Tired of messing with freakin oil.

 

Explorer conversion

I have a 96 Explorer 400 that a previous owner put a 98 500 4 stroke into so the conversion's doable. Looks like he kept the chain drive and transmission.
I picked it up cheap and it works very well. Only issues I have are that the spark plug is a pain to get to(have to lift up gas tank) and I couldn't get the gear shift linkages to work so I made my own shifters. I keep the regular shifter in Hi for the AWD to work. You have to use your imagination and handyman skills but it can be done.

 

Explorer conversion

I stripped it down quite a bit when I bought it and the only thing I noticed was the shifter was moved, the exhaust is from the 500 and the clutches might have been changed(I have no way to tell). If you compare the parts diagrams from the 400 and 500 it would probably give you a good indication as to whether a conversion is worth it. Otherwise, sell it and buy a 4 stroke.

 

I have both a 2 and a 4 stroke sportsman and I like the 2stroke way better. As far as you being "tired of messing with oil" if you use the oil tank it mixxes it for you I just don't see that being all that tiring (maybe you are putting the cap on to tightly if you are getting winded).

 

Maybe he is tired of smelling like a chainsaw, LOL Me, won't own a 2 stroke, not my cup of tea. (After being around sleds, sick of them.)

But just because I am tired of them, does not mean there is anything wrong with them.

 

I have both a 2 and a 4 stroke sportsman and I like the 2stroke way better. As far as you being "tired of messing with oil" if you use the oil tank it mixxes it for you I just don't see that being all that tiring (maybe you are putting the cap on to tightly if you are getting winded).

Maybe he is tired of smelling like a chainsaw, LOL Me, won't own a 2 stroke, not my cup of tea. (After being around sleds, sick of them.)

But just because I am tired of them, does not mean there is anything wrong with them.

I guess having a father, a brother, and grandfather that are loggers 2 strokes smell like money to me!!! lol to each his own I guess.

 

When it cones down to it....I don't trust them nor do I want to do rings every year or spend money on oil every ride its annoying n yes it stinks lol

 

I agree totally. anything ive ever owned that was 2 stroke, with the exception of a tomos moped, was a break down and rebuild waiting to happen. You cant beat the torque though.

 

It runs amazin tho! But just knowin its a 2 stroke bothers me....specially with me n my wife both riding it double that's lot of weight on a stoker.

 

im not sure if it would bolt up exactly, but it seems like it would be a fun project. I remember seeing a thread on here of someone putting a 3cylinder sled or pwc engine into a scrambler or predator or something. A lot is possible with a little time and imagination (engineering?) IMAGINEERING.

 

oh, the 3cylinder engine was still a polaris...

 

Any one wanna trade motors. Mines got 1600 miles. I can send vid of it running n riding...lookin for a 425 4x4 motor or any fourstroke 98 motor

 

i.m.o. if i was going from an angry chainsaw of a 400 2/smoker.i would want to replace it with a 2001 or newer 500cc with at least a 40bst carb if not a 500H.O.,,,,,,,,mine is a beast! tighter primary spring, three carb mods,open air box mod, and holy smoly without the smoky!!

 

Its been a head ache since I got it from fillin oil foulin plugs and now a random 3 second power lost on hills only. When flat ground n I'm on the gas hard no issue..on a hill weather I'm on it hard or not it will cut out.


Whoever said they got a 500 in there explorer check to see if motor mounts are changed...I'm goin for the conversion . Starting this weekend.

 

By the way this quad stays fully serviced...polaris dealship is two house down. N they go threw it all every two months. So yes its all clean.

 

By the way I plan on dropping the magnum 425 in it..apparently they have the same frame n all its just they have different names cause ones two stroke n others 4stroke.

