Explorer motor?

rtusnake · 09-21-2006, 03:47 PM

We have an explorer with a 5.0 with just over 100k miles. Just wondering how much work it would be to swap it into my 93? I have heard the transmission will bolt up, just something to last until maybe I could get something better. Just wondering if this would be a better idea than doing the 2.3 turbo

QWKSNKE · 09-21-2006, 08:01 PM

you still will have to fool with the wiring harness.

If you are up to that then go for it

coupe · 09-21-2006, 09:00 PM

Yes, it's a better idea than the 2.3 turbo.

SvoBrown · 09-21-2006, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coupe

Yes, it's a better idea than the 2.3 turbo.

Yeah, he's right. Do an stand alone ecu and a good tune. You'll love it.

rtusnake · 09-21-2006, 10:19 PM

Done a small amount of research and doesn't seem like alot of stuff to change. Getting the truck in tomorrow and i'm going to see how it runs. What would be a good stand alone to use? I don't know much about the pushrods

rtusnake · 09-22-2006, 12:38 AM

Seems the aftermarket parts are much cheaper than the ones for the mod motors as well

patrickmx2 · 09-22-2006, 08:27 AM

Newbie here. I followed the link from Tweecer RT page.

What would you like to know. I have this in my 1989 Mustang which used to be a 2.3 4cylinder 5 speed. Here are my specs.

Factory Original 97 Explorer engine
Stock Rockers.
Stock cam, that came in the engine.
Stock Cobra upper placed on top, Explorer fits but didnt change the fittings yet.
Stock injectors. 19lb
Stock fuel pressure
65MM Throttle body
73 MM C&L - stock maf sensor
Stock V8 Mustang Filter and box, silencer removed.
Intake spacer.
Standard pulleys.
Shorty FMS headers- for these GT40P heads.
Mac-Pro Chamber H- or Box pipe.
FACTORY 17" Mustang Mufflers.
TCI AOD tranny and 10" converter, shift kit and lockup retained.
3.27 gears.
3500lb car with me in it.
A9P Computer.

This car is daily driven 100 miles per day. 25-27mpg. Ice cold A/C
with a 94-95 condensor fabbed in with R134. Exhaust was chosen for
the commute silence. Turns 8.40's on a 600 foot track. True Radials. 1.90-2.00 sixty foot. 10 degrees of base timing. EGR deleted and wired closed, NO tuner or chip installed yet. I run 87 octane, more octane slows the car down even with more timing. A tip I picked up from reading Smokey
Unich. K-member, coil overs, A-arms, adjustable shocks and struts.
Lakewood traction action rear lowers, factory uppers with 1" raise at
rear mounting points. This car is set up to take full advantage of
the bottom end torque of the Explorer engine. All I did was slap a
new timing chain on it and front timing cover / water pump for the
Mustang. Engine has 160K miles on it as of right now.

I shift at 5000. The car quickly tops out at 135mph due to the AOD
will not take full throttle upshift to 4th as we all know, in this
configuration.

I have 4 Mustangs. I'm planning this same combo placed into a 5 speed car with more gear and lightened up and looking for 7's. Slap on some roller rockers, Flow Masters, a better cam and intake maybe. My Salvage yard has the Explorer engines for $450 a pop.

My main thing learned in street / drag racing is bottom end torque is what you need. Forget horsepower. Horsepower is for Nascar or track racing where you cross the finish line more than once. Build for torque and traction and reduce weight. The GT40p heads have impressed me and so many Explorer engines are sitting in junk yards right now just waiting. But have been overlooked because of the special headers required, and yet most will spend twice as much on a slower mis-matched combination. I know because I spend a good time leaving them at the starting line at my local track. Those cars don't run good until about 4500rpm and the race is over by then.

It was a very simple swap. You will need an Oil Filter mount. Which is about $10. I chose not to use the Explorer one.

rtusnake · 09-22-2006, 03:54 PM

Thanks for the info, I'm not really worried about the horsepower either, anything will be better than the 2.3. I like the sound of the v8s and when people ask about my car I can finally tell them its a v8 car

86GT · 09-23-2006, 02:21 PM

Depending on the year of the explorer the heads are different that will cause different headers. I believe it was the GT40P heads. The spark plug angle was designed different so that Ford could get the 5.0 to pass smog on a EEC-IV. They also have different injector plugs. I believe they are EV1 style.

Again depending on the year they had either 17lbs injectors or 19lbs. Just make sure to do your homework.

rtusnake · 09-23-2006, 03:26 PM

Yeah I checked on the heads and it has the earlier gt40 heads. The motor has more miles than our guy said it did so i'm debating on doing it or not.

