Questions about a motor swap

[DjCUF]

I have a 2000 XLT that just got into a head on collision. The other person was driving a rental but wasn't the driver on the rental contract so Enterprise's insurance isn't paying us a dime.
It needs a lot of parts replaced. My radiator is cracked and the lower support is pushed back at least 4 inches on one side. The frame ends are pretty tweaked where the bumper brackets are completely destroyed. All the lights are gone as well as the grill and the headlight panel. The bumper is obviously confetti, the drivers side fender is a little bent around the front edge and the hood is not dented but is pushed back a bit and not lining up now.
I'm wondering how difficult it would be to swap our good motor into another Explorer. There are a lot of used trucks on Craigslist with great bodies but blown motors for a lot less than I would be spending in parts alone for mine. I have the SOHC. If I picked up a 3rd gen what parts would I need to swap with the motor to make it run if that's at all possible? I've done motor swaps before that were as easy as just unplugging everything from one and then plugging it right back into the new motor. I assume this won't be that easy but is it doable without a ton of effort? I'd need to get this done in my driveway in MA in January so I don't want to get into a job that is going to take weeks of time out in the cold.
Any advice I can get would be great. Is there anything major that I'm going to run into or anything I should know before starting the job?

 

[C420sailor]

2nd --> 3rd Gen...I'd imagine you would be swapping a whole lot of **** from the 3rd gen engine over to the 2nd gen block. It's the same long block, so you've got that going for you.

This all being said, how many miles are on the '00 engine? Engines of that vintage are ticking time bombs with regard to tensioners/cassettes---I wouldn't swap an '02 or older motor into anything. Murphy will come out of the woodwork and that engine will sound like you dumped a sack of marbles in it soon after you finish the swap, trust me.

I'd sue the driver for losses plus legal fees, and put that money toward a good running vehicle.

 

[DjCUF]

That's the plan right now but since she's only 19 and was driving someone else's rental (supposedly without permission which is why nobody's insurance will step up) I expect it will be a while before I see a dime out of her. I'm meeting with a lawyer tomorrow about it which is step one.
I just need a vehicle to get my girlfriend around in the meantime. I'm short on funds as it is after Christmas presents for 4 kids and now the $400 i already paid to the tow yard just to get the truck back and stop racking up storage fees. Once we finally get whatever money we can from this I'll be buying a newer Explorer most likely and then turning this one into a trail rig if it ever recovers from this accident at all. This was just really bad timing financially. And weather wise too. I wouldn't mind putting in the wrench time if it was 80 degrees outside.

 

[C420sailor]

If she owns a personal vehicle and has insurance on it (which she should), they may be on the hook for the accident. Depends on the state and company. Good call on the lawyer.

 

[DjCUF]

I really hope she has insurance but as of right now we can't even track this girl down. The address on her license is wrong and I have no number for her. Trying to go through the person who rented the car because it's her son's girlfriend that was driving but they aren't being cooperative either.

 

[DjCUF]

So update after talking to a lawyer. If the officer that was on scene will state in his report that the renter told him that they knew the girl was driving then their insurance will have to pay. If the 19 year old who was driving has her own insurance policy or happens to be a listed driver on her parents insurance then they would have to cover it. If none of that happens then we can sue her in small claims for the damages and she will have her license revoked until she is able to arrange periodic payments to us or pays a lump sum settlement herself. In any case it will be at best a few months before we see anything from this and most likely well over a year.
Looks like I'm going to be getting creative with my repairs of the radiator support and then I'll Mickey Mouse some sort of bumper on there until I build my own tube bumper with a winch. On the plus side now my girlfriend can't argue with me about modifying it to be a more aggressive off road rig. Always have to look for a silver lining.

 

[C420sailor]

Good advice from the lawyer. Don't let her get away with that ****.