thinking of doing a transplant

[puddle jumper]

i have a buick 3.0 liter v-6 from an 87 grand am sport that was rebuilt 3 yrs ago, it has more hp and torqe than the 4.0 has in my 93 explorer now and has 3500 miles on it sitting in my storage shed just waiting to be put in something , i noticed that the eng is about the same length and height as the 4.0 , it has multiple mount holes on both sides of the eng and it looks like the 4.0 mounts should fit it, starter is in the same location , uses the same method of spark fuel and air delivery , same amount of sensors, even the exhaust is in the same positions and i should be able to use the exisiting exh on the explorer with very little modification, heck , im thinking that i can even make the engine run useing the explorer computer and wireing even though i have all that from the grand am , the only thing im not sure of is how to mate the tranny to the engine ,, when the engine in the explorer dies i think i`ll give this swap a try,, what do you guys think ? is this too crazy of an idea to work ?? any thoughts ??

 

[boominXplorer]

no idea how your going to make the ex tranny work with that. are you 4x4? That motor is made for FWD so it is going to be had to use on an ex

 

[410Fortune]

Your 3.0L was made and tuned for a car, it will not move the Explorer nearly as well as the OHV 4.0L, you are forgetting about torque, the OHV 4.0L makes 265 ft lbs of torque.
You are looking at alot more work then you think to get it running and mounted in there, IMO, this is a BAD idea, and I like crazy ass drivetrain conversions.

 

[Hartman]

That sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen, trying to get that to work anyway.

 

[puddle jumper]

i know from the buick GrandNational web-site that the 3.0 engine block was cast for use in both fwd and rwd applications untill 89 , and there are several mounting holes on both sides of the block in the front and middle that are drilled and tapped from the factory that seems to conform that information,, and from that info im thinking that in rwd form the 200r4 was probably the trans used behind it , so im thinking this,,the explorer is paid for and is in pretty decent condition for the high mileage,the 4wd still works and when the motor gives up the ghost the exp is gonna get pushed to the back yard to give the dog some shade and to store my x-mass decorations in anyway, and that 3.0 is just collecting spider-webs in the shed ,so i wont be looseing anything by trying , im up for the challenge , if it dont work , atleast the dog will be happy

 

[410Fortune]

hahahaha if you do this I wanna see!
I say put the 3.0L in something lighter, but thats just my opinion. You got the parts and the will, what else do you need?

But it might be a while those 4.0L's typically last about 250K or so before they show signs of slowing down.