Removing Engine out of a wrecked explorer

[lilone71742]

I am getting a :roll: wrecked sport next week and plan to take out all interior as well as the SOHC engine/tranny. I am doing this just to have an extra drivetrain laying around. The wrecked x comes with a price tag of towing fee which the guy told me would be around $200. I don't think its a bad buy considering the price and the parts i may be able to salvage, especialy the seats. (which are high by themselves) Have any of you bolted up a engine/tranny out of a wrecked explorer? Any problems? I wish i had pictures i will go and take some this evening when i get off work i just wanted some opinions from others. Even if i don't want the engine/tranny i could sell it. In the event that i dont want to keep the engine i may sell it so someone with the OHV engine that wants to change may have an opportunity to get a SOHC. I also want to add that if i sell it, I will sell for a reasonable price, i am only buying it for the seats and other interior parts. The engine/tranny will be an added bonus

 

[chriswells78]

Get ready for either a day and a half of work or go buy a fresh pack of 10 sawzall blades. Your choice. There are tons of things in the way if you do it the polite way.

 

[Exploderpilot]

Yeah if you're not really concerned with getting it done quick, i would use this as a way to get aquainted with tearing down an engine and tranny. learn each part as you remove it, etc.

 

[lilone71742]

sounds like fun!! I am intrested in learning how to take an engine/tranny so it will be a good experience for future refrences ( maybe that V-8 swap) considering it won't compromise me being able to get around. In the case i don't want to keep the engine/tranny what would be a fair selling price?

 

[chriswells78]

Year, Miles, History?

 

[manaen]

IT's not as bad as some people say, when I had to replace my SOHC I did it in 2 days, one day engine out, next day engine in. The worst part was the exhaust manifold bolts you will probably need to cut the studs and drill them out so you can replace them with bolts. Oh make sure you have plenty of socket extensions. I had enough wobble extensions to make up about 24" they will save your skin with things like motor mounts and such. take off the wheels and the inner fender covers to reach the top tranny bolts. I think after doing mine it is easier to do the engine first and then the tranny, but since I never tried removing my tranny I will have to defer to others on that.

Tools that we invaluable with the removal
1) sawzall (cut manifold studs)
2) dremel with metal cutting blades (cut manifold studs)
3) good quality socket set not some cheep Taiwan POC
4) big pry bar
5) hammer
6) pipe for your socket (to add torque) or a big breaker bar
7) good quality set of combination wrenches (actually I had about 3 sets)
8) PB blaster to spray on all bolts before removal (this makes a huge diff)
9) good quality straps for the engine hoist
10) a friend to help you line things up for re-assembly (If your doing that)


tough spots I ran into
1) exhaust manifold (the 2 bolts that hold the exhaust on )
2) Starter removal, what a pain on these engines your working almost completely blind on a 4x4 model
3) motor mounts (with 24" of wobble extension not so bad)
4) getting the torque converter lined up with the flex plate on reassembly
5) there was some bolt (that I can think of) on the front driver side under the engine that was a pain to remove, it was just a matter of using a combination wrench and flipping it to get 1/8 turn each time until the bolt was out. it was a long process of switching hands due to lack of blood flow into the fingers



The disassembly was easy I had the motor out by myself in about 7 hours, from there the tranny would have been really easy to drop.