Keep the 4.0L or not...? Go with the 5.0L or not...?

[ohe_boy]

Engine hasn't crapped out on me yet (has about 148K miles on it now) but I figured I'd start planning my next move before it does.

Just wondering what you guys think about the OHV 4.0L? Should I keep it (rebuilt or crate engine) or go for the 5.0L 302 V8? I've been thinking of staying with the 4.0 V6 cause its a lot easier on gas/milage compared to the 5.0 V8. Plus it'll bolt right up versus modifying the engine compartment to fit the V8.

But the V8 has a lot more power, compared to the stock V6, that'll just complement the solid axle swap I just did. Giving me the power I need to move the Explorer on and off road.

Or would the 4.0L have enough power I need with maybe some upgrades (ie. air intake, TB, better spark plugs, SUPERCHARGER )

I've also been contemplating on going with the 700r4 tranny swap which will include the adapters from the 4.0 or 5.0 from advanced adapters.

Just wanna know the pros and cons of each and your experiences with the two.

 

[ohe_boy]

Would a 4.0 SOHC swap out from another year be better then keeping the ohv 4.0l?

 

[Zer0Kool7]

I have the 4.0l sohc and I can say that I wish I had the 5.0L real bad. Make it easier for pulling my boat, passing power etc. if you feel like your ever gonna want extra power, the 5.0L might be the way to go. as far as gas mileage, mines already horrible, 15mpg or so, so id be willing to bet the 5.0L isnt gonna be to far off from that anyway. and if it is, id be willing to pay a little more for the extra hp. just my 2cents, might help you decide, might not.

 

[Halfnuts]

The sohc is trouble brewing compared to the v8. The 302 will give you easily 100k hard, off-road miles. My guess, if you get a *brand new* sohc motor, you'll be lucky to get 75k hard miles out of it.
I lost my '99 ex thanks to the cam chain tensioner problem after 100k nice-and-easy street miles.

 

[ohe_boy]

Thanks guys for your input. They're really helpful.


Anymore input out there?

 

[TekMan05]

I drive a 5.0 with 121,130 miles on original motor and tranny and I'm still going Very strong. Been on many barn roads and since I started driving it daily from about 2 years ago I've been a spirited driver High way or street? Although I think a tranny flush wouldn't hurt.

 

[ohe_boy]

The 5.0 does sound promising...and i have a friend who has one laying around. Also the 5.0 seems to have a lot more aftermarket upgrades compared to our 4.0 OHVs.

 

[410Fortune]

its really up to you

The OHV 4.0L is as reliable as the 5.0L IMO
the weakness comes in the transmissions
The bigger bonus to having a FSB under your hood is the options you have for transmissions.

You could consider the C5/4 behind a 4.0L, the 700r4 behind the 4.0L or go V8 and choose from many choices.
I often suggest people who are building a 4x4 rig decide on a transfer case first, this narrows the choices for transmissions, which thus narrows what engines you can use, or at least give it some thought.

The 5.0L conversion has been done every way possible, from $500 over the weekend hack job, to 450HP with a 2 barrel carb or with EFI and late model injection and engine management.

I think that when Ford put the 5.0L in the explorer, they made your job about 50 times easier, and the GT-40p for the explorer is a damn fine 5.0L many agree the best 5.0L Ford ever build into production cars...

Me? For the $$$ I had in my 4.0L, mods, and transmissions I could have had the 5.0L a long time ago...it took me 6 months (waiting for $$$ for more parts) and about $6500, I will never look back!
4.0L = great engine
5.0L = great engine

Skip the supercharger idea unless you want more problems IMO
The question should really start behind the engine, unless you can live with the 3 speed C5/4 behind the 4.0L or can get a good Mazda 5 speed to hold up I would seriously consider the V8.....

For my BII if I could live without overdrive it would likely be a OHV still with a built C4 behind it, but now that I have the V8 and 4r70w I have ZERO regrets and the plans for more mods continues..only thing I would change is ditch my BW1354 t case in favor of something a little more beefy and with lower gears (Dana 20 or BW4406, or straight to Atlas)

Nice solid axle BTW

What do you use this truck for?

 

[ohe_boy]

Thanks for your helpful advice and input 410.

initially, i had planned on keeping the BW1354 t-case (for now anyway till i can save up for an atlas II) a rebuilt 700r4, and keeping the 4.0 OHV since EVERYTHING would be the same, wires and all. But the question of beefing up the engine to a 5.0 floated around my head for awhile and wondered if thats a better choice. So thats where I am at right now. Trying to decided what would be best.

I use this thing to get to and from work M-F and use it sometimes on the weekends to run errands and haul stuff. When I do go offroading with this though,it seems to hold up pretty good ( i guess, I never had anything to compare it to). But since I wanted to replace my engine with a rebuilt one, maybe, I should go for a little more power and torque and go 5.0. I mostly notice the 4.0 weakness when I go uphill on road. I figured maybe keep the 4.0 since its a daily driver and just add some performance accessories to bring up the torque and power. Haha, there are none for our 4.0 OHV, or at least I can't find any performance upgrades. Which leaves me to go for another V6 or 5.0 that has performance upgrades.

I know you said that the 4.0 OHV is reliable and I believe that it is, but how can i get a little more power out of it if there's no aftermarket items? go 5.0 maybe?

 

[410Fortune]

there are aftermarket items for making power with a 4.0L, but its expensive!

MAS, TB, ported intakes, headers, exhaust, chip, camshaft, head porting/matching, just like any 4 stroke you can make it pump more air and make pore power.

The $ vs HP gains are minimal with the 4.0L though....I was always happy with the OHV in my BII, but the transmissions are another story....

 

[ohe_boy]

I have a friend who has a 302 out of a '93 Mustang. I think he said that it has 76,000 miles to it and would sell it to me pretty cheap.

I'll do some research on this engine and see how much work it will take to do this swap. This may be a possible route....

He also has a C4 laying around and was wondering if this would be a better swap compared to the 700r4. I'm sure someone around here did a swap (302 & C4) like this...?

 

[ohe_boy]

think I'm gonna wait and look for a v8 explorer...