4.0 Rebuild $$$

[woodyedmiston]

V8 Swap

I'm beginning to think it would be cheaper to look for a V8 Explorer and swap the engine and harness into my 99. The cleaning, boring, heads etc. add up really quick on the V6.

With the right deal on a low mileage Explorer - you could swap in the engine and computer and get better power at about the same mileage. Those of you who want a screamer could add all that Roush/Saleen stuff to make it even mo' better. Just a thought.

 

[LittleHorse]

There are a lot of different "levels" of rebuilding an engine.

My usual routine is to disassemble, and then see what NEEDS done. In the vast majority of cases, I end up having the crank polished, the cylinders honed (not bored), and I replace the crank and rod bearings and piston rings. I had an engine bored once because it had sat for months with a bad head gasket and a cylinder full of water, so when I got it apart it was a cylinder full of rust. Even then I only bored .020" to get through all the pitting.

On the heads, I usually just have the seats and the valve faces ground to a 3-angle sealing surface, and replace the cam bearings and valve seals. Never had to replace seats or guides, or any hard parts.

I always replace the timing set.

My machine work bill for all of this comes in under $500 (even with the bore job). And I get the rebuild kit that just has gaskets, bearings, and valve seals, and a timing set so that's usually around $500. All in all the total comes in around $1000.


Oddly enough I actually enjoy rebuilding an engine WAY more than I enjoy pulling it out and shoving it back in...so I figure if I'm gonna have to R&R anyway I'd rather get the enjoyment of building it too. What can I say, I really liked playing with legos as a kid.