P38 engine compatibility

Hi all- recently bort a 1996 model year P38 with 4.6 v8, - some numpty before us ran the engine with no oil in it and has done major dammage- it will turn over, spark, compression and fuel on each cylinder- but wont run!!!- due to a very loud bottom eng clunk wen u try and turn it over we have decided to just replace the engine as a hole thing rather than try to strip it.- we have soursed a 4.6 v8 from a 2000 model year vehicle- will it work/ fit/ be happy and be a straight swap for the existing engine???

cheers

sam

Yes it can work,there are plenty of bits to swop,most are obvious but dont forget to change the cam sprocket - otherwise it will never run right.(most of the bits are very obvious)

eightinavee said:

Yes it can work,there are plenty of bits to swop,most are obvious but dont forget to change the cam sprocket - otherwise it will never run right.(most of the bits are very obvious)

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Why do you need to change the cam sprocket on a 2000 MY engine when puting it in in place of a 1996 MY engine?

thanks

sam

Because the legs of the sprocket are different,Gems has 3 wide legs and one narrow,Motronic has 2 narrow and 2 flag shaped legs - think thats right.(much wine ) It wont run right with the wrong one.

eightinavee said:

Because the legs of the sprocket are different,Gems has 3 wide legs and one narrow,Motronic has 2 narrow and 2 flag shaped legs - think thats right.(much wine ) It wont run right with the wrong one.

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Thanks, but if the engine i swap it with comes with it's own ecu then this should not ne a problem should it as it will not affect anything else?????

cheers
sam

roundeth said:

Thanks, but if the engine i swap it with comes with it's own ecu then this should not ne a problem should it as it will not affect anything else?????

cheers
sam

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The 2000 engine runs a Bosch Motronic ECU - totally different to your Gems one,the cam sensor is the same,its just the sprocket thats different.Dont even think of using the Bosch ECU,for a start it will not communicate with the BECM as its locked to a Gems system when the BECM is programmed to the car.You will have to change the sump anyway,so doing a camchain/sprockets is not much more and will be a good freshen up for the engine anyway.