I was just wondering if all the XLS Explorer's have the SOHC engine??

Thanks

Pyle

All 4 doors from 97 (I think) & up have the SOHC as far as I know. My '01 does.

No, all of the XLS Explorers have the OHV until Ford discontinued the OHV and made the SOHC standard (2001). The XLS took the place of the XL and had very few options available for it. Sometime after Ford released the XLS they released an XLS Sport package which was pretty nice looking. I don't know if the option packages have gotten better though since '99.

Jeff, yours has the SOHC since Ford dropped the OHV starting in '01. The XLS in '99 and '00 only had the OHV (regardless of number of doors).

Well, learn something new each day :). BTW, the packages have gotten MUCH better for the XLS. Mine has what they call the XLT package for the XLS. It came with Cruise, tilt wheel, tinted glass, remote entry, side rocker mouldings, cargo cover, aluminum wheels, and a few other things I've forgotten about.

you can get xls explorers with a manual 5 speed transmission too. i found a 2000 xls 5 speed at a local toyota delarship the other day. Ive never seen a 4 door 5 speed explorer that wasnt a first generation before. it was pretty cool, too bad i dont have 15,000 dollars sitting around....

Originally posted by Robert
Jeff, yours has the SOHC since Ford dropped the OHV starting in '01. The XLS in '99 and '00 only had the OHV (regardless of number of doors).

FYI...this statement isn't entirely true. In '99 and '00 the OHV was the base engine. The SOHC WAS an optionable selection. Only problem was that if you wanted the SOHC you HAD to then have the automatic because Ford did not have the 5-speed manual available for the SOHC yet.

Scott....

Originally posted by FourXFred
you can get xls explorers with a manual 5 speed transmission too. i found a 2000 xls 5 speed at a local toyota delarship the other day. Ive never seen a 4 door 5 speed explorer that wasnt a first generation before. it was pretty cool, too bad i dont have 15,000 dollars sitting around....

Yup, you can get 5 speed Explorers. They can be a bit hard to find but they are out there. I've been driving 5 speed Explorers since '94. It does look like there is NOT a 5 speed available in the 2003 model year though! Can anyone confirm this? Looks like the base '03 Explorer XLS configuration is the SOHC and 5 speed auto. Looks like I'll be holding onto my '02 for a while then!!

Scott...

i took a look at ford's site and saw that when you build your own truck they no longer have the 5-speed manual. looks like the last 4 door 5-speed manual was in 2002 models. i didn't look at the sports but i think i will now.

looks like the sports you can still get a 5-speed manual. looks like when i buy a newer ex if i can't find a manual tranny 4 door then i might have to take a look at the sports.

Originally posted by Soup'd_'Splorer
FYI...this statement isn't entirely true. In '99 and '00 the OHV was the base engine. The SOHC WAS an optionable selection. Only problem was that if you wanted the SOHC you HAD to then have the automatic because Ford did not have the 5-speed manual available for the SOHC yet.

Scott....

I know the '00 had the option of the SOHC but I thought the '99 (first year the XLS was introuced to the U.S.) only had the OHV without the SOHC being an option. The 2000 brochure I have has a much more lengthy list of available options than I remember from the '99s. The OHV, 5-speed manual was the base combination with a 5-speed automatic being optional as well as the SOHC and 5-speed automatic. In '99 I think it was just the OHV (manual & automatic) but I'm not positive since I couldn't find any literature from the '99 still available.