Drivetrain Swap

[72Fins1]

I have a 94 Ford Explorer where the stock A4LD gave up at 149XXX miles and the 4.0 engine is burning oil so I want to throw a 5.0 from a 90s F150 and then switch it carb power instead of fuel injection. I also intend on butchering the floors enough to get a rebuilt C-6 transmission and transfer case in place of sticking with 4.0 and another A4LD. I have a 72 Chevy C/30 with a 14bolt full float axle and a heavy duty six leaf pack which I use for hauling junk metal and trash. So my question is can I pull this off will the frame withstand this kind of use and if not can I reinforce it? If anybody has any information about this it would be greatly appreciated and thanks for viewing.

 

[RangerX]

Plenty people have swapped in a 5.0, with the corresponding trans and tcase, and plenty people have swapped in 3/4 ton and 1 ton axles. I'd browse around and read up on their experiences.

 

[natenkiki2004]

I haven't seen anyone with frame issues on an Explorer even with severe offroading, SAS in the front and general abuse. That said, if it was me and I had access to a welder, I'd box in parts of the frame, add crossmembers and make sure everything could handle the abuse.

 

[jd4242]

Just a fyi..the a4ld wont bolt to a 5.0 anyways and doubt your have to do much to get a c6 to go in..

Also a fyi,doubt your rings are bad,probably just valve seals which can be changed with the motor still in and assembled, i can change them in under a hour..the bottom ends on the 4.0 are darn near bullet proof if regular oil changes are done

 

[malohnes]

You might consider using the R2 manual tranny and t-case form a early 90's f150 to that 302/5.0L. Its a good combo and certainly up to the task. A lot less worka dn there are lots of them in junkyards all over.

 

[72Fins1]

You might consider using the R2 manual tranny and t-case form a early 90's f150 to that 302/5.0L. Its a good combo and certainly up to the task. A lot less worka dn there are lots of them in junkyards all over.

Yeah I don't really want a manual transmission. One thing I forgot to mention this earlier but my transfer case is a stick shift so can I have a stick made that will work? Or am I better off looking for a push button one?

 

[jd4242]

Yeah I don't really want a manual transmission. One thing I forgot to mention this earlier but my transfer case is a stick shift so can I have a stick made that will work? Or am I better looking for a push button one?

Pretty sure your tcase wont work on a C6 either. .you would need a new trans and tcase..someone else can confirm that tho

 

[72Fins1]

Pretty sure your tcase wont work on a C6 either. .you would need a new trans and tcase..someone else can confirm that tho

Pretty sure your tcase wont work on a C6 either. .you would need a new trans and tcase..someone else can confirm that tho

The stock factory transfer case that went with the A4LD was a push button model that worked fine but I'm not planning on using it anyways. The C-6 transfer case is the stick shift model. Sorry I should've been more specific in my previous post.

 

[jd4242]

The stock factory transfer case that went with the A4LD was a push button model that worked fine but I'm not planning on using it anyways. The C-6 transfer case is the stick shift model. Sorry I should've been more specific in my previous post.

Aww gotcha

 

[jd4242]

Personally id do a compression check and see what it shows,then do valve seals and drive it for another 149k especially if it has a new trans..id spend the money on gears,lift and tires if its a offroad truck.

You wont gain much if any power from going to a 5.0 unless its built,the 4.0 is a torquey motor.

Unless you just really want to swap but its alot of work for minimum gains

 

[72Fins1]

I plan on building the engine enough to get some pulling power for my C/30 Chevrolet truck trailer which I use for scrap metal hauling and usually I run with at least 1 ton if not more at a time. I know I can have the A4LD upgraded for like over 2 grand but since I grabbed the C-6 trans and transfer case from the junkyard and I contacted the owner and he junked the truck because he wanted a 460 to pull his skid loader and the fuel injectors in the 351 were wearing down or getting clogged (I forget which reason he told me since it was a few years ago when I pulled it) But should I look for the push button or have the stick shift for the 4WD I would rather try to keep the interior as stock as possible but if it's not possible I'm willing to try and make it work.

 

[72Fins1]

So I've called a few shops and a Ford dealer which haven't helped much at all so far. So I'm planning on going to the junkyard to try and find a V8 Explorer. I'm thinking the heater core housing might be different since the 5.0 is bigger than the 4.0 On the passenger side I need the brake booster to go towards the left side but I've been told that I can't relocate the fuse block that goes through the firewall into the engine bay to try and get the width of the C-6 transmission that I want to swap in. Is that correct or not? What parts are different that I should be looking to pull to get the 5.0 into my 94? If anybody has any information that could help me out at all that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.