Motor swap help?

[CrAzEd412]

Hello all,
Its been a long time since ive been on here. Have been tossing around a few ideas for awhile about whether i should get rid of my explorer and get a 4runner, or spend the cash and rebuild the explorer the way i want it to be done. Im wanting to swap out the stock v6, thats on its last leg (180K), for a crate v8. I've searched for donor motors but im not one to get a used motor not knowing how it was treated before. I know ill need to get a new trans, but what else roughly will i need? I've done many searches but have come up empty handed besides a few project builds of others. Im new at this whole motor swap, and modification thing. I appologize if this is the wrong area for my thread. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I need to get a list of parts i will need together. Im very interested in learning all i can on this. So please bare with me if i ask one to many questions.

Thank you,
Jeremy

 

[vroomzoomboom]

if you have searched (you have haven't you?) you will be better off by getting a truck that has a v8 in it already, and swapping everything over from it. it will also cost less in the long run. then when your finished, part it out and get some of your cash back. think of it as someone else paying for the parts for you.

 

[CrAzEd412]

thanks for your reply. I have searched. im just having a hard time deciding what to do. i want to get a crate motor and new trans for it. thats for certain. i just dont know about the rest. I know i will need a lot of the wiring harness from the v8 if i am not mistaken or is that only if i use the v8 from a donor X? Im building it to be a daily driver/weekend toy sort of. i Really like the look of the baja trucks and such so thats what im sort of going for.

 

[410Fortune]

crate small block Ford + crate transmission = $5000+ just to get started

 

[Spdrcer34]

If a crate motor is what you want, I would buy a wrecked `97+ Explorer, AND a crate motor.

That way you still have the wiring, and mechanical pieces that bolt it in, BUT you also get a new motor too...

This is EASILY a $5,000 to $8,000 project.

Ryan

 

[CrAzEd412]

Ive thought about a remanufactured motor as well. But idk where a good place to look for one is. Its cheaper. and also an easier install. With the wiring and all.

 

[Spdrcer34]

No...it's not an easier swap...it's actually a little more labor intensive...

Ryan

 

[410Fortune]

andalot more work to make it fit, when Ford put the 5.0L in the explorer they did half the work for you when it comes to physically fitting the engine into the ranger based truck, using a hodge podge of parts is also possible, lots of aftermarket support... I have seen 5.0L/SBF conversions that cost upwards of $20K mine was about $6500 and next time I could shave about $1500 off of that.....

 

[Spdrcer34]

I have seen that pic a few times...

Are you on a ladder AND standing on your core support?

Ryan

 

[410Fortune]

bumper stinger and core support who needs ladders? thats what the tires are for!!