Help Identify 96 Explorer 5.0

[Gozi]

Been looking for a 96 Ford Explorer 5.0 for a few months now with no luck but found a guy who says he just took one out and has it in his garage. I haven't seen it yet but was wondering how to tell its a 96 explorer 5.0 motor. I read it has a 8th digit but I don't know what that means. Any help or examples on how the block numbers should read would be great help.

 

[Dirtman]

Just out of curiosity, why is the 96 year so important?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I *think* all the explorer 5.0s had EDIS. If its from a F series itll have a distributor, and i think 96 mustangs had a 4.6

 

[Gozi]

Looking for motor for my 1996.

Just out of curiosity, why is the 96 year so important?

Thought it was best to find engine same year for swap pre 1998

 

[Dirtman]

95 and down yes but 96 up I dont think mattered.

 

[Gozi]

96 was first year they made the 5.0 for the Explorer. 98 has stuff on the vehicle that would be needed.

 

[Dirtman]

You referring to the Pat's system?

 

[Gozi]

yes

 

[adsm08]

You can't tell the exact model year from just an engine. You can sometimes narrow it down. For example if you can find a whole part number on the block that can tell you the earliest year that block casting was used. Same with the heads. A 96 or 97 Explorer 5.0 should have a return style fuel rail, while 98-01 will have a returnless.

The Explorer engine will be EDIS, and an E/F Series engine will have a distributor, like Rusty said. 95 was the last year for Mustang 5.0. The Explorer/Mustang intakes also have name plates on top that tell you what they came from, and are very very different (much shorter vertically and only a single throttle port instead of twinned port) than the truck intakes.

The 8th digit you referenced is not on the engine, but in the VIN of the vehicle it came from. All Ford VINs have engine ID codes in the 8th spot that tells you which engine the vehicle came with originally.

 

[Gozi]

You can't tell the exact model year from just an engine. You can sometimes narrow it down. For example if you can find a whole part number on the block that can tell you the earliest year that block casting was used. Same with the heads. A 96 or 97 Explorer 5.0 should have a return style fuel rail, while 98-01 will have a returnless.

The Explorer engine will be EDIS, and an E/F Series engine will have a distributor, like Rusty said. 95 was the last year for Mustang 5.0. The Explorer/Mustang intakes also have name plates on top that tell you what they came from, and are very very different (much shorter vertically and only a single throttle port instead of twinned port) than the truck intakes.

The 8th digit you referenced is not on the engine, but in the VIN of the vehicle it came from. All Ford VINs have engine ID codes in the 8th spot that tells you which engine the vehicle came with originally.

thank you so much.

 

[win]

A '96 should have a round air cleaner box, "hidden MAF sensor, throttle cable is under/behind throttle body and EGR on intake elbow after throttle body. 1st half of '97 V8's will match and neither have PATS.

 

[Snoranger]

96- mid 97 had gt40 heads. Mid 97 + up had gt40p heads. That's the easy way to tell.

 

[Ramcharger90]

Are you doing a stock swap or are to looking to make power? What year is it going in transmission etc?

 

[Gozi]

I went out to look at it today. The guy was moving out and wanted the motor gone. I looked at it for a second a could see a sticker above the intake that read 2-26-97. I told him I was looking for a 96 and was going to not buy it cause of the sticker and just not knowing but he said if I take it I could have it. So I took it and its home. Trying to get it on a engine stand with the lift I rented to get it out of the truck before the rental store closes. Can someone tell me the bolt size that mounts the transmission to the engine. Need it for stand. Will take post pictures later when I have time to resize them.

 

[Gozi]

So that bolt size is 7/16-14. Got the engine in the garage on its stand and will have a friend come over and take a look at it when he has time. May take a couple of weeks I have to work all this weekend. I think it may be a 97 engine but still not sure, hope its not a 98 or newer. The engine was in this guys garage, paperwork he gave me is from a junkyard on the southeast side of Dallas. There are numbers written on every part of the engine with a paint pen. Some wires were unplugged but lots of stuff was cut. Can anyone tell me by looking at these photos if its a 96 or 97 or even 98 or newer. I can take more pictures. thanks