Today is the day I embark on a V8 swap....

[shucker1]

Just concerned this would slow down any momentum I would have going at that point in time.

Do it all the first time and you won't have to get back into it for many years to come?

 

[hunter5]

If you've got the mountaineer ,you've got everything you need for an allwheel drive sport trac. If you want to have 4 low and two wheel drive youll have to get some more parts.
I will say that it prob best to have another vehicle to drive as the swap might take longer than weekend motor swap.
But seriously don't let anybody on any of the guys on these forums scare ya out a doin what you wanna do. I don't get on these much because of that very thing.
Don't get me wrong I come here to get info on some hard to get info and there are some real good guys on here. Good luck.

 

[plance1]

Thanks for your comments, here is my response

Make judgements on the condition of each of those engines. Not how the truck pulls, but the overall condition, the mileage etc, of the engines. Both can be used(the short block of the Mustang 302HO only), both have the identical compression, block, crank, rods. I'd use the Explorer 302 unless there is something significantly wrong with it.

The explorer engine is down on power so I don't think it would therefore be as good of a starting point.

You have to use the Explorer heads, exhaust manifolds, the intakes, the front balancer, transmission, AWD transfer case(or do the BW4406 swap), the front dress(alternator, AC compressor, water pump, PS pump, brackets, tensioner(all of it)).

why do I "have" to use the explorer heads, manifolds, intakes?

Regarding the front dress stuff, yes, understood, one of the reasons I bought the donor was because I assumed there was a chance the mustang front dress would be different.

Regarding the transmission, if you are saying my 02 sport trac won't work behind it, and I think I've seen that mentioned a couple times, then ok. I understand this. I'm not beholden to keeping the current transmission, as I mentioned its got a lot of miles on it anyway. But do I have to use the explorer transmission? I don't know what the BW4406 swap is. All I know is I want to keep the selectable, 4x4 with the switch, I do not want AWD.. I want the same type of 4x4 I have now which is not manual. I don't care if its my trans, an F150 trans, the donor trans, etc. If someone could tell me exactly what I need to make that happen (and if there are more than one way to do it) that would be appreciated.

The HO cam is a little better than the truck roller cam.

Maybe this is why the explorer didn't feel powerful to me. Regardless, I'd like to get a better aftermarket cam anyway.

 

[plance1]

Yes, my statement is accurate. YOUR transfer case won’t bolt to the 4r70w transmission. You can’t keep your transmission, either obviously. If you want selectable 4wd, you’ll need to convert to an F series 4406.

Thanks, but you're not seeing my point. I don't care if its MY transfer case. What matters is how it functions and it sounds from the advice you are giving me I need to get the 4406 which I appreciate. So if I get this Fseries transfer case, am I to get an F series transmission?

 

[plance1]

If you've got the mountaineer ,you've got everything you need for an allwheel drive sport trac. If you want to have 4 low and two wheel drive youll have to get some more parts.
I will say that it prob best to have another vehicle to drive as the swap might take longer than weekend motor swap.
But seriously don't let anybody on any of the guys on these forums scare ya out a doin what you wanna do. I don't get on these much because of that very thing.
Don't get me wrong I come here to get info on some hard to get info and there are some real good guys on here. Good luck.

It looks like I'm going to need to get more parts then. I do have another vehicle so I'm ok, I don't expect it to take a weekend but if I do it or if I get someone else to do it or if I do some of the work and another person help me or vice/versa I don't want this to take any longer than say a month. Which is why Im happy to gather parts for as long as it takes to have everything ready. None of these guys on here have gotten me down at all, I think they are being realistic and helpful and I'm grateful for all of this even though as you can see its not easy for me to digest.

 

[410Fortune]

Slow down a little and read, start to take notes
The information you seek is already in this thread

Your V6 transmission will not work, not even close
You must use the transmission from the 99 Explorer you bought = 4r70w automatic
You will be using the 99 Explorer V8 engine, transmission and then you need to source a transfer case from an F150 or expedition if you want true 4x4. You want to use your dash style 4x4 switch means you need an electronically shifted t case = Borg Warner 4406e
The mustang engine does not do you much good really unless you just want the block
You should instead refresh the 99 Explorer engine

Okay so emissions is not a concern that is good
How many miles are on that 99 Explorer?

First thing to know about V8 swap:
none of your V6 stuff will work anymore, but do not sell or get rid of ANYTHING until the conversion is over.
Getting the entire 99 explorer as the donor was the best thing you ever could have done, literally every part you need is there

 

[CDW6212R]

I know you think the Explorer 302 is down on power. But I suggest getting a second opinion, or find another good 302 Explorer to drive/test. These engines don't often fail, but the 4500lbs weight greatly affects how it accelerates. I'm used to my two 302 AWD trucks, I know they aren't quick at all, but they are healthy and pull harder than the 4.0 V6's. The 302 truck will leave a V6 truck off the line, and the SOHC like your Sport Trac will keep up with it after the first second or two. They make similar power, but the V6 has a much better transmission gear range(close ratio).

