Most likely Impossible with an Explorer

[henryj10]

Hey guys,

I'm a Ford guy through and through, gotta a 96 2wd Ranger I4, a 88 F150 4x4with a 300 6, and just bought a 92 4x4 5spd 4.0 Explorer for 500 lol good deal I think, got it for family excursions out and about in the mountains. Only thing is, along with being a Ford man I'm also a Inline man. I know the mopar pile Cherokee has 4.0 240 straight in it and is comparable in size with an explorer. I was wondering if there is any Ford Inline 6 with ability to fit in an explorer? No my chances are slim and money spent would be outrageous but just would like to know. Not a big fan of V engines other than for the mpgs, I like inline reliability, my ranger's I4's got 180,000 still going, my f150's got 210,000 still running, although I hear the explorer's are supposed to go till 250,000 but I don't know if thats true

 

[jumpn4jesus]

Wouldn't be worth it. The explorers have more power than the jeeps do. You tube it!

 

[Willard]

If you could get a Ford 300CI Inline 6 to fit in an explorer it would be pretty sweet.

It's always possible if you have the money and time...

 

[FROADER]

It's too big. Arsoul tried it and ended up just putting the explorer body on the f150 frame.

 

[henryj10]

to jumpnforjesus

jumpnforjesus not looking to switch a jeep 240ci in, just interested in a Ford inline, what about an older inline like a 223 200 or 250ci

 

[jumpn4jesus]

oh

 

[dogfriend]

You could probably get a Ranger I4 to bolt right in. :

 

[techieman33]

The ohv v6 in those things are pretty near bullet proof I wouldn't mess with it unless you were set on an inline motor. the weak part on those explorers is the automatic transmission which you were lucky enough to avoid. the manual isn't the greatest either but as long as you don't just out right abuse it all the time it should be ok.

 

[henryj10]

dogfreind- would an I4 2.3 have enough power to run the explorer 4x4 5spd, not looking for speed anyways?

 

[ericautopart]

I've got an I4 2.3 in my Mercury Milan DD and I hate it. It's weak, gutless, and loud. Stick with anything you've got other than that.

 

[dogfriend]

dogfreind- would an I4 2.3 have enough power to run the explorer 4x4 5spd, not looking for speed anyways?

Probably not. That's why I added the :

 

[Cobraguy]

The turbo version would be impressive once you got it spooled up. 'til then, it would be a dog.

 

[410Fortune]

straight six too hard to fit without cutting the firewall

The 4.0L OHV pushrod V6 is a STRONG SOB, it will last like a 300 I6 and it makes plenty of torque, just take care of it and keep your trans cool... the trans is the weak spot not the 60 degree V

 

[henryj10]

what about a smaller inline

what about a smaller inline....like an older 3.7L 223 with 137 max horse, less power than the 4.0 and I'll prolly leave it in but just curious about getting in an inline in. When they fit they are easier to work on, and what I have the most experience with.

 

[410Fortune]

from my experience with drivetrain conversions in these trucks there is simply no room for 6 cylinders in line

UNLESS

you cut the friewall out or cut the radiator support out
body lift would help a great deal

still an "un natural" fit

Anything is possibly with enough time and $$$, 4.6L 5.4L, 351, even Chevy 350 conversions are being done in these trucks..

inline six is TOO LONG plain and simple.
Of course you can rear mount the radiator and hammer the crap out of your firewall and make it fit, but WHY? The OHV V6 is a BETTER engine then those inlines you just listed BY FAR
4.0L OHV is a 300-500K mile bottom end engine, its TOUGH as nails and makes gobs of torque for what it is.

 

[henryj10]

500,000 capable

410fortune - The 4.0 OHV block is 500,000 capable, really? what about the heads? are they as weak as people say the other Cologne cylinders heads are, like a 2.8, 2.9?

 

[410Fortune]

90-92 are weakish
93 got stronger heads
95+ got even stronger heads

I said 300-500K mile BOTTOM END
to get those kind of miles the intake gaskets, fuel rail, and valvetrain (heads) would need some work/maint

It is COMMON for the OHV 4.0L to go 300K miles without needing anything, as long as you dont overheat it!

I have seen the inside of the blocks after 250K miles you can still see the hone marks in the cylinder walls
they are BULLETPROOF engines

 

[jumpn4jesus]

Yeah, the bottom and top end are two different things.
Just cause the bottom can go...a ways, doesn't mean the top can too. Like 410 said, they can go 250-300k with very little or nothing.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

My '95 grand cherokee has 193k miles on the original I6, its had no work done to the engine at all other than plugs and valve cover gasket. Its never even seen a drop of synthetic oil its entire life.

I hope to get as much out of my '02 SOHC. Though I will probably have to change out the chain tensioner around 150k.

 

[jumpn4jesus]

My '95 grand cherokee has 193k miles on the original I6, its had no work done to the engine at all other than plugs and valve cover gasket. Its never even seen a drop of synthetic oil its entire life.

I hope to get as much out of my '02 SOHC. Though I will probably have to change out the chain tensioner around 150k.

You have a ZJ with that many miles and no probs? I find that hard to believe! But rock on! Those look good lifted.

Have you checked out this site?

I'm a member there as well. Same user name. Great info there as well.