What engine will work in 98

[thopper]

Ok, I hope I don't get flamed for a generic question, I used the search engine, I have been trolling a few days while I was deciding to purchase my truck or not. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I bought a 1998 Ranger extended cab 4x4 that was run hot due to a freeze plug leaking. It has the 4.0 OHV, I have found a couple good deals on 96-97 model motors, but I am told by the dealer and junk yards it has to be a 98-2000. Any advice? Thanks.

 

[adsm08]

98 saw the Explorer start switching to the SOHC, and that may be why they are saying the older engines won't work. The Ranger didn't switch until 2001.

97 and up have block reinforcements to reduce vibration and noise. I'd go for the 97. It should work. Might have to swap some stuff over, but it should work.

 

[shane96ranger]

Ok, I hope I don't get flamed for a generic question, I used the search engine, I have been trolling a few days while I was deciding to purchase my truck or not. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I bought a 1998 Ranger extended cab 4x4 that was run hot due to a freeze plug leaking. It has the 4.0 OHV, I have found a couple good deals on 96-97 model motors, but I am told by the dealer and junk yards it has to be a 98-2000. Any advice? Thanks.

Does yours have a SOHC or OHV 4.0? I think 98 had both available, so that makes a difference.

EDIT:

98 saw the Explorer start switching to the SOHC, and that may be why they are saying the older engines won't work. The Ranger didn't switch until 2001.

97 and up have block reinforcements to reduce vibration and noise. I'd go for the 97. It should work. Might have to swap some stuff over, but it should work.

OK, I was thinking of the Explorer....good call

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

why not looking for a specific 98 engine

 

[RangerSVT]

up to and including 97 had return style fuel system, 98 and newer has returnless, thats the reason why they are different. You can swap out the intake and use any motor you want
SVT

 

[thopper]

I appreciate the help, it is a OHV. I was trying to find a 98-2000, the only local one I found has 170k miles for $500. On the other hand, I have found a 97 4.0 from an Explorer for $150 which the owner bought for a 1999 and then was told it wouldn't work, with 120k miles, and I could get a complete wrecked 96 Explorer with around the same mileage for $500. So the reason I was asking is the huge cost savings.


So RangerSVT, either one of those can be used if I just put my intake on the new motor that I buy?

Thank everyone for the quick replies, I was needing to do something quick because this will be my DD, and I am hoping to do it this weekend. And I don't just have the extra money, so I am trying to save what I can, if possible. Thanks

 

[RangerSVT]

If you grab the ECU and harness that goes from the ECU to the engine, you could swap in a SOHC engine in place of your OHV, just make sure you have return style fuel system. If you can get the whole vehicle, it doesn't matter as you can transplant the fuel system, but for simplicity I'd stay with the same fuel system
SVT

 

[--weezl--]

hold up... the motor in your truck runs hot because of a frost plug issue?

first off, this doesn't sound right, but if it's just running hot, fix this motor rather than replacing it! much less work and money! we can help you repair it dude!

 

[RangerSVT]

If it got too hot, it may have warped something and his reason for swapping engines...I don't trust engines that have overheated for any period of time...
SVT

 

[--weezl--]

if it has overheated, but hasn't blown a head gasket or anything, i honestly wouldn't worry too much, it also depends on how hot... if it's just into the red area, then it's not like it's on the verge of melting or anything...

 

[thopper]

I bought the truck from a friend, it was ran hot, it started losing power and when he pulled over it died. It will crank and miss terrible, there is water in the oil. I think it will be better for me to start over. I priced heads, they are more than a used motor would cost me.

 

[--weezl--]

could just be a head gasket... pull the heads first, if the gaskets look fine, buy a new motor, if the gaskets are blown, take the heads in to get checked, and fix, depending on the machine shop they may not charge you much, if anything to do the planing, after doing the check... on my mustang's heads, i think i was charged $80 for the checking and planing of .003 and .002" on my heads, they also walnut blasted them for me

wouldn't be a bad idea to have the block checked also... i didn't bother though... def get the heads checked, esp if they are aluminum... aluminum heads warp 90% of the time when they are removed, regardless of overheating

 

[thopper]

Just an update, pulling the motor out, I'd rather have it out to take the heads off just to check them, but I'm in the market for a complete wrecked vehicle, would like to go ahead and find a wrecked 5.0 explorer awd.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, sounds like you cooked the engine.

Pretty much any OHV 4.0 will work for you if you swap over everything above the oil pan from your current engine.

Be careful if you try to swap a SOHC in, those had an extra bolt hole in the tranny bell to help spread the extra torque around. The bell bolts don't do much to take up torque, but if they put another hole in, you can bet there was a good reason.

 

[thopper]

I have spent a lot of time in the tech forum, I think the best motor I found to put in is a 98 ohv from an explorer with 64k miles, was rearended. From what I read I will only have to deal with the PATS, but again I'm a newb, but still reading everything I can. All the wrecked one is parted out except for the motor and trans, so nothing else is available.