More 5.0 swap questions

[Havalilsi]

My truck has been over heating for a while and it finally took a dump Christmas week. I had a rusted out freeze plug and I had to pul the motor to get it in. I took off the heads and they're both cracked. I had a blown head gasket and water was going into the combustion chanber in both heads, and the water channels were all clogged. The block is screwed and the transwission is slipping bad right around 15 MPH and almost non existent in reverse.

I'm thinking its going to be pretty expensive to get all this fixed. I'm thinking this might be a good time to do a swap to a V-8, I'm thinking the cost has to be close if not leaning more in favor of the v-8 swap to be cheaper...or am I dreaming.

My truck is a 98 with a OHV and RWD, what would be the best truck to look out for to do the swap. Does it matter if the truck I got was an AWD model? ie Mountie?

I'm in south Florida, does anyone know where I could look to get a full truck to do the swap?

Any help would be greatly appreciated to get my truck back on the road,

 

[apuszczalowski]

Its always the best to get the full donor truck in the swap cause its much more convenient to do a swap when you have all the parts needed.

I'm assuming by RWD you mean its a 2wd so it would more then likely be much easier to get another 2wd since the AWD will have a transfer case and need a front axle and driveshaft to get AWD, otherwise you may need a 2wd tranny without the t-case.

I have never done this swap before though, so don't take my word for it

 

[2000StreetRod]

successful swap thread

This thread describes a successful V6 to V8 swap: Need help with my V8 swap Several swaps have been documented on this forum and several of us are planning to do one. If you decide to do it you will get lots of helpful advice.

 

[Havalilsi]

Thanks for the link.

I have a 2WD model, do I have to make sure the donor truck is a 2WD model also or is a AWD or 4WD model ok to get. I have seen more Mercury V8 vs Explorere V8s online, but they seem to all be AWD. And at a last resort, how hard would it be to swap from 2WD to AWD if I had the donor vehicle?

 

[Spdrcer34]

2 Explorers parked in the driveway......one AWD, and one 2WD?

With the RIGHT tools, it can be done in a weekend.......

Ryan

 

[iBangKaty]

hey guys! hows it goin... does anyone know if this can be done?
i want a 1998 sport 5.0 5 speed manual trans 2 wheel drive.
and what do i need to make it happen!!!!!
i want to start this project already b4 the summers here!
thanks 4 any help!

 

[apuszczalowski]

Thanks for the link.

I have a 2WD model, do I have to make sure the donor truck is a 2WD model also or is a AWD or 4WD model ok to get. I have seen more Mercury V8 vs Explorere V8s online, but they seem to all be AWD. And at a last resort, how hard would it be to swap from 2WD to AWD if I had the donor vehicle?

its much more work to go 2wd to AWD/4WD because it would involve swapping in a new front suspension/axle for the front wheels to get power. At that point you are better off just getting a AWD/4WD v8 explorer and selling/scrapping the v6 in my opinion. I would say it would be much cheaper doing that.

 

[Lacky01]

hey guys! hows it goin... does anyone know if this can be done?
i want a 1998 sport 5.0 5 speed manual trans 2 wheel drive.
and what do i need to make it happen!!!!!
i want to start this project already b4 the summers here!
thanks 4 any help!

check out this link for info on using a manual transmission with the V8.

and so a good search cuz theres a BUNCH of threads (a few of them stickies) on peoples V8 swaps

 

[Havalilsi]

Cost wise, which would be better, V-8 swap or getting some heads and rebuilding my old motor and tranny?
And about how much would I be looking for either?

 

[stk33069]

if u could get a complete donor truck with a good 5.0 and good tranny for cheap then i would venture to say it be cheaper to do that then rebuild your current set up. i would think that if you rebuilt your 4.0's heads and gaskets then you would have a new top and old bottom, and who knows how long that woudl last. Your talking about doing what a lot of us driving the 4.0 would love to do, so i say go for it and post pictures lol