Need recommendations for an engine 4.0 OHC

[lusso64]

So, I need an engine for a 2003 V6 Explorer. Any recommendations on where to find one? I'm in SoCal, so the closer the better.

There's quite a few on eBay, but of the 3 vendors I've contacted, the engine has always "just sold". Seems like they don't actually have them... Of course if I want the expensive freshly rebuilt one, they have those in stock ready for immediate delivery. Bait and switch anyone?

If anyone has one for sale, or knows of one, that would be appreciated also.

Thanks, Dave

 

[35Remmy]

How the heck does a 2003 need a new engine???

My GOD that truck must have been beat to HELL and back. That's just ridiculous!!!

 

[lusso64]

Well.... it looks like the thermostat jammed and she got a little hot.

See pics of one head here: http://s383.photobucket.com/albums/oo277/lusso64/ You can see where the aluminum has melted off the head and it's ended up all over the piston crowns. I could get another set of heads, but with all that damage, the bearings are probably shot as it would have been seriously pre-detonating. I figure it's a safer bet to get another complete used engine.

Disclaimer - The car is not mine. I would have realized something was amiss when that little temperature gauge pegged into the red

The car has also been sitting for about a month and since all the remaining coolant ended up in the sump, I suppose the internals are not as pristine as they used to be.

Dave

 

[Silver X]

I got my replacement engine from a junkyard on Ebay. The engine was from an '05 Ranger with 4000 miles. I "bought it now" for $900 and it was in stock, ready to ship. Shipping was $172 from Maine to Michigan. It looked like new when it arrived, so I'm very happy with the transaction. A rebuilt engine would've been around $2500.

I can't remember the name of the place, but I'll look it up when I get home.

 

[lusso64]

I got my replacement engine from a junkyard on Ebay. The engine was from an '05 Ranger with 4000 miles. I "bought it now" for $900 and it was in stock, ready to ship. Shipping was $172 from Maine to Michigan. It looked like new when it arrived, so I'm very happy with the transaction. A rebuilt engine would've been around $2500.

I can't remember the name of the place, but I'll look it up when I get home.

I'm looking at an 05 Ranger engine also - this should go into the 03 explorer, even if I have to change intake manifold or other "external" items? The EX is a K VIN.

Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks, Dave

 

[Silver X]

Green Point Auto Parts is the company I bought from.

The engine came complete with intake, injectors, wiring, etc. It all looked just like my engine, but there were a few differences. I used the new intake, throttle body, coolant hoses, and some vac lines. Had to reuse my wiring harness, injectors/rails, and the rest of the vac lines on the new engine. The A/C bracket was same, alternator bracket was different.

If your '03 Explorer isn't a 2dr Sport or a Sport Trac, pretty much all your induction stuff is different than the Ranger and will have to be swapped over.

 

[99ex22]

I got my replacement engine from a junkyard on Ebay. The engine was from an '05 Ranger with 4000 miles. I "bought it now" for $900 and it was in stock, ready to ship. Shipping was $172 from Maine to Michigan. It looked like new when it arrived, so I'm very happy with the transaction. A rebuilt engine would've been around $2500.

I can't remember the name of the place, but I'll look it up when I get home.

Do the new and improved SOHC 4.0L fit in a second gen ex with out going into wiring and computers and all that?
if so thats the route im going when my timing chain (death rattle) gives out.

 

[Silver X]

Do the new and improved SOHC 4.0L fit in a second gen ex with out going into wiring and computers and all that?
if so thats the route im going when my timing chain (death rattle) gives out.

You should be OK if you reuse your intake and all the stuff that bolts on top. The cam covers and front accessory brackets might be different too depending on the year and model of the truck that the new engine comes from.

FYI - If your Explorer is a 4x4 with the 4.0L SOHC, you should find an engine from another 4x4. The 2wd versions of the 4.0L SOHC don't have the balance shaft in the engine and will cause an audible resonance in the front differential....this is according to the Ford engineers who did testing with and without the balance shaft. It'll just make noise, but won't damage anything. If you have loud tires, you probably won't hear it. It is up to you if you want to try the non-balance-shaft engine if you can't find the correct one.

 

[99ex22]

Ok cool. thanks! ill do some more researching when the time comes. Im just waiting for it to give out because I dont feel like putting 1500.00 into a motor with 157,000 miles on it. thanks again!

-Russ

 

[lusso64]

Well, this sucks....

So, I get a new second hand engine supposedly from an 03 with 65K miles. After spending the entire Thanksgiving weekend fitting it into the car, I get to start it tonight. Bloody thing has a death rattle at 2500 thru 3500. Either it ain't an 03 or it's something worse than the timing chains. Either way, I guess I have to rip that sucker out and decide whether to send it back or try to fix it.

My wife is gonna kill me....

 

[Silver X]

Wow, that sucks man! Not good to hear. Did it come from a junk yard with a guarantee?

When I was looking for an engine, I skipped over anything with more than 30k miles and older than '04. I figured if it ever had problems, it should've been fixed under warranty and not neglected.

There were quite a few out there for around $500, but their higher mileage turned me off. If I was able to see one running/driving and everything was good, I'd consider it though.

 

[lusso64]

Well, a quick email last night to the seller (Yes - a junkyard) and they have another engine, this one newer with less miles, on its way to me for no charge at all. They did offer me the option of a complete refund including shipping. In both cases they said I can keep the "new - bad" engine for spares.

So, kudos and a big thumbs up to Matt at Benwood Autoparts in NY for making this better than right. (matt@benwoodautoparts.com)

The reason I went with these guys in the first place was their shipping price of $150 for the engine from NY to CA which was much cheaper than anyone else. I'm happy to pay for shipping, but not to subsidize an artificially low sales price. Anyway, I thought I'd have to eat the first 150, plus another 150 for the return, and yet another 150 for the replacement. I can't say how amazed I am at the way they have dealt with this situation.

Dave

 

[Silver X]

That's awesome they are doing their best to take care of you. Hopefully the new one gets tested before shipping it out.

Good luck!

 

[lusso64]

It's done!

I received the new engine from Benwood and had the other new one out and this one in in about 10 hours working solo. It runs like a charm - started first go.

Now I have a garage full of broken V6s! Anyone want one?

 

[Silver X]

Cool!

I need to figure out what to do with my old one too.

I was thinking I might want to keep some parts for spares. Otherwise it'll get completely stripped down and taken in for scrap metal. I have several other engines and transmissions that need to be scrapped too. Probably should just get rid of everything and buy new stuff if/when I ever need it.