Engine Swap or Blower?

[typhoon43]

Hey gang, My 97 4.0 SOHC Explorer just isn't cutting the mustard. Ford informed me my tranny is shot and needs replacement. Due to this, and me not being able to sell my truck (huge stereo permanantly mounted) I am looking into an engine/tranny overhall. The 4.0 SOHC has ZERO torque if ya ask me.

My question: Which is easier/will produce better results:

1) Swap a 5.0 and tranny in there (my friend says you can drop the new 4.6's in there but I haven't heard of anyone doing it). Can I use my same tranny? (rebuilt of course)

2) Rebuild the tranny and slap a Vortech/Paxton/Whipple setup in it.

I just need to fel a little more power and grunt. With 400+ pounds of stereo in the rear it just feels like a slug.

I searched for 'engine swap' here but didn;t come across any real details as to what the cost of dropping a 5.0 in there is. I figure around 3 grand for the Supercharger (I've done enough Turbo installs that I think I can swing the installation).

Engine has 99k on it if that makes a difference.. I'm not sure how it would like 8-9 psi after that many miles.

Any help appreciated fellas.
Thanks,

 

[expo5.0]

your gonna want to do a swap with a new tranny.

the sohc only has one charger option so far and its development isn't done. its not likely imo that you will get the power you want from a sohc without a massive rebuild and higher overall cost than a 5.0. look for a complete awd, tranny, and engine in a 5.0 explorer and swap it all.

what do you have in the back for 400 lbs? i think i got you beat weight wise, but that still has got to be something impressive i'd like to see some pics or at least hear about it

 

[boominXplorer]

- they have not came out with a blower for your car
- the easiest swap would be a 5.0 but that is still VERY difficult to do and you would need tranny, motor, ecu and wirering harness
-best would be to rebuild your tranny and do some little power mods like borla exhaust and KKM intake. That will give you some more low end.

 

[expo5.0]

bolt ons as a rule will hurt torque, most all of them move the power band up a little higher and anyways won't make a real difference. it sounds like he's serious about making some power.

btw- the cost of the 5.0 parts you need shouldn't be more than 2,000 if you find a rolled truck or something like that and you could even sell other parts off of it to recoup some of it. there will be tons of little problems you run into as with any engine swap but you CAN count on doing it for 4,000 if you can do the work yourelf. also if you do some mods to the motor before you install it they will be much easier and cheaper to do. I'd install a new cam, heads, roller rockers, etc. before you drop it in- only cost another couple hundred bucks probably less than a thou

 

[typhoon43]

Gah, not what I was hoping to hear. So all V-8 X's are AWD? Hmm.. reminds me of my old Typhoon. Guess I could try for Exhaust and Intake. Who's doing the build for the Supercharger? I'm thinking a 5.0+ECU and tranny pull from a V-8 is gonna run me atleast 3-4 grand... ugggh.

As for my stereo.. here is my current setup:
6 JL12W-3's with 2 MMATS D100HC's. 220AMp Alt, 3 Yellow Tops, yada yada.. Have 3 RE x.. 15's and 3 MTX 1501D's sitting in my living room about to replace it . I want to get the engine/tranny done first though

 

[JOHN V.]

We are getting very close on our Eaton based supercharger kit for the V6 SOHC. We are still developing the kit for the 97-00 Explorers. We have several vehicles with the kit installed including , 2 Rangers, 2 Sport Tracs & 2 02 Explorers.

 

[expo5.0]

not all 5.0 x's are awd- just thought it was worth doing that along with it. some are 2wd.

that system looks great, i wish i could give up that much cargo room. i'm working on my install now and its rough trying to leave room for golf clubs and stuff. i bet that sounds great, and those x.. will definitely destroy that stuff you have now. That will be very, very loud- how do you plan on getting enough current for 3 of those amps though? sounds like time for extra alternators

 

[JOHN V.]

