Still kicking around swap ideas for my '02 4.0 4wd

[Geeshik]

Has anybody ever done a 4.0 to 4.2 swap? Ford used them until 2002, right? They had pushrods if I recall, and other than being a wider V6 (90 degree), they are similar displacement and horsepower. Could I get a 4.2 engine/trans from an E or F150 the same year and pop that in?

I don't know much about those engines or their reliability, but the older 3.8 that it was based on ran forever, but killed just about every transmission they put behind it, at least in FWD models.

I have been looking for good used engines around here and I haven't found any 2002 4.0 engines with balance shafts. I can't believe the price of a reman/rebuilt longblock.

I plan on pulling the 4.0 anyway because the rear tensioner guide, the primary tensioner, and the balance shaft tensioner are all broken. I also had some oil and coolant mixing, and I am not yet sure the reason. I hope to have it out sometime next week so I can pull the heads and the oil cooler to visually inspect them for failure.

I have the tools and the know how to do this job, I just cringe wondering how many times I will have to do it, and if the cost is going to be significant anyway (replacing a cylinder head), I would almost rather re-work the whole truck to get rid of that 4.0.

 

[Geeshik]

My progress so far on my Explorer:

Photobucket says it all.

http://s1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee469/Geeshik/02 Ford Explorer/

 

[Geeshik]

I might have actually found a running 4.0 for the Explorer for a fair price. Going to check it out on Monday.

 

[Geeshik]

Agh! So frustrating. It was an error in the system. It was actually for a SportTrac.

So what is the difference between the SOHC engines for SportTracs and Regular explorers other than the intake and some of the wiring?

 

[Limited02]

Mostly likely no real difference. I'd replace your 4.0 with another comparable 4.0 and then be done with it. You may want to PM Jakee because I think he used a 4.0 out of a 2005-2010 Mustang for someone.

 

[Geeshik]

Thanks. I have a 1 1/2 car garage and I have alot of work do do on our 2000 Focus before winter, so I think I'm going to pull the engine out of the Explorer, pull it out of the garage, and take a break on it for a while and move on. I will get around to it again eventually. Maybe by then junkyards will realize their 4.0s aren't gold and the prices will come down.

I am really wanting a 4.6 though right now. I was studying the fuel economy numbers and the V8 only gets about 1mpg less than the V6, and it's a much better design. Explorers came with them. It should be pretty easy and if the engines are the same amount of money, I'd rather spend money on something that is a little more serviceable. I'm just wondering if I can still use my 5R55W with the 4.6. From what I could tell they all had the same transmission, except the AWD in the Mountaineer (?).

In any case, it looks like it will be a while before I get it running again. Thanks though.

 

[Wills05xlt4x4]

A 4.0-4.6 swap isn't worth it... Everything's different including the trans...