Backwards engine swap

[FORDboy357]

I've picked up a 1996 Eddie Bower exploder for $500 that is in fantastic shape apart from the ran-hot motor.

And I'm going to pick up a 1999 Ranger 4wd 4.0 for a manual transmission swap for my '97

My question is this: how hard is it to go from a SOHC in the explorer to an OHV?

I'm hoping to knock out two birds with one stone because it is really hard to find a complete 97+ 4wd 5-speed explorer sport for cheap, not to mention a 2001+ ranger.

I'd rather have the M5OD-R1HD in my ranger.

 

[jdm_farmboy]

Wait, I'm lost. Where is the OHC motor coming from? It didn't come out in the Explorer until '97 and it wasn't out in the Ranger in 2001. The M5OD-R1HD came out with the OHC in those years as well. I think the most interesting thing is that you actually mentioned those generation breaks.

But anyways taking a 99 OHV motor and putting it in place of a 96 OHV motor should be relatively easy so long as you transfer sensors and such.

 

[AllanD]

The M5OD-R1HD didn't actually come out until late '00 because until there were Rangers there were basically no OHC-5sp trucks.

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[FORDboy357]

Wait, I'm lost. Where is the OHC motor coming from? It didn't come out in the Explorer until '97 and it wasn't out in the Ranger in 2001. The M5OD-R1HD came out with the OHC in those years as well. I think the most interesting thing is that you actually mentioned those generation breaks.

But anyways taking a 99 OHV motor and putting it in place of a 96 OHV motor should be relatively easy so long as you transfer sensors and such.

Sorry, it is a '97, build date is '96. My mistake.

So I'm wanting to go from SOHC (which is bad) in the Explorer to a good OHV.

The M5OD-R1HD didn't actually come out until late '00 because until there were Rangers there were basically no OHC-5sp trucks.

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Well I'm wanting to find a '97+ Explorer Sport because they were the first to have the HD manual. This would be ideal because it would have all the parts I need to swap my '97 Ranger over to manual and replace the SOHC in the explorer.

 

[bilzy7]

I guess if you wanna... Most people go from ohv to sohc. Same problems as going ohv to sohc. Just backwards.

 

[4x4junkie]

Well I'm wanting to find a '97+ Explorer Sport because they were the first to have the HD manual. This would be ideal because it would have all the parts I need to swap my '97 Ranger over to manual and replace the SOHC in the explorer.

Again... No 5-speeds with the SOHC motor in '97 Explorers (5-speed only came with the OHV engine until at least '01).

 

[FORDboy357]

Again... No 5-speeds with the SOHC motor in '97 Explorers (5-speed only came with the OHV engine until at least '01).

According to Explorer forums, the m5-hd could be had behind the sohc from 97-02.

 

[4x4junkie]

I have a '97 Explorer brochure here that only lists a manual trans being available with the OHV motor (M5OD-R1). All the SOHC engines came with the automatic (though I just remembered the auto is also a 5-speed, maybe that's where some of the confusion is coming from ).

You have to look in '01up 4.0L vehicles to find the M5OD-R1HD manual trans.

 

[FORDboy357]

I have a '97 Explorer brochure here that only lists a manual trans being available with the OHV motor (M5OD-R1). All the SOHC engines came with the automatic (though I just remembered the auto is also a 5-speed, maybe that's where some of the confusion is coming from ).

You have to look in '01up 4.0L vehicles to find the M5OD-R1HD manual trans.

Even in the tech articles here it says the HD came in 97+ sports.

 

[4x4junkie]

Well, I wouldn't think a factory Ford brochure would omit something as major as a transmission option, however if you do come across one (and you can verify it's factory and not swapped-in), I'm all ears.

I brought up a discussion about it in our Staff forum (thank you for pointing it out). If it's in error, hopefully we can get it straightened out.

 

[FORDboy357]

Well, I wouldn't think a factory Ford brochure would omit something as major as a transmission option, however if you do come across one (and you can verify it's factory and not swapped-in), I'm all ears.

I brought up a discussion about it in our Staff forum (thank you for pointing it out). If it's in error, hopefully we can get it straightened out.

I'll be sure to let you know, but that's not the point of the thread. I just need to know if it's possible (and within a reasonable budget) to swap in an OHV 4.0 in place of a blown SOHC 4.0 if you have an entire donor Explorer.

I've found a 96 Explorer Sport I'm going to use as a donor. The manual transmission is going into my 97 Ranger along with a manual 1354 and the Sport's computer. Hopefully, the engine can go in the 97 SOHC Explorer without too much trouble and I will put the Ranger's autotragic computer in to control the 5-speed auto (as it has the 5r55e, so I guess it can talk to the 5r55w just fine)

If there are any issues you see that I'm overlooking, let me know

 

[adsm08]

Same as any other engine swap. Engine, wiring, computer, etc. Go find people who did the OHV to OHC swap and look at what they did. You will have to change all the same parts.