Backwards swap question.

[Q-TIP]

I am very tired of my V8's terrible mileage. Not only that but the V8 doesn't seem to produce enough power for me to consider it a huge improvement over the SOHC for my purposes (I never tow anything over 3500 pounds). My question is: has anyone else gone from a V8 to a V6 and how much would be involved?

 

[dogfriend]

From what I have seen before on the forum, you wouldn't get much better mpg (km/L) with the 4.0 engine.

It would be a pretty involved swap because you would need to swap the engine, transmission, PCM (powertrain control module) and the related harnesses.

 

[Spdrcer34]

I have a solution:

Find someone that has a 4.0L SOHC that wants to swap to a 5.0L.

Park the Explorers next to each other, and start swapping parts.

It's a plug and play swap. All required parts will be there. No suprises, really.

They will help you, you will help them.

Ryan

 

[wisekise]

yeah, come down to kentucky and ill supply the shop, most tools, and bourbon, and trade you engines

 

[gavin]

I am very tired of my V8's terrible mileage. Not only that but the V8 doesn't seem to produce enough power for me to consider it a huge improvement over the SOHC for my purposes (I never tow anything over 3500 pounds). My question is: has anyone else gone from a V8 to a V6 and how much would be involved?

being in Canada, I assume you have the AWD?
you will get a power improvement and better gas mileage by removing the BW4404 AWD t-case and going with the selectable BW4406 t-case :biggthump

 

[Q-TIP]

yeah, come down to kentucky and ill supply the shop, most tools, and bourbon, and trade you engines

When can we start? It'll only take me three or so days to drive my explorer down to ya!

I thought about the transfer case swap but in all honesty I figure it to be a bit of a pain for what it will end up netting me. Unless of course they actually make a huge (~3-5 MPG) difference.

 

[Four0Sport]

my 302 gets far better gas mileage than any of my 4.0s ever did. the power is adequate and the torque is amazing. how many miles are on your 5.0? has it been regularly maintained? time for a tune up?

 

[Q-TIP]

it has about 208 000 km on it. Just did a tune up, made a bit of a difference but not a huge difference. It has been maintained like a princess, I don't start the thing before I check fluid levels (mild OCD anyone?), however the PS pump is on the verge of death.

I may just replace the pump and sell it off for a few thousand bucks and grab myself a newer Colorado or Canyon.

 

[Four0Sport]

ew ew ew at the colorado. we use them for delivery vehicles, same problems as the old s-10s. ball joints, wheel bearings, door hinges.. all fall off! if only they built the colorado like they build the H3. that would be an awesome truck.

no matter what you get, youre gonna miss the feel of the 5.0 Explorer.

 

[Q-TIP]

ew ew ew at the colorado. we use them for delivery vehicles, same problems as the old s-10s. ball joints, wheel bearings, door hinges.. all fall off! if only they built the colorado like they build the H3. that would be an awesome truck.

no matter what you get, youre gonna miss the feel of the 5.0 Explorer.

I'll keep that in mind. I am just tired of hooking up my trailer to move my dirtbike. I like the Rangers but they have no room for passengers or gear inside the cab. I wish Ford would build a crew cab version.

 

[Four0Sport]

if they bring the world ranger platform over, they will have a crew cab midsized truck. but theyve been talking about killing the US ranger and bringing over the world version for like 5 yrs now.

 

[gavin]

I thought about the transfer case swap but in all honesty I figure it to be a bit of a pain for what it will end up netting me. Unless of course they actually make a huge (~3-5 MPG) difference.

I believe an engine swap would be a bigger pain than a t-case swap

 

[CDW6212R]

The 302 has less than hoped for fuel mileage due to the poor exhaust, low compression, and compromised PCM tune. It could be much better, but nobody is going to spend big money to rebuild the engine with higher compression, and the rest, for improved mileage. The value of the trucks is about what all of that would cost.

The SOHC has higher compression and better exhaust from the start, that's its big advantage. They still need a lot of money spent on upgrades and tuning to maximize fuel economy.

For the costs you should just maximize what you have. The 302 and 4R70W trans are much more reliable than the V6 parts.

 

[Q-TIP]

Thanks for the replies guys. The only reason I was considering the swap was because I thought it would get me better mileage than the T-case. However in light of new information it may just be better to keep the 5.0 and try the transfer case swap. I've read a few how-tos on here and it seems easy enough, but in my experience NOTHING ever goes as fast as I think it will.

 

[Four0Sport]

you might want to try an exhaust, intake, maybe contact Henson Performance and get a custom tune. i forget his username on the board.. do some searchin

 

[wisekise]

damn, there goes my 5.0