My 02 XLT 4.0 SOHC is comming real close to 200,000 miles, and i am itching to get a new powerplant in her.
I am torn between a 5.0 or a 4bt
I dont really know what im getting into when it comes to labor extent, cost, and headaches for either and was hoping that i could get some opinions on which would be the smarter route.

 

5.0 will be easier and cheaper but its still going to be expensive if your not doing it yourself.

 

Is smog a concern?

 

I will be doing the work, this is my project not someone elses!

It is not.

 

Wrong! You wont pass inspection here if you go to a 5.0.

 

Either way with explorers already set up with 5 Liters plus all the support they have I'm sure the 5.0 would be much cheaper. Plus a lot cheaper to get factory/aftermarket parts for? Although the little diesel would turn a lot of heads and be pretty sweet when it was complete.

I don't know about there but here you would be able to BAR it and make it smog legal if you use an explorer 5.0 since it comes out of a truck also. Not sure if it would have to come out of the newer ones or not?

 

The rule seems to be same year or newer for the swap. So the last 5.0 was 01, to be legal a 4.6 would need to be used.

The 4bt died in the late 90's and went computer controlled as the ISB which is 170hp little expensive monster.

 

True for cars. Not for trucks. At least over here.

 

State by state things are way different, figured commyfornia would be no.

 

Is there anybody on this forum that has done a 4bt swap in a 02+?

 

check out 4btswaps.com... there are a few ranger builds on there. ive only seen one 4bt ranger on here and i believe it was ttb, so 97 or older.

 

I haven't seen any anywhere that are 02+. Seen a few pre 00's though.