$6k quote for head gaskets on 4.0 SOHC?

[sgtsandman]

Will a 4.0 SOHC from a 5 speed ranger bolt right up to my automatic transmission? I found the exact same truck as mine on marketplace with a bad frame but motor is good and has fewer miles than mine. I'd be able to swap engines and then fix mine in my own time.

Yes, it will bolt right in. The wire harness from your old engine will need to be put on the new to you engine since the plugs for the transmission are different. Both engines will need a detailed inspection to see if anything else needs swapped over.

 

[JJMaine]

Awesome thanks. Just racking my brain to find a good solution as cheap as possible.

 

[JJMaine]

Is an engine swap doable for a guy that has never done one? My thought would be to learn most of what needs to be learned from the donor truck while I'm pulling that engine.

 

[SenorNoob]

That depends what's the most complex thing you've done before? Abd do you have access to a way to lift the engine out?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Is an engine swap doable for a guy that has never done one? My thought would be to learn most of what needs to be learned from the donor truck while I'm pulling that engine.

I would be tempted to do the timing chains while it is on the floor. Could drop the engine off and have someone do the timing chains for that matter.

 

[JJMaine]

I've torn down and rebuilt motorcycle engines so I have some mechanical knowledge and common sense. I think I'd have to buy a cherry picker from harbor freight?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I've torn down and rebuilt motorcycle engines so I have some mechanical knowledge and common sense. I think I'd have to buy a cherry picker from harbor freight?

Some places rent them too if you don't want to own one forever.

Don't be afraid of a used one if the cylinder works ok too.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Be sure you keep the manual transmission... pedals and wire harness/ECM.

Just because you never know...

 

[avid]

Is an engine swap doable for a guy that has never done one? My thought would be to learn most of what needs to be learned from the donor truck while I'm pulling that engine.

I swapped my 4.0 OHV with zero previous experience. I just followed the service manual instructions, labeled everything with painters tape, and took a lot of photos. It's intimidating before you do it, but it's not rocket surgery. Plus you can find youtube videos for just about everything these days, and people here are occasionally helpful with questions. If you've done a motorcycle engine you already know basically what kind of work you're looking at.

The first time I did it I rented an engine hoist (twice) and bought an engine stand from Harbor freight. I think the rental was around $75 each time and the stand cost about $50. The second time I did it I just bought a used engine hoist off either craigslist or facebook marketplace (can't remember which) for maybe $80 and bought another engine stand for more like $75 now (sold the first one and prices have gone up a lot on them).

 

[sgtsandman]

Is an engine swap doable for a guy that has never done one? My thought would be to learn most of what needs to be learned from the donor truck while I'm pulling that engine.

If you have mechanical ability and attentuon to detail, it is not hard to do. Just remember to support the front of the transmission before you pull the engine. Nothing is holding it up in the front other than the engine. Taking the hood off helps a lot too.

Just go slow in case you missed a connector on the wire harness somewhere. A leveler helps with angling the engine in and out of the engine bay as well. Expect to be replacing studs for the exhaust manifolds both where they bolt to the heads and where they connect to the catalytic converters. This assuming the new engine doesn't come with the manifolds. Even if it does, the studs to the catalytic converters will probably be cut.