Weighing my options: V6 or V8

[Sparky94]

I need to decide what to do with my engine situation. I am trying to be logical about it and find the best option for the money so i need advice and opinions. OK, my 4.0 needs new head gaskets (cause of an oil leak), valves, harmonic balancer, exhaust headers, exhaust manifold gaskets (it has an exhaust leak that i can't find), replaced the egr but still makes noises, some form of transmission work (it leaks also), and sputters at high RPMs on downshift the engine has 270K miles on it. Plus we all know that engine is in a power crisis from day one. So my question is: Would it cost more to swap in a good running 5.0 and trans or fix all my issues on the V6? Or would it cost the same? Cost figures are helpful too since i am a student on a budget with an explorer with issues. Thank you!

 

[wood1]

If you are focused on fixing the Ex and not getting rid of it... I would find a good engine and trans from another Ex. Find a junkyard that will guarantee a good motor and trans. A bit of labour but you'll get it sorted out in the end. The smarter option would be to go out and get yourself a little Japanese ****-box that gets 45 MPG until you graduate and get a good job. Once you are sorted out and you want to have an old Ex drag it out and fix it then. It cost money to keep these old beasts on the road and having a little rice-burner that never breaks and sips gas would be the way to go if you are on a fixed income.

Just my take on things...

Cheers,
Wood

 

[Lacky01]

I know what wood says sound crappy, but that is exactly what I'm doing. It sucks because I LOVE driving my ex. However when I'm done with school ill be able to put in a solid axle and can afford to drive it. Sucks now = rocks later.

 

[Sparky94]

No japanese **** boxes for me. My explorer eats them every morning. Where i live and go i need a truck. i love my x. I can afford to fix it, its just i want to put my money where it would benefit me in the long run cause it has to last me for a long time, and i don't know what mpg is cause there are 5 trucks in our driveway that we drive and use. Structurally the truck is perfect. Creaks, squeaks, rattles are nonexistent, a few dents, but no rust, just a crappy engine/trans. BTW it has all those issues at the same time....

 

[Lacky01]

Well in that case, more power to ya :^)
I'm not sure which direction would be best for YOU. If it were me and my truck, I would swap in a good tranny and motor from a donor vehicle; be it from a junk yard or a rolled truck. It would be quicker and cheaper and you'd have your truck on the road sooner.

A V8 would be fun though...

 

[Varsity]

I would think a donor V6 would be an overall better option like everyone has said. V8's are sweet but there's a lot of work to be done. People do it all the time, but it may take awhile and probably be expensive. I agree with the others, grab an old donor motor and pop that sucker in if need be. Then when you have the time to have the Explorer out of commission for awhile, you can have the fun with poppin' a V8 in.

 

[Sparky94]

Lacky01, thank you. I'm one of those people who think that anything less than 8 cylinders is stunted due to the fact that my mom has a 300+hp GMC and my brother has 400ci big block F100. now i just got to find a donor............

 

[Sparky94]

got a question: would a sohc v6 bolt up to an a4ld? i don't like the 5speed auto that they come with and wiring for that trans would be hell on a gen1. also what about the timing chains? there is a '00-'01 explorer with the engine in my area, would it be affected by the issue?

 

[Jason94sport]

I'd go V8 swap. If the engine & trans has to come out anyway, may as well put something better in there. You have a 2WD, so there is no 4x4 to worry about. The wiring is not hard either. Or you can go to a M5R2 5 speed manual.

 

[Sparky94]

Here's another thing to put into mind, there is also a 2000-2001 5.0 ex close by in a junk yard. i know its been sitting there for bout a year, and the truck looks like it has been rolled. idk if it is awd or if it's still there. would that be a good candidate? besides, i don't have the resources or know how to do a swap of that magnitude. so i'll be paying one of the shops around here to do it. 5.0s are not too common around here. i have one of the only 4 1st gens in my area and the ONLY one in my neighborhood.

 

[Joe Dirt]

If you're not doing the swap, how much is the quote to do all of the work?

I'd bet a motor + shop labor + materials is going to be every bit of at least 2k, probably closer to 3k. Get a real quote before you proceed. Make sure they're quoting, and not estimating, it's a lot of work to have done at $50-70/hour or whatever. Me? I'd take the money you're looking to put into a nearly 300k mile body Ex, sell yours to put some more money in your hand, and just buy a Gen II V8 already finished. I wouldn't even screw around with a swap if you have to pay someone to do it. Just my .02

 

[Sparky94]

Joe Dirt: I CAN NOT sell the truck. I'm pretty sure it doesn't cost 3 grand to swap. All I have to do is save up for it, get a donor, and let my cousin take care of the rest if he's up to it. Simple.

