best replacement for a 4.0?

[swynx]

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119800

That'll be a good read for you. Appears that any parts you buy to fix it will be updated parts that won't fail prematurely. And it also appears that you can run a later year engine. I wondered about that. Pats and obd are odd barriers to cross. Your computer will run the engine. But honestly id buy the new parts and replace it.

 

[97RangerXLT]

start a bank savings account and put 50 bucks in it every payday. Run the current 4.0 until it starts knocking, then find a low mileage 4.0 and freshen it up. (new timing set, new gaskets etc) then swap them out.

If it isn't knocking right now, you may go quite a while (and save up quite a bit of money) before having to fix it.

If it is knocking right now, go ahead and find that low mileage 4.0.

If you want to improve your "less than the average joe" mechanical skills and can handle having the explorer out of commission for a few weeks, do as others have suggested and find a wrecked 5.0 explorer and do the swap. There is a lot of resources here and people who have done this swap that can help you.

Good luck, and post pics of it either way you choose.

AJ

 

[snibblez]

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119800

That'll be a good read for you. Appears that any parts you buy to fix it will be updated parts that won't fail prematurely. And it also appears that you can run a later year engine. I wondered about that. Pats and obd are odd barriers to cross. Your computer will run the engine. But honestly id buy the new parts and replace it.

Thanks I'll be sure to give that a read today.

start a bank savings account and put 50 bucks in it every payday. Run the current 4.0 until it starts knocking, then find a low mileage 4.0 and freshen it up. (new timing set, new gaskets etc) then swap them out.

If it isn't knocking right now, you may go quite a while (and save up quite a bit of money) before having to fix it.

If it is knocking right now, go ahead and find that low mileage 4.0.

If you want to improve your "less than the average joe" mechanical skills and can handle having the explorer out of commission for a few weeks, do as others have suggested and find a wrecked 5.0 explorer and do the swap. There is a lot of resources here and people who have done this swap that can help you.

Good luck, and post pics of it either way you choose.

AJ

Having the explorer not running wont be a bother I have 6 vehicles so having something to drive wont be hard. Worst case if all 6 fail I can borrow one of my fathers 5 lol. This also makes getting a donor explorer a bit tricky as I'm running out of places to store stuff.

The explorer hasn't been started since I bought it. The seller told me that when they replaced the front 3 chains they didn't bother the rear one. The shop that did this didn't use the special tool to keep the rear chain set at its proper location. They started it and it "sounded like ass" and then shut it off and its sat around for 2 years or so.

My fear is bent vales at this point. I'm pretty sure this is a zero clearance motor. One of these weekends when its not below freezing out ill change the fluids and give her a test fire and see what she sounds like. I might just have to take the heads off and swap the rear chain and time it. If that doesn't work and it needs a full rebuild it would just be more cost effective in the long run for a new engine.

As for the 5.0 I ran across a fairly cheap crate 306ci engine for the early mustangs.

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=11752

I think this is the same kind of 302 block everyone was suggesting for the swap. At least they claim the older intakes and extras off the plain jane 302 will fit on it.

I just want to be ready and have a good plan as to witch motor to put in it if the 4.0 turns out do be a dead end. Thanks for all this help thus far its giving me a few great ideas.

 

[swynx]

The reason for the explorer 302 is that everything is already minituarized to fit an rbv.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I just read a thread here on trs. It said in 2003 the problem was very rare to see.running a thicker oil makes the noise go away.

It can make other noises though, it would only add insult to injury to toast cam bearings so you didn't have to hear the timing chain flopping around.

The engine is designed for a certain weight of oil for more than one reason.

The reason for the explorer 302 is that everything is already minituarized to fit an rbv.

The short front accessory drive is one thing, an Explorer donar would get you the wiring, fuel system, trans and driveshafts. For 4k you could get a really nice running 5.0 Explorer with money to spare and just junk the one you have now without ever even getting dirty.

 

[snibblez]

For 4,000 I could buy a really nice explorer but this is what I have. I first bought it for just the axles for my 89 bronco ii but its nice enough to at least explore the options and make a plan as to what I want to do with it.

This project is on the back burner for now since I have a 99 diesel beetle, a porsche 944, and 2 89 ford bronco iis. All of witch need work before I start the exploder lol. If the 4.0 isn't budget friendly to rebuild I would need to sell some stuff before I get a 5.0 explorer donor but at that point wouldn't it just be better to fix that one up.

I was kinda hoping that maybe Lincoln or another maker had a better motor that just bolted up. Since the 4.0 is the largest of the cologne v6 there might not be another option for the the plug and play style of swap.

If our 3-4 inches of snow thaws by next weekend ill try to get some pictures of the timing chain and see where it goes from there.