Yeah, unfortunately they've really gone up in price. How is their availability? Are they short lead time compared to the TMH?
You got a thread going yet? We always love a 5.0 swap on here (especially with pictures!).Plans are to start the swap on presidents day weekend. I intend to have the full week available and done within the week, but I'm really hoping I'll have a little time left over. I don't have the space and experience of someone like 410 available, but I'm also not getting as involved as he normally does. I won't be going deep into cleaning, or upgrading other items. Quick engine bay wash, swap from locking hubs to live axles, and a small harness modification. Everything else should be straight unbolt/plug from one & bolt/plug into the other with addition of headers.
Well I've actually got two Explorer engines. The AWD donor is a 2000 model from Ohio I think. The rust would seem to confirm that, but I know no owner or maintenance history. The other engine is from a 1998 and I think it spent it's life in middle GA until it was rolled, I purchased from original owners family (went to tech school and worked with one of them) and it was well maintained.You got a thread going yet? We always love a 5.0 swap on here (especially with pictures!).
Hopefully the exhaust bolts are not too rusty if your donor spent its days in GA. If you're going to be in a time crunch though, I'd recommend picking up all new hardware for your headers and be ready to extract broken bolts from the heads if needed.
When I did my bronco I borrowed my dads barn half the swap was spent just warming up the space and getting parts to and from the mountain location!