 

[sport97]

Joe Dirt: I CAN NOT sell the truck. I'm pretty sure it doesn't cost 3 grand to swap. All I have to do is save up for it, get a donor, and let my cousin take care of the rest if he's up to it. Simple.

3000 is what I would expect, remember they have to figure out the wiring, switch over motor mounts, exhaust and such. A motor swap with the same engine could cost close to 1500 or 2000 depending on what you pay for the engine.

 

[FIND]

Yeah, I'd say Joe's estimate is about spot on, possibly low even.

Guys on here doing the swap themselves can spend 1500 to 2000 easily for the swap. There is the cost of the donor, fluids, exhaust and all kinds of miscellaneous expenses. If it was a cheap, easy swap, no one here would have a 4.0 in their truck anymore.

 

[Jason94sport]

i wouldn't even screw around with a swap if you have to pay someone to do it

x2

 

[kert0307]

x2

x3 Plus I would swap in a Cummins 4bt

Then you could get your 30mpgs and still have torque!

 

[Joe Dirt]

All I have to do is save up for it, get a donor, and let my cousin take care of the rest if he's up to it. Simple.

No offense, but those reasons only say that you have no idea how much this is actually going to cost. It's your call though, cuz it's your truck.

 

[Sparky94]

Ok, so i should keep the V6 and fix it? I know i have to put about 2k in the engine bay anyway. I've already put 1k in the ingine, and it seems like i have gotten nowhere with the truck and i've had the thing for three years. I just dumped 1k in it in the past two months, but that sorta got somewhere with the truck. Its daunting.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Well, it's hard to say- if it were me, being that you think the engine is done and the trans needs work too, I'd get rid of it, and get a newer Ex with some of the money from the truck along with what I was going to spend on fixing it. That's just me though, and you said that you're not going to sell it so it's just hard to say. Regardless, looking at it from the outside, it's still a nearly 300,000 mile 17 year old truck that needs the 2 most important pieces needed to make it run, replaced. If you had a ton of other mods done like suspension, paint, etc, etc, maybe that would be different, but your sig says it's a stock truck. Just my thoughts...

 

[FIND]

You can locate the leaks on your transmission, and maybe decide if it needs replaced....

You can get an used 4.0 from a salvage yard for around $400, have it put in for probably in the neighborhood of a thousand bucks. The transmission, if you need to replace it, is going to cost you another few hundred, and a few hundred more to put in.

If there is nothing wrong with your engine though, aside from your head gasket leak, (are you sure it is a head gasket and not a valve cover gasket leaking?) then you should just replace the head gasket. You can do it yourself with the resources on this site and all the members willing to answer your questions. The cost of the gaskets, bolts, and even the few tools you would need to buy to do the job if you don't have tools should be under $350-400. If you need valves or head work, just buy some remanufactured heads, and you are only another 400-500 into the job.

A transmission is a little harder to replace, just because it is big, heavy and hard to reach. But, if it is just something like the pan gasket leaking, then you can change the tranny fluid while you are at it, and have only $100 into that job.

How do you know you need valves or a harmonic balancer? Exhaust leak? Well, for that you are just going to have to feel around a bit when you first start the engine up. If you have something to make smoke, or know a smoker, you can use the smoke to find a leak too. What is wrong with your exhaust manifolds? The only thing that could be wrong with them is that they are cracked, and if they are, then that is where your leak is..... Sounds a lot like you are just getting emo about the problems your truck is having.....

Anyways, let's see if we can figure out EXACTLY what your problems are, because I have my doubts that you know at this point. From there, we can tell you exactly how to fix them, what tools you need, or what you should expect to pay someone else to fix them, and whether or not it is worth keeping the truck.

Honestly, unless you have some type of emotional attachment to this truck though, I have no idea why you would want to keep it if your repair bills are going to be as high as you think. You can find good 1st gens for under $1500 all day. I buy them all the time for between $300 and $1000. You can even find some decent second gens for under $2000.... These trucks are getting old.... But, your truck probably won't cost that much to fix, you sound like you are just a little over-excited.

Don't be offended by the things I am saying, you just don't sound very mechanically inclined or very sure about what is going on with your truck. I just want to help you out.