'99 5.0 into a '97 4.0

[SGR1600]

Just wondering, as oposed to putting in a v8 from some other vehicle, would it be an easier (less fabing) job to put an explorer v8 into one that had the 4.0? I'm looking at a 5.0 with the starter , alternator , intake , exhaust , pipes , and 02 sensors . the manifold , motor mounts , wiring , brackets and computer and I'm wondering what else would be needed to swap out my 4.0? I've never really planned on doing a v8 swap, as it seemed like far too much fabrication, but it never occured to me to use an explorer's v8.

To recap: do people do this? how hard (comparitivly speaking) is it? what else is needed (aside from what's listed above)?

Thanks.

 

[rydinhigh]

Its not worth it if you ask me. You would need engine, trans, ecu and would have to redo the whole 4x4 system to an AWD one. The 4x4 system is all electrical and the ECU for the v8 won't have the 4x4 system in it since the v8's are AWD. This is also assuming you are not talking about the 4.6l v8 which won't fit at all in the engine bay.

 

[boominXplorer]

its only worth it if your car has sentimental value and wouldn't want a different one.

 

[section525]

No offense to anyone, but, never ever ever listen to someone tell you it's not worth it to do a project like this. How do they know? If I would have listened to people say that I would have never done my 2wd to awd conversion costing me a whopping -$135. That's right, I made money by converting my truck to awd as well as putting in a newer motor, tranny, etc, with only 1,400 miles on it.

I hear people talk about this stuff all the time on ftw.com. Think of all the fun these people are missing out on because they listened to someone else tell them not to do it. I have turned every nut and bolt present on my Explorer and given the chance I would do it all again.

My 2 cents.

PS. This swap would be cake.

 

[boominXplorer]

Originally posted by section525


PS. This swap would be cake.

That is only if you have the time and knoledge to do so.

 

[NOTAJP]

Originally posted by boominXplorer
That is only if you have the time and knoledge to do so.

Then you shouldn't do anything you don't know how to do in the first place. V8 swaps are done all the time.

Don't forget the radiator. I don't know about the newer ones but I'm sure you'll need better cooling. There's a guy with what you need, check out the 4sale threads. Might have some better answers for you also.

 

[section525]

Originally posted by NOTAJP
Then you shouldn't do anything you don't know how to do in the first place. V8 swaps are done all the time.

Don't forget the radiator. I don't know about the newer ones but I'm sure you'll need better cooling. There's a guy with what you need, check out the 4sale threads. Might have some better answers for you also.

Exactly. espnfreak has the goods.. but I think it's sold now. But it's all in my garage right now if someone wants to pay me to lose it.

Anyway, he had everything he would have needed to do this exact conversion. Since 2nd gens came with 5.0L this is very close to being just a bolt-in. Plus, this would be a way better option than buying $1200 V6 trannies every 50k miles.

 

[SGR1600]

Thanks section. I have to tell you that from the day I joined here your tuck has been my inspiration (can you tell ?). I came upon it one day, it was a green 96 XLT, my ex's twin, and I loved how your mods came out. I follow all the work you continue to do, and think it's all really great.

So maybe you could give me some details about this job. I'm not seriously considering it if it's not going to be a positive addition, but for even a litle gain, the work is half the fun. Thanks.

 

[DocVijay]

Originally posted by section525
PS. This swap would be cake.

Bingo. The V6 and V8 Explorers are virtually identical except for the engines. The swap is almost a simple bolt on. VERY little modification needs to be done to fit the V8 into a 2nd gen Explorer. I'm also planning on doing this swap. A 1999 or 2000 V8 will drop right in the front of my Sport.

The easiest way to do the swap is to get an entire donor vehicle. Then you should have all the parts necessary to do the swap; engine, tranny, ECU, wiring harness, and all the accessories.

 

[SGR1600]

Now I just have to find a good reason for someone to donate a donor vehicle to me . You're right though, that would make life easier.

well, time to start looking around.

 

[SGR1600]

Would it be better to try to find a "better" v8? I mean there are a lot out there, and I've read about some people doing them here, some having months worth of problems. Are there any other v8's that either are almost as easy to do, or have so much more power that the added difficulty is well worth it?

 

[espnfreak]

id use a 302 from a explorer and maybe mod it out, keep things simple (thats what i was planning). Then after i got it working, id drive it for awhile, and maybe do a full engine build up down the road like section did. thats the path id take if i were you, get the stuff working first.

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

oh my god..i would jump on that deal(the moter with everything)..seeing's as how's it's almost bolt on..but then again my X will be sitting in the garage for the next year 1/2 anyhow..hmm i just need to find a v8 X that's hit in the rear..lol

 

[SGR1600]

Originally posted by espnfreak
id use a 302 from a explorer

The 302 is the v8 that came in the explorers?

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

yeah..5.0=302(duh..lol..sorry)

i just had to do it..lol
(my dad's 97 X)

 

[DocVijay]

The best motor to use is the 302 (5.0) V8 from another Explorer. You could use a Mustang motor, but the accessories are a little different. Just use the Explorer motor and tranny.

One importnat thing to remember is that you can use most Mustang 5.0 performance parts on the Explorer V8, as they are pretty much the same engine. After I do the swap and drive it for a while, I'm planningon building up the motor.

I'll be getting a 347 stroker kit, AFR heads, Trick Flow intake manifolds and nitrous spray manifold spacer, as well as a SC.

I won't be doing this st first, as I'd like to just get the V8 in and make sure it runs perfectly before I go and screw it up. Do the basic swap first, and then do the performance mods after you are ABSOLUTELY sure that all the potential bugs are worked out. Besides, you'll be very happy with the added performance to leave it alone for at least a short while.

 

[SGR1600]

Here's an interesting thought: For someone like me, whose only suspension mods are a new leafpack, shackles and a tt, wouldn't it be easier to simply remove the body off my explorer and put it down on the engine/chassis of the donner v8? Talk about bolt-on...

p.s. I have a body lift so the bolts are new and will come out real easily

other note- obviously this assumes that I would have a donner vehicle, rather than just the engine,tranny,tcase and other parts.

eh?

 

[section525]

Dead Link Removed
That sounds like a great idea!

Dead Link Removed

 

[SGR1600]

doh! well I knew if it was as good as it sounded, someone had to have done it...

 

[SGR1600]

Section-
I read your writeup and have a few questions. For me with a 97 4.0, what year does the donnor have to be so that the computer will be plug and play? Same question for the fuel system vss and egr... I assume 96-98?