Can it be done?? '01 5.0 engine swap in a '97 Mountaineer? 97 blew up!

[dmax5o]

My wife was driving our 97 Mountaineer with 115,000 miles down the road yesterday when smoke started spewing. She stopped and saw oil pooling under the engine. After towing it to a shop it didn't take long with a flashlight to notice the rod and piston sticking through the oil pan. The only thing we ever noticed was a slight ticking noise.

Now to my question. In searching junkyards for a new engine all the 97's I found with 47k-65k miles were $1500-1600. However I found a '01 5.0 with 11k and he only wants $1100.

I'm hoping somebody knows if this is a simple swap and what if any difference their is between a 97 and 01?? Can I just change a few things from the 97 over to the 01?? What all would need to be swapped? I have the engine on hold til tomorrow.

 

[jssong]

i dont think it'll be simple swap because of the computer, headers, etc. i believe the speedo works on a different process on the 01 than with your 97 but cant be sure. im sure someone will enlighten us shortly

 

[Rob_B]

Section525 swapped his body onto a 2001 frame and drive train. Both were V8's, I'm pretty sure he could get you some info. There's a thread about it some where from a few months ago.


Dead Link Removed

 

[section525]

Dmax.. this is a little bit of what you would need to do a successful '01 V8 swap into your '97 Explorer:

1) V8 Radiator and all lines
2) '01 V8 Engine Harness
3) '01 V8 Exhaust Manifolds
4) '01 V8 Exhaust Collectors
5) Basically entire '01 V8 Exhaust (at least to the rear o2 sensors
6) THE '01 V8 Computer
7) Don't forget about the 4R70W tranny, tranny harness, maybe driveshaft?)
8) V8's have the tranny coolers too.
9) Oohh.. V8 motor mounts
10) All nessesary vaccuum lines and what not (if your motor doesn't come with them)
11) Same with the TB, intake, MAF, air filter, etc.
12) The problem with going from a '97 to an '01 is.. in '98 Ford went to the PATS system. It's the anti theft deal that won't let your car start unless you have the tranponder deal in your key. So you'd either have to mess with getting that hooked up right or getting a Chip with the PATS delete from Apton.
13) You'd need the rear axle ABS sensor harness as it also acts as the '01s speedo sensor (your '97 is in your tranny or tcase)

I'm sure theres other things that I'm not thinking of right now. If I was you, I would pass up this motor unless the guy happens to have the majority of the Explorer it came from.

This swap would be a lot of work. It's not a simple bolt in. Most of the time would be going into swapping out the dash harness and computer. However, if you have every part you could possibly need (ie. a donor vehicle) I'd say it is a very realistic project.

You can check out my project here: Dead Link Removed

Mine took about 6 days to complete (by myself). If you had more help, especially from a professional mechanic or something, I'd say you could do yours in about the same time or less.

Is your '97 4X4 or 4X2?

 

[dmax5o]

One more question

Wow! Glad I found you guys before deciding. That is a lot more work than I'm looking for. I just need to get another 5.0 in it so I can sell it. I didn't realize how different the same engine could be.

One other question. They are not requiring a core so I would get to keep my 97 5.0 which really just needs a new shortblock....so, are the longblocks compatible between a 01 and 97 where I could just switch over my 97 headers, upper / lower intake and all the sensors so it could work with my existing harness etc??

 

[Yomie]

Section525 since he already is a 5.0 Mounty alot of that stuff you posted he already has. I don't know if you saw that or not

 

[section525]

Section525 since he already is a 5.0 Mounty alot of that stuff you posted he already has. I don't know if you saw that or not

Thanks Yomie!

Whoa.. I was under the impression it was a six cylinder for some reason.

This would be a cake swap if you're already a V8! Sorry for the confusion! Let me try again.

You'd need to change:

1) GT40 Upper (from 97 to the 01)
2) GT40 Lower (from 97 to the 01)
3) The engine harness (from 97 to the 01)
4) The Crank Shaft Postion Sensor (from 97 to the 01)
5) The TB elbow (from 97 to the 01)

I think thats about it! Also, try to talk them down from the $1100. You can find way better deals than that.

 

[tmsoko]

Also need to add a fuel pressure regulator in the fuel tank and eliminate the return line, as the 1999+ Explorers are returnless fuel systems. OR, you can put the 97 fuel rails on the 2001 engine and run it return style. That is what I did in my Ranger. I am running a 1997 Explorer V8 engine with a 1999 Explorer V8 EECV and using a return style fuel system. No issues so far and I have 13K miles on the swap.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Most 97s had the GT40Ps already on them. I think the changeover date was in March. Since all he needs is the shotblock, he can use the 01 LONGblock, and use the rest of the stuff from the 97, including electronics, transmission, yada yada... Correct me if i'm wrong, but the actual rotating assembly, block and heads are the same from mid 97-01.