I was wondering what would be involved with swapping a OHV for a SOHC.I know that the SOHC will physically bolt right in but what would be involved electronically.Do I just need to get the whole motor,wiring harness and computer from another truck?Will the 5 speed auto function properly?I don't want to do a hack job,I need it to be a clean install.Reason I am asking is I have 145,000 miles and am starting to get some oil leaks.I have heard the OHV engines are common for the head gaskets going bad and even cracking the heads.I am either going to pull and rebuild mine or look to do the swap.If it will just drop in with the new motor,harness and computer,I think that is the way to go.All I would need to find is a low mileage Ranger that is wrecked or something.I think the swap would be easier and less time consuming than a rebuild.Not to mention the extra power I would pick up.Let me know some opinions and also info if anyone has done this swap.This is not about which motor is better,just what will give me the OEM reliability with the least hassle.

 

Check out this guy's saga. He did something similar:

http://www.offroadrangers.com/forums...ad.php?t=18948

 

i havent done the swap, but i imageine that it shouldnt be that complecated.

all u have to do is find a ranger with the same equipment as u...well...at least the same tranny...and go from there....yes the block should bolt right in no prob, but the real problem u're gonn ahve is with the computer and all the harnesses....thas gonna be the only pitfall...

of course...if u're head gasket and etc get bad and go to crap...u canjust replace them....or like u said, rebuild them....and it will end up costing u a lot less than the SOHC engine and harnesses and etc....plus u could take that opportunity to port and polish the engine! haha

but yeah, if anything (knock on wood) ever happens to my OHV, i'll be swapping in that engine....or gettin a toyo tacoma...haha

 

I read alot of that post(thanks).I don't want to deal with all of that.I would imagine mine would be easier,already had 5 speed auto,PATS and is 2wd.But if it is even only half as hard I still wouldn't do it.Maybe I will just pull mine and rebuild it when the time comes.Then I know I will only be dealing with the motor.Maybe I will find another OHV and rebuild it first and then just swap it out when it is done.Maybe I will do a few performance mods to it also.

 

Marc you've answered my problems reguarding the OHV 4.0L. No wonder my old '94 Explorer craps out on me every couple of months. Not to mention that so-called head gasket problem on the 2000 XLT 4x4 my dad drove for work. It took a long while til they fix the damn thing before he got it lol!! Wasn't long before Dad got a 2001 XLT 4x4 SOHC and what a difference. Definetly drop a SOHC in there.

 

I loved my OHV 4.0 better than my SOHC. The torque was better and it just meemed stronger and faster. Alas, the OHV was in a standard cab SPlash 5 speed and the SOHC was in a big 4x4 auto supercab...hmm.

I like either of the engines, I think they are great, only a small step down from the mighty 302!

 

Swoop, my slightly modded 3.0l manual regular cab 4.10 did 10.69 in the eighth. My stock 4.0l auto 3.55 supercab does 10.4's. More weight, different gearing and trans, plus you had alot more rotating drivetrain would easily give you a difference you could feel.

 

Well,now I really am wondering what to do.In the last 5K miles it has started making some noise.It kind of sounds like the timing tensioner rattle that the SOHC motors get sometimes.It only does it at idle.If I rev it up to say 1500rpm it goes away.I changed the oil last night and has a pretty good leak coming from the passenger side.It looks like it may be coming from the back of the head.Someone told me that even the 4.0 OHV has a timing chain tensioner also.That is what it sounds like.It still runs perfect,just sounds horrible.Here is what I may do.Pull the motor and replace the head,valve cover ,intake and timing cover gaskets and the timing chain and tensioner.Clean it all back up and put it back in.I don't know if it is worth it with 150K on it.I really think the motor is in perfect shape,I have used synthetic since new.I will also put a new rear main seal and oil pan gasket while its out.I really don't care how fast it is,I want as much torque as possible because I tow with it.I know the SOHC makes alot more power but lack some low end torque.Plus if I keep the OHV I won't have any wiring or fitment issues that I might run into with the SOHC swap.I just don't think that my motor is "worn out" it just has a couple of issues.I don't want to waste money on a new motor if it doesn't reall need it.

 

I tihnk it's time to do the swap Marc... and I better be invited :-)

 

I want a 351 Windsor....

 

I kinda agree with keeping the OHV. It would be way easier. The SOHC doesn't really get better gas milage or anything. I have had 2 OHV 4.0's now I love the power they make. Those motors pull hard. I can barely tell I am pulling a trailer.

 

Just an idea Marc... how about just mildly building a 4.0 SOHC and then then your OHV goes tothe grave go ahead and do the swap...

 

here in a few months my OHV is supposed to die.. bc of a siezed bearing? thats wat the mechs told us.. anyways my origional thought was to swap the ohv for another ohv. but w/o reading this long *** post can someone give me an estimate on how much longer it would take to swap an SOHC rather then an OHV?

thanks..and ill read this whole thing soon enough

 

easier to swap in a new OHV. With all the work you're saved with that easy swap u can add upgrades! Nawsss, internal upgrades, etc. D. would prolly know some good powerboosting mods for a 4.0 OHV

 

aight. yea i wanted to build up the engine b4 i threw it in either way....