I have a 1996 Ford Explorer w/ a 4.0 L V6. I have a persistent squeal that seems to be coming from the valves. I replaced the head gaskets and valve guides, but I didn't have time to wait for a machine shop to do a valve job. (Machinists out there: You can be honest about not knowing when the head will be done w/o having that "It'll be ready when I feel like it" attitude). I diagnosed it by removing the passenger side valve cover and running the engine w/o it. Messy as hell, but I'm now convinced that I have a sticky valve. In the next few weeks, I'll have about 2 weeks to just work on my X, so I'd like to take care of the valve problem.
When the head gasket blew on my 1989 Ford Taurus 3.8, my dad just mentioned that the rod bearings might have gone too. That was a catastrophic blowout though: plenty of coolant got into the oil, and I had to drive the car about a mile after it cooled off. Sure enough, the rod bearings on the 89 Taurus were gone. My X has 114000 miles, so I'm wondering if the rod bearings will need to be replaced as well.
Now my questions: I recall the repair manual stating that you can't remove the oil pan witout removing the engine assembly!!!! Incredible how stupid engineers can be, but I suppose they never have to work on the engine. I'm wondering if anyone knows how difficult this is. Do you need to remove the engine or the engine and transmission? I recall that the problem is that *one* of the bolts connects the oil pan to the engine, and it's sandwiched between the engine and the transmission. Is it possible to just hoist the engine slightly so I can access the oil pan bolts w/o entirely pulling the engine?
Secondly, is this overkill? On the one hand, I have the time to do this, and I'll also be doing a lot of the work of pulling the engine because I'll be disconnecting things to pull the heads. On the other hand...I'm not sure the rod bearings are bad at all. Oil seems good--no flakes and no coolant got in there.

 

Franklin,with that amount of milage. It would be best dallor for dallor to pull the motor and rebuild it. When you pull the top of the motor and replace it with new parts like gaskets and you don't replace the bottem end parts some of the time the bottem end will go a short time later. I'm talking about bearings. And yes engineer are dumm as a rock. they don't work on it, they put it on paper the numbers say it should work it don't. Don't try working on the bottem end if the motor is in the truck it will just get you mad.If you rebiuld the motor totaly you will be happer with the out come.

 

well i have a question about engine removal/swappage...i have a 96 Explorer XLT 4x4 4door automatic..it has the 4.0L V6 SOHC.theres a guy i work with that has a 98 mustang gt with the 4.6L with an auto tranny.this summer hes buyin a 03 cobra engine tranny setup for his stang.and im gettin his 4.6L.my question is would a 4.6L engine fit inside of the bay, an would i have to buy a new rear-end to compensate for the torque?? cause i used to have a 89 mustang gt with a police interceptor 5.0L in it an i miss the speed in the heavy *** X an i cant find enough mods availible besides a exhaust system an possible intake.if any other mods are availible like electric fan or whatnot would be great.

 

You can make any thing fit, How much time and money are you willing to spend??? My 85 ranger when I did my truck motor,trans,and junk I added cost me 8000.00 bucs.It still running on the stock rear end. On the 4.6 can fit but you need all the computer crapp and need to see if motor mounts can work also need the trans.need to dump the 4X4. There are things to do in the 4.0 cam change,intakes,chipping,NOS,Turbo,blowers,trans.mo d, and so on you should be able to do close to a 100hp or there abouts.

 

well hes giving me the whole engine/tranny esembly including all the electronic parts so im good on not spending around 8g's.i knwo ill have to spend some money but i just didnt know a 4.6 would fit right.an i can careless about dumping the 4x4 ive used it once in a year(i engage it every month to make sure everything stays lubed so nothing looks up)
an al the work for my lil 4.0 just doesnt seem worth all the money for a 100hp so im gonna just do exhaust an possible intake an gettin some 20s on it for summer

 

I was out digging around looking for another 2000 X with blown motor.I've got another 302 I'v built for a guy and his wife wont let him buy it. So i'm look for something fun to put it in like the X sport . Hey Cm this would work for you Find another 96 but just get the frame look for the 2wd put the motor,trans and anything u want when it's all done lift the body off of your and put it the new frame.I've done this before makes work ez and your ride not down. then sell your 4x4 frame recupe your money. NOTE this is not against the law dealer do it all the time. Your not removeing the vin plate from the truck...