1998 Expedition Engine Install

[Deftonez]

Hello everyone this is my first post on this forum and a fairly new owner of a 1998 ford expedition.

So the issue i am having is the expedition was given to me and the only issue was that it needed a new engine installed to replace the old one. I picked up another engine with 80k miles on it and figured this should be an easy job..... WRONG!!!

So got the engine out replaced the spark plugs and injector seals and a few other minor things that would be a nightmare to do while the engine is installed in the vehicle. After jacking the body up about a foot and getting the engine inside the bay the issue i am having is mating up the engine to the tranny, is there any special way to do it? For some reason I cant get the torque converter to line up and slide onto the back of the crank on the back of the engine. Just seems to bind not matter what we do. Spent about a good 6+ hours at it.

So anyhelp would be amazing. Thanks guys!!

 

[stamp11127]

Welcome to the site.
How far away from the flex plate is it?

 

[Deftonez]

its the last 1/2" that we cant seem to get. I can get one of the alignment pins on the block started but cant get the other alignment pin to start on the other side of the engine. Its like its the TQ isn't sliding onto the back of the the crank. We even got the 4 post on the back of the TQ lined up with the 4 holes on the flex plate just cant get it to go that last 1/2".

I have never had this issue working on any other car (my first ford i have ever replaced an engine in). Thanks again.

 

[stamp11127]

You should have a gap between the tc and flexplate when the bellhousing and block meet. Once bolted together you slide the tc forward to the flexplate. In your case it sounds like the tc has moved forward on the input shaft. I think you have 3 sets of splines that need to be engaged between the tc and input shaft.

You either "drop" the tranny or pull the engine out & reseat the tc. Whatever way you chose, pre align the flexplate and tc before bolting them up to save some time.

Did you change the input seal on the tranny?

 

[nsperf]

Move the engine back forward.

Verify that your TC is fully engaged in the trans. Bit me in the butt once before.

Hope this helps.