fortune]

First off is this V6? or v8? Do you have a book to help?
Is the truck manual or auto?
2wd or 4wd?

two choices for bellhousing bolts:

there are two top center, to make 8 total.
the top two /three bolts also retain the 02 sensor wiring harness, the trans vent tube, and possibly the trans dipstick, depending V6 or V8

Remove your center console and get them with extensions and wobbly
or
from around the back/top of the engine



Do you have the intakes removed from the engine?

see this thread for some tips, I am doing a 98 engine right now:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=238636&highlight=98+99

 

[glued2it]

First off is this V6? or v8? Do you have a book to help?
Is the truck manual or auto?
2wd or 4wd?

two choices for bellhousing bolts:

there are two top center, to make 8 total.
the top two /three bolts also retain the 02 sensor wiring harness, the trans vent tube, and possibly the trans dipstick, depending V6 or V8

Remove your center console and get them with extensions and wobbly
or
from around the back/top of the engine



Do you have the intakes removed from the engine?

see this thread for some tips, I am doing a 98 engine right now:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=238636&highlight=98+99

4.0 Auto. 4x4

The 02 sensor is just dangling and the coolant line was zipped tied to the dip stick holder instead of bolted to the engine. No telling what happened there.

I do have a chilton but I can't find it.
I took off the intake hose removed the radiator all fuel lines and wiring harness's and hoses.
All I have left is the tranny bolts, trans coolant line mount and engine mount.

 

[410Fortune]

did you get the starter? how about the manifold to y pipe bolts?
It helps to loosen the trans mount also

You are going to have to turn the engine over by hand and get the 4 torque converter bolts

the transmission dipstick should be retained by the pass side upper bellhousing bolt

cover all holes and hoses, mark all the bolts

 

[glued2it]

did you get the starter? how about the manifold to y pipe bolts?
It helps to loosen the trans mount also

You are going to have to turn the engine over by hand and get the 4 torque converter bolts

the transmission dipstick should be retained by the pass side upper bellhousing bolt

cover all holes and hoses, mark all the bolts

O yea the starter and y pipes are also removed.

Yes that's one of the bolts I can't seem to get to.

The engine won't turn so how am I going to do that?

I didn't know I had to un seize it first?

 

[glued2it]

I was able to remove all the bolts top/back.

I removed the dip stick to get the final bolt.

I sprayed some PB blaster in the plug holes to try to get it to unseize.

Whats the best way to get it to break loose?

 

[glued2it]

I finally got everything switched over to the new engine.
I'll be ready to drop it in weather permitting.

All I need to do now is pull the plugs and mount the levler.

Since I've never done this before, is there anything I should know before stabbing it?