Hello,

New to the forums. I have an engine that went bad. A lifter died and I think it dropped a valve. I am going to pull the heads just to check, but it doesn't sound good. Regardless, it has 160K miles, and I am not going to spend 600+ rebuilding the heads when I can just drop in a newer engine with 30-50K miles on it.

Can anyone point me in the direction of finding older 4.0 to newer 4.0 swap information? I can get a 99 motor, wiring harness, computer, tranny, and t-case with 40K miles on it for 1200.00, but I need specifics on the lengths. I don't want to have to replace drive shafts or do any modifications other than drop it in.

Any help appreciated... I also want to stay away from the SOHC engines. These were only made in 2000+ right?

 

Can't really help with the swap, but the SOHC showed up in Explorer's in '97 I believe. Maybe as late as '98, but certainly by '99. So double check that and make sure that 4.0 is the OHV and not the SOHC (unless you change your mind and decide the SOHC isn't so bad).
A couple of thoughts on the swap.
Before worrying about driveshaft lengths, I'd be sure to look into t-case outputs. I don't know if the driveshaft to transfer case connections are the same on the newer Explorers. You might end up needing driveshaft work anyway just to make the connections.
Carefully check into engine mounting and such. I've heard it said by people who have wanted to swap front ends that swapping front ends from 1st to 2nd gen (or vice-versa) isn't a direct bolt in because the frame on the two generations is different up front. Not certain, but worth looking into. Probably can still be made to work, but some fabrication may be necessary to get the engine in.