Vette76
Active Member
- Joined
- March 8, 2011
- Messages
- 76
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Maine
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 02 XLT 4.0L & 97 XLT 5.0L
Sorry to start 'another' thread on engine options...
I have an 02 Explorer with the 4.0L SOHC and automatic transmission. Although I have absolutely loved the way this vehicle has driven since I've owned it, once it hit 125,000 miles I have run into all the problems for this model...the transmission grenaded so we put in a new one ($2500 all in). 300 miles later the camshaft tensioner on the left bank grenaded...no warning. My local Ford dealer tells me they have only worked on THREE Explorer SOHC's in the ten years they have owned the dealership and two of them grenaded. My mechanic buddy that I take everything to damn near pissed himself when we took off the valve cover and started fishing out plastic pieces from the engine. He literally told me that he didn't have the stomach to take on the job after talking to several Ford garages and never seeing anything like this in the 25 years he has been in business.
Now I have extremely LOW expectations here. I'm wondering if there is/are ANY other engine swap option for this vehicle other than another 02 4.0L SOHC engine? (which seem to be very rare due to the problem that my engine has displayed)
I am looking for the EASIEST swap possible. Not sure if there is any other
4.0L from any other year that would bolt in with the least amount of problems. I don't care if the engine is from a much older vehicle or is the OHV design.
Please help!
I have an 02 Explorer with the 4.0L SOHC and automatic transmission. Although I have absolutely loved the way this vehicle has driven since I've owned it, once it hit 125,000 miles I have run into all the problems for this model...the transmission grenaded so we put in a new one ($2500 all in). 300 miles later the camshaft tensioner on the left bank grenaded...no warning. My local Ford dealer tells me they have only worked on THREE Explorer SOHC's in the ten years they have owned the dealership and two of them grenaded. My mechanic buddy that I take everything to damn near pissed himself when we took off the valve cover and started fishing out plastic pieces from the engine. He literally told me that he didn't have the stomach to take on the job after talking to several Ford garages and never seeing anything like this in the 25 years he has been in business.
Now I have extremely LOW expectations here. I'm wondering if there is/are ANY other engine swap option for this vehicle other than another 02 4.0L SOHC engine? (which seem to be very rare due to the problem that my engine has displayed)
I am looking for the EASIEST swap possible. Not sure if there is any other
4.0L from any other year that would bolt in with the least amount of problems. I don't care if the engine is from a much older vehicle or is the OHV design.
Please help!