If you do decide the Mustang 302 is better, fine. You have to use the Explorer exhaust manifolds, nothing else will fit, absolutely nothing else. Those are unique manifolds that only work on the Explorer GT40P heads, which that 2001 truck has. The computer is programmed for those heads, the factory GT40 intake, the restrictive exhaust, intake elbow etc. Changing any great amount from that will require custom programming. Skip that, use the Explorer parts, strip the Mustang engine down to the shortblock. You must use the Explorer oil filter adapter, and that requires the block filter adapter(that unscrews from the block).

If you insist on not using the complete Explorer drivetrain, then the project will be much much longer and harder. I suggest you think very hard on that Explorer engine. Let someone else tell you that the engine is hurt and should be replaced. I'd use the Explorer engine, you could pull it out to an engine stand, and inside of a day be ready to install the whole set(engine/trans/AWD).

The minor electrical work needed to swap into a Sport Trac you can get guidance from here, the several others who have done it. I'd concentrate on that stuff and the initial swap first. The deal with the swap to a true 4WD transfer case, the BW 4406, which is a decent sized project by itself. You can read up here from tons of other threads from examples of every thing you are wanting to do.

The factory PCM can handle a swap to the HO cam and not need any new programming. But many aftermarket cams are going to need new programming, and that's a good $400+ in most cases. There's no magic power to be gained with the stock/mild level engine parts, and adding any cam to it. You'd be lucky to get 15-20hp with a $400 custom cam, plus the custom programming. I'm not trying to stop you from making the swap project work, but here we've all seen it before.

The cam swap isn't really worth the cost when you total the parts, tuning, time and money. You now have a 302 HO cam, most Explorer people haven't had one handy. It's not that hard to swap out the cams when you have the engines out. In either case, I'd have the valve springs replaced with OEM/equivalents. The HO cam will work fine with the same valvetrain parts. If the engine smoked at all before, it'd be smart to take the heads to be refurbished also.

 

[hunter5]

Thanks for your comments, here is my response


The explorer engine is down on power so I don't think it would therefore be as good of a starting point.


why do I "have" to use the explorer heads, manifolds, intakes?

Regarding the front dress stuff, yes, understood, one of the reasons I bought the donor was because I assumed there was a chance the mustang front dress would be different.

Regarding the transmission, if you are saying my 02 sport trac won't work behind it, and I think I've seen that mentioned a couple times, then ok. I understand this. I'm not beholden to keeping the current transmission, as I mentioned its got a lot of miles on it anyway. But do I have to use the explorer transmission? I don't know what the BW4406 swap is. All I know is I want to keep the selectable, 4x4 with the switch, I do not want AWD.. I want the same type of 4x4 I have now which is not manual. I don't care if its my trans, an F150 trans, the donor trans, etc. If someone could tell me exactly what I need to make that happen (and if there are more than one way to do it) that would be appreciated.


Maybe this is why the explorer didn't feel powerful to me. Regardless, I'd like to get a better aftermarket cam anyway.

 

[hunter5]

The heads on the explorer 5.0 have better flow/ are capable of more horsepower. Back when I had my mustang all the guys were swapping the gt40 heads for a cheap hp boost. The only difference in the intake is the height,longer runners for more tourqe.
I've never seen a 5.0 roller that you couldn't swap parts around on.
The mustang motor won't help any as the only reason it makes more power is the firing order of the High Output 5.0 is not the same as the the other 5.0's. The ecu for the mountaineer won't have the ability to run the mustang firing order. But any part will swap and the parts are cheap.

 

[CDW6212R]

The heads on the explorer 5.0 have better flow/ are capable of more horsepower. Back when I had my mustang all the guys were swapping the gt40 heads for a cheap hp boost. The only difference in the intake is the height,longer runners for more tourqe.
I've never seen a 5.0 roller that you couldn't swap parts around on.
The mustang motor won't help any as the only reason it makes more power is the firing order of the High Output 5.0 is not the same as the the other 5.0's. The ecu for the mountaineer won't have the ability to run the mustang firing order. But any part will swap and the parts are cheap.

The firing order of all 302/351 roller engines is the same 13726548. The old firing order died in the 80's with the past small 302 parts, 60's to 80's stuff. Don't use any of that stuff.

 

[hunter5]

The firing order of all 302/351 roller engines is the same 13726548. The old firing order died in the 80's with the past small 302 parts, 60's to 80's stuff. Don't use any of that stuff.

Yea. My mustang was an 88 GT 5.0 HO there were a few of the older motors running around in town cars and broncos.
I can just remember my mom's town car running a different timing than my mustang. I wana say 3 and 5 were switched,It seems like there were a few crossover years for the 5.0 as well.
I've seen a few with coil packs and some really rare dohc right before the switch to 4.6. Only saw one of those though.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, the Lincolns and similar body CV/GM's were using the old base 302 and old firing order into the late 80's. My friend has 2-3 of those, he thought they were worth keeping, he had one given to him. I talked him into moving them outside at least. Those aren't worth much except for original replacement parts in those older cars.