4bt swap -- 95 Explorer

[Snoranger]

is this thing finished yet

It would be, but it took like 3 weeks to get some part i ordered, wise-ass.

 

[Snoranger]

Its time for an overdue update. The hurricane last weekend set me back alittle but I made some good progress this weekend.

I ditched the motor mount crossmember idea. It was going to be in the way of the lower hose. I also changed from the liquid filled mounts to a stock dodge style mount (anchor #2469). Enough talking, check out the pics and ask questions if need be.

I had to set the drivers side mount a little higher for power steering house clearance and the pass side mount a little lower for rad hose clearance.

The motor mount brackets are 1/2" plate (on the block), 3/8" plate (at the mount), and 1/4" plate (for the gussets). I feel pretty confident they wont bend or break.

Im going to use the stock manifold for now. It looks like the header I got wont allow me to run A/C.

The trans lined up with the stock crossmember. I had to flip the mount around and grind the holes slightly. (The F series trans mount studs are a little closer then the RBV.)

Next step is to fit an oil pan in here. Shouldnt be too bad.

Tons of clearance with the Powerstroke starter.

I dont think steering shaft clearance will be an issue.

Neither will the hoses.

I also countersunk the idler/fan/vacuum pump pulley bolts. It looks nicer and it will give me a tiny bit more room for an electric fan.

 

[Snoranger]

Oil pan cut, welded, and painted. Its painted inside and out with POR15 and top coated black outside.

Yes its black. That just from the flash.

Its been clearanced for the diff and the axle disconnect. Everything I added was 1/8" steel. All welding was done with our trusty stick welder ( I wish I could have gotten my hands on a TIG, but you make due with what you have.)

It holds 9 qts (about 10 with filter). Stock is 12 with the filter. So I'm down 2 qts in capacity, I'm not concerned. I'll make up for that when I get around to adding a bypass filter.

 

[Mini-Stroke...]

Subscribing

 

[jhammel85]

Looks great so far! Looking forward to seeing it done!

 

[Snoranger]

Looks great so far! Looking forward to seeing it done!

Thanks. Me too, Its taking a lot longer then I want it too. Damn work, kid, house, wife, etc getting in my way!

 

[84bluebronco2]

What's the news on this? It's really cool to see one of our members tackling this swap!

 

[Snoranger]

What's the news on this? It's really cool to see one of our members tackling this swap!

There is no good news. I have to put it on hold for a short time. The engine in my wifes Altima took a sh!t.

(Stay away from the '02-'06 Nissan Altima 2.5l. Nissan came up with the great idea to use the variable valve timing to hang to exhaust valves open a split-second longer on deceleration. This has the same effect as an EGR valve, with less parts to go bad. Doesnt sound like a bad idea right?

WRONG, They cat is built into the exhaust manifold. They like to fall apart on this engine. First one went at 83k miles, second one at 166k. When they fall apart, they suck pieces of the cat into the engine. That wipes out the rings and cyl walls in a hurry. It now pours smoke out and burns about 2 qts of oil a week. Needless to say she's not driving it anymore.)

So it will be a few weeks before I can get back to this fulltime. I may be able to find an hour here or there to work on it, but the money is the big deterrent until we get her a new car.

If anyone has a good suggestion for a new car, let me know. She wants:
-4 Door (kids)
-AWD
-decent power (I know the 2.5l wasnt anything special, but she had a 3.8l supercharged Buick Regal and a TT 300ZX before this thing. It doesnt have to be that fast, but no pansy car this time. her words, not mine.)
-decent MPG (She drives about 18k a year on average.)


-Should be a Ford... we get the A-plan.






For anyone thats worried that this is going to turn into one of those unfinished projects that people stumble across years later and bring the thread back up with "What ever happened to this?"

This project will get finished. I never give up on anything. Its just going to take a little longer then planned.

 

[BRONCMAN]

Best of luck to you & that's an awesome build! Have you considered a v6 escape for your wife. I know of a few people that have them & had nothing but good things to say. Good mpg & good power with the v6.

 

[4.0B2]

Get her the new Taurus SHO! Not awd.. But..
Or a subaru.. Idk many awd cars anymore....

My limited dealings with the v6 chargers are positive.

 

[Snoranger]

Best of luck to you & that's an awesome build! Have you considered a v6 escape for your wife. I know of a few people that have them & had nothing but good things to say. Good mpg & good power with the v6.

Thats prob what we will wind up with. We rented a 4 cyl Escape to drive to Georgia last year. It was a nice car but the 4 cyl was WAYYY under powered for the mountains on 81. That thing never saw less then 4K RPM all the way there.... What, it was a rental! My grandparents have a Merc Mariner, i have to take it for a ride and see how I like it.

Get her the new Taurus SHO! Not awd.. But..
Or a subaru.. Idk many awd cars anymore....

My limited dealings with the v6 chargers are positive.

Subi's are my next choice. I wont own a Mopar. (unless its a Superbird, Daytona, 'Cuda, etc)

 

[4.0B2]

i've never owned a subi.. but they are fun to drive.

 

[newbronco2]

If you buy an escape watch out for the 2005/2006 they had problems with the PCM and the ignition coils, cost like $1800.00 buck to fix, we do at least 6 or so a year here.

Good luck
Tim

 

[Snoranger]

If you buy an escape watch out for the 2005/2006 they had problems with the PCM and the ignition coils, cost like $1800.00 buck to fix, we do at least 6 or so a year here.

Good luck
Tim

Thanks, but anything we buy will be new.

 

[Snoranger]

Little bit of an update.

I havent had time to work on this lately. We've got a 3 man shop thats down to 1 man, me!
The owner was in the hospital for over a week with Legionnaires disease, he's been working part time, light duty. The other guy's wife had an aneurysm burst in her brain, was in ICU for 2 months, rehab for another month, and now had a stroke. He has only been in about 2 days a week since the first incident. And the forklifts dont want to hear it, they just keep braking down anyway.

I did order a bypass filter set-up for it, I'll post some pics when it comes in.

I also acquired an '01-ish Powerdome hood and some aftermarket '06 Ranger headlights and markers. I need some 98+ Ranger fenders and '04+ grille and header panel.

(After the engine swap is done) The plan is to graft the Ranger and Explorer fenders together, use the 04+ front end, and the Powerdome hood (modified to fit the 04+ grille) and repaint the whole truck.
I already pulled my hood off and set the powerdome hood on, looks like I need to modify the hood hinges a little, and graft in the tops of the fenders. Shouldnt be too bad, I have a spare '00 Ex to do all the fitting and modifying. Then its just a matter of swapping it all over to my truck.