I have an 05 escape with a 2.3 4cyl auto all wheel drive that the trans went out of. I can not find a replacement in my area so I was thinking of just swapping the whole drivetrain to a v6 set up. I can find lots of them reasonable. Has anyone done this? What all needs to be change? Any info would help

 

This has been done, and there is some really good info here on it.
Use the search option and it should be easy to find.

 

The ONLY way I would attempt such a task would be to purchase the complete donor vehicle and have it parked alongside or close. The computer & harness will have to be swapped as you would be adding a pair of cylinders as a minimum. Mounts and linkage would likely be different. It is not for the faint of heart.
tom

 

I have searched and have found very little on doing it. I'm wondering if I could use the parts from an 07 Escape. I can get one cheap for a donor. And I'm not faint of heart, I've done several engine swaps in the past I just like to know what I'm getting in to.

 

It's a tremendously large project. Just get rid of your dead one and go get a V6 model.

 

That's really not an option its in to good of shape and I have to much in to it already

 

My dad and I put a Ford 5L into a 1974 Mazda RX4 so I can relate to the "faint of heart" claim.

The difference here is that the engines, computers, and wiring harnesses are different and therein lies the problem. It's pretty much a complete gut and rebuild mainly due to the harness, connectors, ect... not to mention the hoses and connections to the engine being in completely different locations.

 

Donor sitting alongside is like having an auto parts store right there when you need it.
If you don't want to do that, some are swapping in Mazda Miata engines to replace the original 4's.
OH. I just re-read the 1st post. The transmission used in the 2WD and 4WD models is the same, for the most part, except for the 'added' PTO for the rear drive. You could take a 2WD transmission and graft on the 4WD mechanicals a lot easier than fiddling with a complete drivetrain swap.
It would be easier to buy a kit and re-build your transmission. You can watch the youtube series(4) on the CD4E by Hiram Gutierrez. It is excellent. Not many weird tools needed to do the job. You just have to be clean, careful, and pay attention. Did I mention clean? Take it apart and lay the components in line in order of removal. Repair the clutch packs, broken parts, and accumulator and clutch piston seals, and put it back together. Replace all bushings as Hiram recommended. Did I mention clean?
tom

 

When I was a kid, there was a guy with a junk yard who built and raced at our local race track. I remember going up there with my dad and he had a transmission he was rebuilding for a customer. It was all laid out on cardboard in the dirt driveway.... When my dad asked about dirt on and in the parts, he shrugged it off.
"I have a parts bath that everything goes through and I've never had a complaint or a returned transmission".
And he was right about that. He was the go-to guy for such repairs.
I guess if you're diligent about cleaning the parts prior to assembly.....

 

Rebuilding the transmission is an option that I'm looking at.