09-21-2006, 03:47 PM	#1
rtusnake Halfshaft Killer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Kingdom Posts: 3,910	Explorer motor? We have an explorer with a 5.0 with just over 100k miles. Just wondering how much work it would be to swap it into my 93? I have heard the transmission will bolt up, just something to last until maybe I could get something better. Just wondering if this would be a better idea than doing the 2.3 turbo __________________ 03 Cobra 06 F250 (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

09-21-2006, 09:00 PM	#3
coupe Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,313	Yes, it's a better idea than the 2.3 turbo. __________________ " If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. " - Albert Einstein

09-21-2006, 10:19 PM	#5
rtusnake Halfshaft Killer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Kingdom Posts: 3,910	Done a small amount of research and doesn't seem like alot of stuff to change. Getting the truck in tomorrow and i'm going to see how it runs. What would be a good stand alone to use? I don't know much about the pushrods __________________ 03 Cobra 06 F250 (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

09-22-2006, 12:38 AM	#6
rtusnake Halfshaft Killer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Kingdom Posts: 3,910	Seems the aftermarket parts are much cheaper than the ones for the mod motors as well __________________ 03 Cobra 06 F250 (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

09-22-2006, 08:27 AM	#7
patrickmx2 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1	Explorer Motor Swap Newbie here. I followed the link from Tweecer RT page. What would you like to know. I have this in my 1989 Mustang which used to be a 2.3 4cylinder 5 speed. Here are my specs. Factory Original 97 Explorer engine Stock Rockers. Stock cam, that came in the engine. Stock Cobra upper placed on top, Explorer fits but didnt change the fittings yet. Stock injectors. 19lb Stock fuel pressure 65MM Throttle body 73 MM C&L - stock maf sensor Stock V8 Mustang Filter and box, silencer removed. Intake spacer. Standard pulleys. Shorty FMS headers- for these GT40P heads. Mac-Pro Chamber H- or Box pipe. FACTORY 17" Mustang Mufflers. TCI AOD tranny and 10" converter, shift kit and lockup retained. 3.27 gears. 3500lb car with me in it. A9P Computer. This car is daily driven 100 miles per day. 25-27mpg. Ice cold A/C with a 94-95 condensor fabbed in with R134. Exhaust was chosen for the commute silence. Turns 8.40's on a 600 foot track. True Radials. 1.90-2.00 sixty foot. 10 degrees of base timing. EGR deleted and wired closed, NO tuner or chip installed yet. I run 87 octane, more octane slows the car down even with more timing. A tip I picked up from reading Smokey Unich. K-member, coil overs, A-arms, adjustable shocks and struts. Lakewood traction action rear lowers, factory uppers with 1" raise at rear mounting points. This car is set up to take full advantage of the bottom end torque of the Explorer engine. All I did was slap a new timing chain on it and front timing cover / water pump for the Mustang. Engine has 160K miles on it as of right now. I shift at 5000. The car quickly tops out at 135mph due to the AOD will not take full throttle upshift to 4th as we all know, in this configuration. I have 4 Mustangs. I'm planning this same combo placed into a 5 speed car with more gear and lightened up and looking for 7's. Slap on some roller rockers, Flow Masters, a better cam and intake maybe. My Salvage yard has the Explorer engines for $450 a pop. My main thing learned in street / drag racing is bottom end torque is what you need. Forget horsepower. Horsepower is for Nascar or track racing where you cross the finish line more than once. Build for torque and traction and reduce weight. The GT40p heads have impressed me and so many Explorer engines are sitting in junk yards right now just waiting. But have been overlooked because of the special headers required, and yet most will spend twice as much on a slower mis-matched combination. I know because I spend a good time leaving them at the starting line at my local track. Those cars don't run good until about 4500rpm and the race is over by then. It was a very simple swap. You will need an Oil Filter mount. Which is about $10. I chose not to use the Explorer one.

09-21-2006, 08:01 PM	#2
QWKSNKE 3v's are slow Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Here and There Posts: 17,152	you still will have to fool with the wiring harness. If you are up to that then go for it

09-22-2006, 03:54 PM	#8
rtusnake Halfshaft Killer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Kingdom Posts: 3,910	Thanks for the info, I'm not really worried about the horsepower either, anything will be better than the 2.3. I like the sound of the v8s and when people ask about my car I can finally tell them its a v8 car __________________ 03 Cobra 06 F250 (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

09-23-2006, 02:21 PM	#9
86GT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 449	Depending on the year of the explorer the heads are different that will cause different headers. I believe it was the GT40P heads. The spark plug angle was designed different so that Ford could get the 5.0 to pass smog on a EEC-IV. They also have different injector plugs. I believe they are EV1 style. Again depending on the year they had either 17lbs injectors or 19lbs. Just make sure to do your homework. __________________ EEC Analyzer A9M, TwEECer, 306ci, 73mm C&L w Tuner Tube, Cobra Intake, 42# inj, Edelbrock 6037, E303 cam, 155 fuel pump, FPR, 70mm TB, E-Fan, 3.55 gears, Powerdyne 9psi actual 5psi...way more.

09-23-2006, 03:26 PM	#10
rtusnake Halfshaft Killer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Kingdom Posts: 3,910	Yeah I checked on the heads and it has the earlier gt40 heads. The motor has more miles than our guy said it did so i'm debating on doing it or not. __________________ 03 Cobra 06 F250 (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")