 

Hi xplorer55
I'm the one with the 500 in the Explorer. Sorry I can't help with the motor mounts as I've not got a 400 to compare it with. Some issues you'll have to contend with are motor mounts, mounting the oil reservoir, sparkplug access, airbox won't fit anymore, carburator mounting might need an adaptor. If you do the swap, remember to note what parts are from what machine. I didn't do the swap in mine and it's hell when I go to the dealer for parts, 96 Explorer 400 or 98 Explorer 500.

 

Can you just look n see if your mounts look changed or rewelded cause if its no factory weld that means they been moved or changed.

 

My 4x4 isn't here. I live in a small townhouse with nowhere to keep it so I store it at my dad-in-law's for the winter and it's a pain to get at right now. Won't pick it up until April. I don't remember seeing any frame mods below the engine. Looking at the Polaris parts diagrams for the two 4x4's might give you an idea. If you can wait until April I could give you some more useful info assuming your 98 400 is the same as my 96 400. Maybe you could check that first.

 

Ok fellas. The polaris dealship told me any fourstroke motor will fit in the two stroke frames AS LONG AS ITS SAME YEAR AND SAME CC. THEY WILL EVEN DO THE SWAP. So I need a 98 400cc fourstroke motor.

 

With that in mind I'm gonna run the shit out of mine n when rings go or whatever I'm gona swap.

 

Will a magnum 500 engine bolt onto trailblazer trans

 

Any engine will as long as they are aligned correctly.

The only coupling between the engine and the transmission is the belt. Basically you are re-engineering the quad. Things like this have been done before. Many successfully and some not so much, but how much time and expertise do you have to devote to the project.

Many years ago I put a Kawasaki 750 three cylinder engine into a BSA 650 twin frame for flat tracking. The bike was fast, but it never finished a race. I ran out of money and desire.

To begin with, the engine was too wide for a flat-tracker and the alternator side of the engine dug into the dirt in the corners. My first attempt at a fix was a steel plate welded to the frame to protect the alternator. That resulted in lifting the rear wheel off the ground when pitching the bike into the turns, so narrowing the engine became the priority. I removed the alternator and mounted the alternator on a plate behind the carburetors. This required cutting the end off an old crankshaft, fashioning a bearing holder and fabricating sprockets to couple the two parts. This arrangement had the alternator turning in the opposite direction which didn't affect the operation of the alternator, but the sensors for the CDI were also driven by the alternator. They had to be rewired to get a correct firing order and adjusting the timing was a nightmare. Finally got that all worked out and the bike ran and the clearance issues were resolved, but the engine would overheat and seize pistons, so it was necessary to modify the cylinders for better cooling. I had the fins built up for more surface area - not good enough. I had the fins drilled and copper tubing pressed through the holes for more surface area. This worked, but the center cylinder ran hot and suffered from detonation. I had the head modified for better cooling. Everything I did improved the project, but in the last race it ran in, it suffered a fuel delivery problem, one carb ran out of gas and the engine 'cold' seized. With no heat from combustion and the cold intake air hitting that side of the piston, the piston changed shape and seized. Although the bike was fast and all the logistical problems were overcome, the longevity problems were just starting. The project was scrapped due to cost and loss of interest. My drag racing interest had been sparked and the 900 Kawasaki had just been introduced.

 

The rear axle / chain drive / gearbox on the secondary cluth of the belt granny is the difference. You can put watever 500 4 stroke into a explorer 2 stroke or scrambler 2 stroke. I dislike the independent rear suspension so I'm probly putting my 500 4 stroke from my sportsman into a scrambler or explorer . Just the motor and every thing to hook it up like the harness n airborne. Hoses n shit . Totally doable in my opinion

 

FYI, You are responding to a 6/13 year old thread....

 

Thinking of trying the same with a Scrambler 400 2x4. Mounts are different between 2 and 4 stroke but all 350-400cc 2-strokes have same mounting but isnt shared with 425 and 500 4-strokes models. Mounting between 2stroke and 4 stroke are different. Have to weld in tabs measured accordingly. But if youre gonna change mounts may as well put a 700cc Liberty engine in...