yeah, my explorer is absolutely impossible to go back to stock with! I wish it was otherwise, but the modications done to attemp to do the air suspension and keep awd were very extensive to the front end and there are other issues mechanically as well (not with using it- just completely preventing it from going back to anything like stock). Of course finding a buyer for an explorer with basically 0 normal working doors could prove difficult as well (keep in mind i don't even have a liftgate anymore on the truck). I could get it in primer basically as-is within a few months and it would be a very solid custom sport truck for someone to purchase, but it won't be what i want long term. Also, there is the problem that if i sell it for what a bank will loan on it i'll be coming out with a lower $ amount than i can part it/keep the parts i want from it for.
so far as the air suspension goes- i'd have about a $2500 head start on things in parts alone provided i stick to a suspension set-up on the car that allows me to run 6" diameter bags (should be doable no problem). The air on the truck has nothing but the best parts... parts which are worth more to me ($2k minimum) than they are worth on the used market, for sure.
It has a $600 custom alternator already on it that i'd be re-using.
It has KMC Hellion wheels- 18" up front and 20" in the rear in very good condition with $1100 worth of brand new bfg kdwII nt rubber. value- $1500 easily.
I will be able to sell off the good bits of my interior- i know my cousin is going to take my dash off my hands for $300 (it has a 17" monitor in it), i can sell my fiberglass doors, kickpanel, and center console as well (have to be worth over $500 altogether), and lastly interior wise i have 2 virtually brand new navigator black buckets- $300+ there. So- 1k+ easily on interior bits
I'd also be happy to part all the other basic stuff that i could- glass, seatbelts, that kind of stuff- $$$?
Lastly, there is the value of the drivetrain, rear end and brakes- I know 5.0s are cheap and plentiful but that stuff has got to be worth at least $1500 all together to me AND i know the history of all of it and will know i have all the parts etc. etc.. Not to mention the sentimental value.
So, if i add that stuff up i get a little more than $6500. If i had to put a value on the truck (selling it as-is) it would be closer to 4k at best- and that might be pushing it to actually get that much. It would definitely take another couple hundred hrs of work to get it into a condition where i would expect it to sell for comfortably more than $6500!!!
Someone tell me i'm wrong, please? maybe you want to buy my truck as is for over $5k and save me the trouble of any of this?
so far as building the motor- yeah, i'm really looking forward to getting into it and learning etc.. I've started to do a lot of engine work (forced induction stuff as you can see in my signature) and custom installation etc., but i've yet to have any real experience taking a motor apart.