Our kit uses an Eaton M62 fourth generation model manufactured for us by Magnuson Products. This kit is design to use all of the factory smog equipment including EGR etc. We have started the CARB approval process for states that require emissions approval.

 

[typhoon43]

John V.. NO TEASING!
I am a boost junkie (I'll never forgive myself for selling my Typhoon). Can you give ANY roundabout estimates of HP gain? Inter/Aftercooled or just 6-8 pound pulley stuff? Please tell me now. I can wait a while and just get the Tranny fixed if the kit will be out in the next 6 months or so. I love BoooOOOOOST.

Stereo ?'s: I have a 220 Amp PowerMaster Alternator, 15 Farad Capacitor, and will be going with 4 Gel Cell batteries. It should hold up. Now if I can stop blowing the sunroof out

 

[expo5.0]

John how much hp are you making with those kits? tq?

 

[expo5.0]

that should do the current alright, but for only one of those amps to my subs and then about 1200 rms for my other speakers i'm running a 200 amp alt, and two svr batteries as auxiliary.

have you found the 15 farad cap works well? i've always tried to stay away from small caps certainly for good reason, but i'm undecided on the larger ones.

 

[typhoon43]

Teased by the Supercharging gods.. ARRR!

The Big cap is just there for backup. My Triple battery setup would hold around 11.5 while I was driving (have a Dakota Digital Voltmeter on my rear bank). At a light I could pound them into the low 10's (not good). Oh well, no truning back now..

GIVE ME SUPERCHARGER SPECS! I'm dying here!!

 

[RFR2212]

How do ya say ya gotta keep the truck b/c of permanent stereo install? From what i can tell, what looks to be yer 6 jl 12's is permanent, but in the RE thread, you said yer getting 3-RE 15s which leads me to believe, the system has to all get redone, and ya can't just retrofit 6-12s to 3-15s... any clarification on this?

 

[typhoon43]

I can see where that is confusing., What you can't see is that I have had to cut both rear quarter panels above the wheel wells on both sides to accomadate my batteries. Combined with the fact I blew my Sunroof out to the point it is now Epoxied in, and I cracked 2 of the steel support beams in the roof and now have 1/2 MDF and 2 layers of Fatmat in the roof, the thing just isn't in any condition to sell without the stereo in it. So yes, the 6 12's come out and an entire new box/ amp rack is being built for the 3 x.. 15's. I just figure if I'm going ot keep my baby, I'm gonna keep her but keep her fast.

 

[RFR2212]

Mmmkay, that does clarify it, thanks.

 

[JOHN V.]

It looks like we have two topics going.

Back to the superchargers!

This is not a tease bud. We have three vehicles in the SEMA show that will feature the X-Charger. Sport Truck magazine is doing an installation article on the supercharger. Joe Pettitt from Primedia was on hand to cover the project, very cool guy.

A recent dyno run on a Sport Trac by Brian from Apten in St.Louis pulled 221.9 RWHP & 249.6 TORQUE. After Brian worked his tuning magic he managed 244.7 RWHP & 276.2 rear wheel torque! He will be supplying the special chip for our kit.

 

[JOHN V.]

Here is a picture of the complete kit. It will include a fuel injector upgrade (30lb), high pressure fuel pump and Pro-M 80mm Mass Air Sensor. It will also include everything required for the installation.

By the way, the speaker system in the photo is awesome! Around here we focus on MORE POWER!

 

[JOHN V.]

Here is the Sport Trac that recieved the supercharger. It will also get a more appearance upgrades like the hood scoop, air dam & grille. I will have more pictures after the SEMA Show.

 

[CarFreak146]

Hey John V.
When's the kit for the 1st Gen OHV kits going to go into development?? I'd rather buy one from you than somebody else. Just Wondering.

 

[expo5.0]

i'm not knocking the kit, but i can see a 4,000 dollar 5.0 swap making 300 hp and 340 tq n/a and