My engine swap fiasco

[Daisywheels]

Right now I am prepping a 2nd motor as the first one they delivered was just plain unacceptable. I won't mention any company names.

I went with a company that verified the motors' donor and the mileage history. Neither VIN on either motor matched the vehicle history report. hmmmmm

Before I add to this mess, I need to know if Valvoline motor oil filters are much thinner in shape than say Motorcraft or Bosch???? I can't read any numbers off the filter on this last motor shipped, but it just simply doesn't look right, and I have no idea if this is even the right motor for my 1999 V6 SOHC 4X4.

Anybody use Valvoline motor oil filters on their 1995-2001 SOHC 4X4's? I know filters come in all shapes an sizes, but I just have this feeling this is not the right motor. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! -DW

 

[2000StreetRod]

VIN on engine

The last 8 digits of the VIN are stamped on the driver side rear of the V6 block just below the head.

The tenth digit (1st digit on the block) of the 17 digit VIN indicates the year of manufacture (W in the above photo). The identifier changed in 2001 [1998(W), 1999(X), 2000(Y)------2001(1), 2002(2), 2003(3)]

 

[Daisywheels]

The last 8 digits of the VIN are stamped on the driver side rear of the V6 block just below the head.
View attachment 85798
The tenth digit (1st digit on the block) of the 17 digit VIN indicates the year of manufacture (W in the above photo). The identifier changed in 2001 [1998(W), 1999(X), 2000(Y)------2001(1), 2002(2), 2003(3)]

I don't have access to the motor as its locked in my neighbor's shop right now. I'm certain the tenth digit is X, but does that tell me it has a balance shaft? It just didn't look right, and I can't get to it tell next weekend. The oil filter size is really bothering me. -DW

 

[2000StreetRod]

block identification

Unfortunately, even though I think has different part numbers to distinguish the balance shaft engine from the non-balance shaft engine I believe the part numbers are decals glued to the valve cover. These can easily wear off or be swapped. After doing some research here are possible block casting distinctions:

97JM-AE or 1L2E: 1997 - 2001 Explorer, Mountaineer, Sport Trac with balance shaft engine

I've read that the casting number is on the top of the block toward the rear where the distributor used to be on the early Cologne 2.8L engines.

Edit: I can't find anything consistent for the above casting numbers. I've found engines listed for both casting numbers with and without balance shafts. The same is true for casting number 5L2E. Apparently the block castings were designed to be configured with or without the balance shaft. That means the engine part number must be relied on for the determination.

 

[Daisywheels]

Unfortunately, even though I think has different part numbers to distinguish the balance shaft engine from the non-balance shaft engine I believe the part numbers are decals glued to the valve cover. These can easily wear off or be swapped. After doing some research here are possible block casting distinctions:

97JM-AE or 1L2E: 1997 - 2001 Explorer, Mountaineer, Sport Trac balance shaft engine

I've read that the casting number is on the top of the block toward the rear where the distributor used to be on the early Cologne 2.8L engines.

I wasn't able to find that casting number in my HUGE number of pics of the 2nd motor shipped. I was able to find a pic where I'm fairly certain the Valvoline oil filter number is V0-1. If that is the case, then that is the correct filter that valvoline makes. I punched in my VIN from my Explorer at Valvoline's website and it takes the V0-1. Very strange how different this filter is from motorcraft.

And you are right about the stickers on the heads StreetRod. They are in surprisingly good shape, as if they were just put on. -DW