Got a deal on this 2001 B4000 for $200. It’s just about rust free but needs a motor. Eventually want to make is into a mild prerunner. Will be looking for help on what motors are interchangeable.
thanks in advanced everyone

 

Welcome to the forum

Good buy

The 1997 to 2003 4.0l SOHC engines had faulty timing chain tensioners, but that rarely caused engine damage, could, just not often, usually alot of noise and engine no longer runs

So you could pull the engine and put in the newer design timing chains, guides and tensioners, have to pull engine to do that on these.
Depends on the odometer really, if its close to 250k then rest of the engine would be 'tired' so just replace it

You also don't know the condition of the 5R55E automatic transmission, probably not great if previous owner ran engine into the ground
So devils advocate, you may want to look at buying both from a rolled or wrecked Ranger or B4000

2004 and up only for the engine, thats when the newer designed tensioners were used for the full year, late 2003 is usually OK, but roll of the dice
And 2001 and up for a 5R55E trans, has the added sensors the 2000 and older didn't