engine for 98 xlt

[rydrew55]

Hello all,
I am new to this forum and new to explorers.
I have been a long time member of many other car forums and do a lot of work on my cars.
Question.
Which model and year engines will fit a 98 xlt.
I am a little confused if the sohc was an option to the ohv or the only v6 available in the gen 2's (95-01)

I am looking at a project truck with a reported cracked crankshaft. Supposedly needs an engine. The person did not really know if it was just a bad hamonic balancer or a crankshaft. He is only going by what the mechanic told him. I will check it out first.

Thanks,
RYDREW55

 

[black91EB]

Hello all,
I am new to this forum and new to explorers.
I have been a long time member of many other car forums and do a lot of work on my cars.
Question.
Which model and year engines will fit a 98 xlt.
I am a little confused if the sohc was an option to the ohv or the only v6 available in the gen 2's (95-01)

I am looking at a project truck with a reported cracked crankshaft. Supposedly needs an engine. The person did not really know if it was just a bad hamonic balancer or a crankshaft. He is only going by what the mechanic told him. I will check it out first.

Thanks,
RYDREW55

The 95 and 96 explorers only came with the OHV. The SOHC was introduced in 97, and the OHV was used concurrently up until '01. Since it is an XLT, I would bet that it is a SOHC engine.

Any 97-01 SOHC engine will work, provided you swap over all the wiring and sensors from the '98 to the new engine. If it is an OHV, I am 99% sure you can use any 91-01 OHV long block, swapping your intake and exhaust systems on to the new engines. They only made slight changes to the head castings and pistons during the life of the OHV, none of which matter when swapping parts over. I have a 96 engine in my 91 actually, the swap works both ways.

 

[rydrew55]

Thanks, great info.
Can you please explain swapping the wires and sensors?
The truck is a 98. If I put say a 91 engine in it, wouldn't the wires from my truck just stay in the truck and hook to the new engine?
Thanks

 

[black91EB]

yes. However, it is much easier to pull the engine side harness with the engine, as it simply unbolts from the chassis, so you would have to swap it over. Also, if you get a 91-94 engine, you would have to install the cam position sensor from your 98, as those did not use them. Also, it would be wise to avoid headaches to swap things like the crank position sensor, water temp sensor and other such, since they work with your existing computer, whereas the replacement engine's sensors may not.

Another note, if you have the SOHC engine, stick with finding another SOHC engine, rather than trying to adapt a OHV engine into it, and vise versa. It makes for a lot of headaches.

 

[rydrew55]

Great answer. I get it now.
Thanks.
Rydrew55

 

[rydrew55]

OK, I found one. Probably will start next week.
Been looking for a good engine removal thread. Found the sweedish one, (good pics, but rough translation) and a 2wd one (pretty good)

Any other good threads?
Is the 2wd one complete enought for a 4x4?
Any good suggestions?
Thanks