running a 4.0v6 sohc as stand alone in another vehicle?

[michael arthur]

is it possible to run a 4.0 v6 sohc engine in another vehicle, im from the uk and have a 1959 international harvester metro mite, i imported into the uk with a 4 cylinder datsun engine/trans (non runner). i have a 99 explorer at the mo that im body swapping a 59 ford f100swb body on to the explorer rolling chassis. i noticed the explorer engine is very compact and has ample hp for the metro. would need a 2wd trans as dont need 4wd but was hoping it would be possible to run the v6 on some kind of stand alone wiring harness or could i use the explorer harness with an pcm that has no pats. i would be buying a full explorer

 

[allmyEXes]

If you were to buy a 1997 to 2001 V-6 4.0 SOHC powered Explorer you could used the engine, transmission, differential and PCM and wiring harness. 1997 was pre PATS, in the U.S. There is a guy in Florida that can disable PATS on many Ford PCM's.
You could even shorten an Explorer chassis to match the International, fit and mount the I body and have a modern riding vehicle. There is even the 5.0 powered option too. Wow! I could a had a V-8

 

[michael arthur]

If you were to buy a 1997 to 2001 V-6 4.0 SOHC powered Explorer you could used the engine, transmission, differential and PCM and wiring harness. 1997 was pre PATS, in the U.S. There is a guy in Florida that can disable PATS on many Ford PCM's.
You could even shorten an Explorer chassis to match the International, fit and mount the I body and have a modern riding vehicle. There is even the 5.0 powered option too. Wow! I could a had a V-8

trying to not go down the body swap option with the metro as i will loose historic status as its already registered here, that then means yearly inspections and extra taxes etc to be paid. the metro is in to good a condition to start cutting up, just looking for a very compact engine and the 4.0 v6 sort of fits the bill, just need a 2wd trans to fit it.

 

[CDW6212R]

I'd go with a later model V6, they are much better and some are much lighter. The 3.7 Ford V6 is evidently only about 200 pounds, it has lots of plastic and aluminum, block, heads, intake, pans etc. The top side of the engines are usually what limit what they can fit in, the upper intake and heads take up a lot of room.

The 4.0 V6 is a tall narrow valley engine, great for truck engine bays, but not so much for short cars.

 

[allmyEXes]

@michael arthur You can still use the entire Explorer drive train though...

 

[michael arthur]

I'd go with a later model V6, they are much better and some are much lighter. The 3.7 Ford V6 is evidently only about 200 pounds, it has lots of plastic and aluminum, block, heads, intake, pans etc. The top side of the engines are usually what limit what they can fit in, the upper intake and heads take up a lot of room.

The 4.0 V6 is a tall narrow valley engine, great for truck engine bays, but not so much for short cars.

im from the uk and they would be ridiculously over priced here. i can buy a full explorer here for around £500 (roughly $700).

 

[michael arthur]

@michael arthur You can still use the entire Explorer drive train though...

all uk spec explorers are 4.0 v6 most are sohc ,there are some ohv but not many. they are all 4wd. im wanting to run the metro 2wd if possible and maybe go manual transmission

 

[CDW6212R]

You can have the transmission changed to a 2WD with just two parts I believe. The output shaft and the tail housing is longer in the 2WD versions, those should be available feasibly from many eBay parts sources. The downside is that the output shaft is the first part installed into the case, so the entire trans has to come apart to swap that one part.

Explorers in 1998 moved the speed sensor to the rear diff, so some output shafts at some time later, no longer have the splines on it for a sensor. The 4R70W still had them into the 2002 range, so the 5R55E also has them over the years there.

Note also if you need a speedometer cable, you will need an output shaft which has the splines on it for a speed sensor, plus the rear housing with that hole, the sensor should be less trouble to find. The speed sensor I think should be possible to use an older model type that has a cable output, and mates to the trans output speed sensor splines. The 80's Fords began the electronic speedometers, and along in there the older ones still had a mechanical cable speedometer. Ford change those first to a sensor with both a cable and an electrical sensor outlet. Either the old type with just a cable, or the transition type, one of those should be possible to use with the later trans. EBay may be the best way to search for possible parts to make that happen. We used to go to salvage yards and see new stuff in person, now we have to reply on pictures on the internet for most research.

 

[michael arthur]

You can have the transmission changed to a 2WD with just two parts I believe. The output shaft and the tail housing is longer in the 2WD versions, those should be available feasibly from many eBay parts sources. The downside is that the output shaft is the first part installed into the case, so the entire trans has to come apart to swap that one part.

Explorers in 1998 moved the speed sensor to the rear diff, so some output shafts at some time later, no longer have the splines on it for a sensor. The 4R70W still had them into the 2002 range, so the 5R55E also has them over the years there.

Note also if you need a speedometer cable, you will need an output shaft which has the splines on it for a speed sensor, plus the rear housing with that hole, the sensor should be less trouble to find. The speed sensor I think should be possible to use an older model type that has a cable output, and mates to the trans output speed sensor splines. The 80's Fords began the electronic speedometers, and along in there the older ones still had a mechanical cable speedometer. Ford change those first to a sensor with both a cable and an electrical sensor outlet. Either the old type with just a cable, or the transition type, one of those should be possible to use with the later trans. EBay may be the best way to search for possible parts to make that happen. We used to go to salvage yards and see new stuff in person, now we have to reply on pictures on the internet for most research.

thanks for the info, i beleive all uk spec explorers have the speed sensor in the rear axle

 

[allmyEXes]

@michael arthur Is the Explorer diffy about the same width as the international differential? At least that way you would have the complete tip to tail package that you could install. I have a 2wd A4LD tansmission that would have the output shaft and tail housing that you would need to convert your transmission. It has a speedometer cable hole. It is out of a Mustang. It might fit. Jamie @410Fortune may have the correct year Explorer A4LD parts if you decide to follow through with the conversion.

 

[Mbrooks420]

No SOHC’s came with an A4LD, it’d be a 5r55e, or 5r55s transmission.

 

[CDW6212R]

thanks for the info, i beleive all uk spec explorers have the speed sensor in the rear axle

Ditto, it'll be the 5R55E up to 2001, and you should be able to search for that output shaft and housing, and check to see that the special splines(teeth for the speedometer gear) are on the 2WD shaft you see. The splines or teeth are obvious looking, they spiral around the shaft at about the middle of it, and the housing will have a hole in the side. The speed sensor will be held in by one bolt there, it's an old reliable setup that should be able to adapt to your old speedometer cable etc.