i am looking at a 97 v8 awd to purchase, anyone who knows much about them and could give me some tips and personal history/experience would be greatly appreciatted. thanks

I don't know much about them yet. I love mine. Has a little leak where the bell housing meets the engine, but I'm thinking its just because it sat so long. Other than that, Its awsome.

my '96 is bullet proof

98 V8 AWD here and love it. I got it new.

I have had items replaced under warrenty (extended):

alternator
idler pulley
front drive shaft
fuel pump
drivers door lock
rebuilt front and rear diffs (found out later that the prob was the front drive shaft)
and misc. recall crap like hood latch, cruise cable, wiper switch...

Thats about it

No complaints with mine. If I ever get another Explorer, it will be another 5.0. I've had mine a year, and haven't even got to use my warranty.

97's fall intot he 95-97 range so keep in mine that although the drive train is the same in 98 there could be computer diffrences... also remember that even between 96 and 97 there will be minor diffrences... and then theres the fact that depending where it was made it would have turned out better than others and of course hoe it was taken care of and how it was driven (aka hiway vs city miles)

I've got a 2000 (used with 26k) and my biggest complaint is the gas mileage. Others claim better but so far my best is about 13 MPG - that was after my tranny flush and filter change. I had to replace the IAC, shocks, brake pads, brake rotors, rear wiper motor, belt, belt tensioner, transmission cooler hose / connector, abs sensors (2x).

Not major problems but I felt with such low mileage I would not have to do even these. All and all it's a good truck with power that handles well for a truck, but the gas mileage now is really killing me. So far I've spent about $150 in the past 4 weeks - and I don't drive much. Short trips kill mileage for me - 1/2 a tank on the highway will get me 100 - 125 miles where the same 1/2 a tank on short trips will get me 60 miles :( I find that the tank is too small as well - 200 to 250 range from full has me at the gas station often.

On the bright side, we do not seem to suffer from the same tranny problems that you will hear from V6 owners.

I dunno I made no modifications (previous owner might have but I haven't found them yet) and I get 17.5 mog average and 360+miles on a full 21 gallon tank... again this depends how the previous owner took care of it though

Wanna switch? ;)

idler pulley

Which one is it, and how exactly did it go? I think mine might be going.

I can say that I have 97k on my 00 AWD 5.0 and the only problem I have had is a front drive shaft. I also am spraying nitrous with countless mods done to it and it hasn't given me a bit of trouble.

Todd - Look for a pulley that has nothing connected to it (ie: water pump, ps, ac ect.)
This would be a good time for an electric fan conversion!

There's one to the left of the power steering pump. I guess thats the idler. The one that keeps the tension is the tensioner right?